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Paris: A stunning political success
The two-week negotiations came to a jubilant climax on Dec. 12 as 195 nations voted yes to a world climate accord. Tough negotiations, all-night sessions, citizen protests, good planning and diplomacy by the United Nations and by the French hosts brought accord.

“You look fabulous, really!”
The U.S. economy, having finally recovered from the bankers’ attempt to poison it, is up and about again, and Springfield is seeing a modest uptick in spending on the rehabilitation of historic downtown structures such as the Ferguson Building at Sixth and Monroe streets.

Exxon’s weapons of mass confusion
But in 1988, the elegant space inhabited by principle was suddenly invaded by the indelicate demands of profit. Dr. James Hansen, NASA’s renowned climate expert, testified to Congress that fossil pollution of Earth’s atmosphere had already surpassed the crisis point.

LETTERS
FIERY DISGUST I am thoroughly disgusted with Bruce Rushton’s article about the Springfield Fire Department (“Money to burn,” Dec. 10). It was incredibly one-sided and seriously lacking in important facts that I am sure is no accident. It used to be that a reporter’s job was to report the news; now it’s just a reporter’s job to sell more newspapers.

Madigan’s tax-hike gaffe
They’ve also used the loops since the campaign ended. For instance, when Rep. John Bradley (D-Marion) attempted to hold legislative hearings on how the administration was hiding gubernatorial payrollers, they didn’t bow down as others had in the past.

Dark days for Foresight
The St. Louis-based coal company founded by Chris Cline, the mining baron who moved from Appalachia to Illinois a decade ago on the theory that Midwest coal would be a path to even greater prosperity, has seen its stock tumble from $8.73 in mid-October to $2.

BIG BUCKS AND A BOAT
Things got nasty last week in a Seattle courtroom, where Holland America Line is asking a federal judge to toss a $21.5 million jury award to Springfi eld businessman James Hausman, who was konked in the head by a sliding glass door during a 2011 around-the-world cruise and says that he suffered brain damage.

IT PAYS TO LISTEN TO HR
A federal jury in Springfi eld last week awarded $300,000 to a former human resources director for CDS Offi ce Technologies who says that she was fi red in retaliation for telling the company that it was violating federal labor law.

Clinton nuclear plant gets reprieve
The company announced earlier this year it won’t close the Clinton Nuclear Power Plant, 45 miles east of Springfield, for at least another year in light of potential market reforms in Illinois. The announcement follows similar announcements for two of Exelon’s other Illinois nuclear plants.

Jury struggles to reach verdict in child death trial
Kelly’s trial began Dec. 8 and concluded Dec. 15. Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser dismissed the aggravated battery charge before closing arguments, and the jury deliberated for more than eight hours, returning on Dec. 16 to try again. A verdict had not been reached by publication time.

Sticker shock
The Springfield Economic Development Commission has blessed a mayoral plan to spend $125,000 on a consultant who would gather proposals to develop an oversized city block just north of the governor’s mansion, vet developers and recommend a plan that would likely require millions of dollars in public subsidies.

Making a scene
The participating panelists all have a vital stake in the presentation of original music in Springfield, putting together concerts and other showcases for local and international talent.

Upcoming concerts
THU. DEC. 17 Hillbilly Casino, Jukebox Casanova and SS WEB at Bar None, 245 S. Fifth St. THU. DEC. 17 Epsom, Naked Spirit, Heart Attack Man, Attic Salt at South Town Studios, 11th St. and South Grand Ave..

The happy history of Santa Claus
In the 1850s, the arrival of December meant that stores in downtown Springfield would be filled with toys and gifts, and newspapers would be filled with ads reminding holiday shoppers that “Christmas is Coming.

CuisineScene
JT Costelloe’s Pizza Pub Grill.

Local wine for local holidays
It’s a big deal for any wine from anywhere in the world to get a 90-point rating from respected wine publications or organizations. For a central Illinois wine to receive a 90-point rating is more than a big deal; it’s extraordinary, almost unheard of.

Force brings fun back to Star Wars
After the familiar bottom-to-the-top of the screen scroll informs us that master Jedi Luke Skywalker has been missing for years and that his sister, General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), has been searching for him in vain, we see her best pilot Poe...

Moving music
If there was a cake to take for local, live, original music presentation, Bar None would take said cake and eat it too. The joint on the corner of Fifth and Monroe has long been the go-to place for original, live music downtown, and this time it looks like they have outdone themselves with an incredible lineup of good stuff all week long.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Hospital Job
Yes, there is a punk band from Springfield called Hospital Job. Yes, they’ve toured the U.S. twice and western Europe. Yes, they have plans in the works for a 2016 East Coast tour and dates at regional and national punk music festivals. Yes, they’ve released two full LP/CDs with the third (Never Get Cold).

PUB CRAWL
Captain Geech & The Shrimp Shack Shooters Christmas Party.

THE CALENDAR
Twelfth Annual Holiday Interfaith Breakfast.

MUSIC | A versatile voice
In 2012 singer Chris Mann was brought to national attention as one of the top four finalists on NBC’s The Voice,.

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS | Two pianos, three shows, four hands
Join Mark Gifford and Damien Kaplan for their brilliant dual piano show, which was created as a celebration of the arts for First Night 2012. Gifford is pastor at Parkway Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, and has served as the house organist on Springfield High Schools’ Barton Theatre Pipe Organ for more than 20 years.

THEATER & COMEDY | Hilarious Holiday
Richie Holiday did not grow up with a burning desire to be a comedian. He wanted to be an architect, but unfortunately he was terrible at math. A college professor suggested that Richie find something that he did so well that people would pay him for it.