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Masters of the new machine
“We’re going to pay what we need to bring in talented people,” said Illinois’ new governor to reporters on Jan. 23. He was defending the many six-figure salaries he’s offered to the people he wants to handle the pumps and keep afloat a State of Illinois that is dead in the water and listing to port.

The facts on Illinois taxes
With the huge budget hole created by the recent 25 percent tax cut to both Illinois’ personal and corporate income tax rate, lawmakers must make critical decisions about whether to make deep cuts or raise revenue.

A whining Wall Street banker pleads for pity
Well, not a fine against John Pierpont Morgan, the man. This 19th-century robber baron was born to a great banking fortune and, by hook and crook, leveraged it to become the “King of American Finance.” During the Gilded Age, Morgan cornered the U.S.

LETTERS
REMEMBERING STRATTON In your Dec. 25 issue, Mr. Bill Ward wrote (“The name game,” letters) that the main distinction of Gov. William G. Stratton was that he was the only governor tried for corruption and acquitted. Ironically, in that same issue, in “Remembering the lives they lived,” you profiled Dr.

Legislators looking to move up
Since the days of President Bill Clinton, Republicans have been at a distinct disadvantage during presidential election years. No Republican presidential candidate has won this state since 1988, when George H.W. Bush defeated Michael Dukakis 51-49. Back then, Illinois was considered a “bellwether” state for presidential campaigns.

Coal mine plan halted near Peoria
On Jan. 20, Canton Area Citizens for Environmental Issues (CACEI) claimed victory in an eight-year battle to prevent Capital Resources Development Company from creating a coal strip mine outside Canton, which is about 20 miles southwest of Peoria and about 55 miles northwest of Springfield.

City loses drowning case
Just two lifeguards were watching 45,000 square feet of water when Jones disappeared 10 feet from a chair where lifeguard Dennis Caveny was watching a distant diving board. Caveny didn’t see Jones go under, nor did he immediately summon other lifeguards.

Illinois poverty at dangerous level
The center, part of the Chicago-based anti-poverty group Heartland Alliance, has been publishing reports on poverty in Illinois since 2001. This year’s edition, “Poor by Comparison,” looks at Illinois poverty as compared to other states on 27 different measures.

Lawmakers call for oversight of rail project
Job opportunities for minorities and women on Springfield’s 10 th Street rail relocation project aren’t living up to promises by the city and state, according to one community group. Meanwhile, leaders from the city and the project’s main engineering firm say they’ve actually exceeded their obligations.

Rauner butts heads with unions
“Communities that want to have unions and encourage them and force members or workers to join – you can choose to,” Rauner told his audience in Decatur. “And if communities don’t want that and want to compete with Indiana and Michigan et cetera, they can choose that.

Killing bobcats
“It was a cold year, 20 below zero,” recalls Edgerly, who started hunting bobcats when he was 13 and is still chasing cats as a septuagenarian. “I’m down on my hands and knees with my 12 gauge. This bobcat is running toward me, really coming on. The bobcat, all of a sudden, he jumped up into the air, 12 feet up off the runway.

Lincoln’s scandalous nephew
Clover’s father, Lewis P. Clover, was not only the highly respected minister of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, he was also an artist who had trained with Asher B. Durand and painted a portrait of Abraham Lincoln in 1860.

Alzina
She’s been called “The Greatest Cajun Cook Alive” – not least by people with the expertise to say so. A documentary has been made about her, magazine articles written, other media have featured her. Culinary “pilgrims” from far-away Brooklyn and even further-away France have come to eat and pay homage.

Violent: Much ado about little
The setting is New York City in 1981, a year that saw a dramatic spike in violence in the Big Apple, making it an appropriate backdrop for a tale of avarice and corruption. Abel Morales (Oscar Isaac) is doing everything he can to resist the temptation of compromising himself in the pursuit of profits.

Homespun resolution
Donnie’s Homespun is on the move, but not from a physical standpoint. The popular venue for rock, alternative, jam and Americana bands, plus EDM, hip-hop and various other benefits, projects and weekly jams in Springfield remains in the always interesting Vinegar Hill Mall building.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Kilborn Alley Blues Band
The blues came to visit a young Andrew Duncanson, and he answered the call of the crossroads. In high school, the singing blues guitarist’s chance meeting with Josh Stimmel over a Jimi Hendrix T-shirt led to the gradual formation of Kilborn Alley.

PUB CRAWL
Hospital Job, Drilling For Blasting, Closed Mouths, Bullnettle.

ART | Internationally acclaimed artist alert
On Friday, Feb. 6, from 6-8:30 p.m., DEMO Project hosts a reception to celebrate the opening of O White Gods,.

THE CALENDAR
Music: General Events Illinois Symphony Orchestra’s Love Notes Concert.

VOLUNTEER | Lincoln’s loyal leaders
The Lincoln Home National Historic Site is currently recruiting volunteers for the 2015 season. On Saturday, Feb. 7, at 10 a.m., stop by the Lincoln Home Conference Center for an information session lead by Lincoln Home National Historic Site staff and current volunteers.

HISTORY | Famed orations from Frederick Douglass
On Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m., head to UIS Brookens Auditorium for a Black History Month event hosted by the UIS ECCE Speaker Series. This living history presentation features actor Fred Morsell and his riveting reprisal of Frederick E. Douglass’ most poignant commentary on slavery, racial discrimination and overcoming adversity.