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Making dead hyenas come alive
The Field Museum of Natural History is hoping you’ll give something. The museum – a world institution that, happily, happens to be in Chicago – is raising $170,000 via crowdfunding to build a classic animal diorama featuring striped hyenas in the museum’s Hall of Asian Mammals.

A plea to save the historic preservation agency
The agency would be eliminated as of July 1, the day it turns 30 years old. Many of its duties would be transferred to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. It’s not yet clear whether all of IHPA’s programs would survive. Everything is in flux right now and could quickly change, for good or bad.

Corporate thieves steal workers’ comp
Your common street thief, yes – but not those princely CEO’s of corporate larceny. America’s working families have learned the elites in the top suites are rewarded for being pickpockets, swindlers, thugs and scoundrels, routinely committing mass...

LETTERS
WATCHING THE WATCHERS I am even more concerned about license-plate readers in the community than Khadine Bennett of the ACLU (“Watching the watchers,” Alan Kozeluh, April 9). Crime-fighting technology in the hands of people who don’t understand its limitations tends to land innocent people in jail.

A new way to punish and reward
Illinois Turnaround is an independent expenditure committee, meaning contributions to it and by it are not capped by law. The committee’s officially stated purpose is to “support state legislative candidates who support Gov. Rauner’s bold and needed reforms, and to oppose those who stand in the way.

Cahnman faces ethics inquiry
In August 2014, the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission accused Cahnman of three counts of violating the Illinois Supreme Court’s Rules of Professional Conduct for lawyers.

Mauled girl faces long recovery
Illyania Rocha begged to spend the night with her older half-sister, Alexis Rocha, at the home on the western outskirts of Springfield where she was attacked. The girls wanted to paint Alexis’ bedroom. The dog lived at the home. The girls’ father had seen it before and was concerned.

Shooting case settled
The case started when James Wells stepped onto his back porch to ring in the new year in 2008 with gunfire. He didn’t know that Springfield police officers had positioned themselves near his home on South 16 th Street in hopes of catching felons firing guns to celebrate the new year, as was common on the city’s east side.

State employees could get back pay after four years
Like many political dramas in Illinois, the tussle over unpaid raises stems from the state’s ongoing financial crisis. In 2010, Quinn threatened to lay off 2,600 state employees and close several state facilities to make ends meet.

Public money could pay for abortions
House Bill 4013, sponsored by Chicago Democrat Sara Feigenholtz, would allow state employee health insurance and Medicaid to cover abortions. The bill passed the House Human Services Committee in March with an 8-6 vote. The votes fell along party lines, with each Democrat on the panel voting for the bill and each Republican voting against it.

Treatment instead of jail
If everyone here in Sangamon County’s fledgling mental health recovery court was going to therapy sessions, testing clean for drugs, not getting arrested and otherwise behaving themselves, there would be no need for a court reporter, who is called in to create an official record when someone screws up and is sent to jail as punishment.

Young reenactors learn history and life
They have spent a combined total of 35 years researching, studying and portraying various African-American characters of the Civil War. Even now and during much of the summer months visitors to the Abraham Lincoln Museum can interact with the couple as Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth.

The first big Springfield funeral
Blasts of cannon woke the citizens of Springfield at dawn on the day of the melancholy event. They fired every half hour until 11 o’clock, and every minute between 11 and noon.

If music be the food of love…
The Springfield Choral Society rehearses at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral and sometimes holds concerts there, as well as at the Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and other area churches.

Questions of identity abound in Young
As I’ve told my sons, “If you can avoid it, don’t get old.” Obviously, this good advice is impossible to heed and while there’s that notion that with age comes wisdom, I’d gladly be a bit dumber if I could just keep my knees from aching and cracking each time I crouch down.

Ending April acts
Engrained Beer Company often serves up fine music to complement their tasty and frosty treats. This Thursday, Seattle-based singer-songwriter Ian McFeron, joined by longtime friend and musical companion Alisa Milner, plays the locally owned and operated restaurant and craft brewery from 8 to 10.

PUB CRAWL
Dates, times and locations are subject to change, so we suggest calling before attending an event..

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers
Son of the legendary accordion player and Zydeco master Rockin’ Dopsie Sr., Dwayne “Dopsie” Rubin comes by his heritage honestly. He knows how to make a party happen whether on his European tours, his many visits to Springfield for the Meatsmack Mardi Gras Party or kickin’ it up at home on his Louisiana turf.

THE CALENDAR
Classical Guitar Society. $15 adults, $10 students and seniors. 217-816-8832. Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2313 Whittier Ave., 217-522-7331..

DANCE | Belly dancing beauties
This Saturday, see some of the Midwest’s most talented belly dancers shimmy, shuffle and shake during the Tribal X-Change belly dance show at the Hilton Springfield. Performers include Dawn “Nandana” Ruckerty, Elizabeth “Super Beth” Fish and Terri Allred, of the recently released ATS with Props: Veil, Fan & Basket.

PETS | Petapalooza
Pet owners and their animal friends are invited to the annual Ani-Mall Pet Exposition on Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Exposition Building. This is your opportunity to shop vendor booths, seek advice from local vets, view pet demonstrations and participate in activities and games with your pet.

FAMILY FUN | Take a step for autism
This Saturday, April 25, take a step for autism at the 2015 Autism Awareness Walk and Family Fun Day, hosted by the Autism Society of Central Illinois.