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Making Mr. McGregors
A narc? DHS goon? Nope. He wore the uniform of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and he wanted to look at the potted herbs I had in the back seat. He was on the lookout for invasive plants and insects that could wreak havoc with the state’s agricultural industry.

Drunk drivers need to hear from victims
It appears certain that drunk drivers, drivers under the influence of drugs, and distracted drivers will continue to kill and injure innocent motorists. Why is it so certain, when everyone recognizes the dangers involved in these practices? Or do they?.

Obama’s ugly show of presidential petulance
President Obama has worked himself into such a tizzy over the TPP that he’s lashing out at his progressive friends in Congress. He’s mad because they refuse to be stereotypical lemmings following him over this political cliff called the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

LETTERS
AN OUTSIDERS’ PERSPECTIVE As someone who has come to know Springfield a little over recent months, I wonder if folks here might like to know how it seems from the outside. These are times when there is a lot of discontent expressed in various quarters, and it seems to be the norm to express negativity or outrage, readily and often.

No positive news from the Statehouse
Other than some individual personal developments, there just wasn’t much positivity around. The governor’s chief of staff Mike Zolnierowicz and his incomparable wife Barret were about to have a new baby. They’re great people and that’s wonderful news, but it also means that “Z” was not going to be able to work on solving the problems for a few days.

Standout students receive college scholarships
Sacred Heart-Griffin student Maria Palazzolo was chosen Student of the Year and received a $10,000 scholarship. First runnerups were Connor Davlin from Springfield High School and Ryan Salzeider from Pawnee High School. Both received $5,000 scholarships.

MARIJUANA MATH
The numbers still aren’t adding up for Illinois’ fl edgling medical marijuana industry, once seen by many as a license to print money. Consider startup costs that can never be recouped given the current trajectory of the pilot program, which will expire in 2018 unless Gov.

THE PINK TRIANGLE
When the Nazis began forcing groups deemed “undesirable” into concentration camps in March 1933, gay people were among those rounded up and murdered. Gay people were forced to wear a pink triangle to identify them in the camps, but that sign formerly used to shame has now been repurposed as a symbol of pride for gay people everywhere.

Going the mile
Her smile remains bright in selfies taken with her half-sister Alexis, 15, whom she was visiting when the dog attacked her in a backyard. Her limbs remain bandaged, however, and the back of her head is still bloody from the attack, which left her with a partially detached scalp.

Reducing the rape kit testing backlog
Rosa Pickett’s eyes still well up with tears as she describes how, in 1977, she was raped, beaten unconscious and left in the weeds as a young woman in Robbins, Illinois, near Chicago. Still, she keeps her composure as she recalls how the same man contacted her in 1987.

Experts blast prison health care
Inmates were largely ignored as they languished and died, according to the panel’s report aimed at helping resolve the lawsuit brought by inmates. Problems ranged from small to massive.

Summer Movie Preview 2015
It’s summertime and at the movies that means two things – superheroes and sequels. Of the mainstream films being released between June and Aug., more than onethird will be followups, TV takeoffs or tales featuring meta-humans. Most of the rest will be comedies, animated features, horror flicks and teen movies.

Strawberry party
In the mid-1800s, late spring and early summer was strawberry party time in Springfield. Actually, it was strawberry party time pretty much everywhere during the luscious berries’ short season. The concept started in Europe but it didn’t take long for strawberry parties to “cross the pond” and become wildly popular in small towns and large cities.

Madding a glorious, romantic throwback
Carey Mulligan is an inspired choice for Bathsheba Everdene, a headstrong young woman who’s far ahead of her time regarding her feelings of independence.

End of May music
Last week I mentioned the recent passing of Tony Sicilia, a Springfield rock-blues guitarist. Tony played from the 70s on with everyone in town, always on the verge of breaking through to the big time. He was a master of Hendrix and played electric blues in a way all his own.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Unity the Band
How a native of Fuji ended up playing reggae in an award-winning band all over the Midwest is one part of Unity’s story, but what keeps them coming back to venues is the real story and that’s based on the fantastic and flowing music they play.

PUB CRAWL
Moonshine Bandits, Redneck Souljers, Crucifix.

THEATER & COMEDY | A musical about mental illness
THEATER & COMEDY | A musical about mental illness.

THE CALENDAR
Free to public. 904-3050. Prairie Archives Antiquarian Booksellers, 522 E. Adams..

MUSIC | Four decades of Michael
This Friday, May 29, the number one Michael Jackson tribute show in the world will be performed at the Prairie Capital Convention Center. Two talented performers will portray the King of Pop during multiple stages in his career, from his early beginnings as part of The Jackson 5 through a successful solo career.

NATURE | Birds, prairie plants and drones
On Saturday, the Nipper Wildlife Sanctuary hosts a Master Naturalist Summit for those interested in volunteering with the University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalist volunteer program.