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Citizenship test
Who gets to be an American? I don’t mean who gets to live here. I mean, who gets to be an American citizen? This large question weighs heavily on the smaller minds on our political right.

The people’s school
This year, proclaimed by Governor Rauner as the “Year of the Community College,” marks the 50th anniversary of Illinois’ law setting up the community college system. His proclamation bears a certain irony given his failure to fund the colleges or student assistance grants.

Corporate cons and widening inequality
But that reality hasn’t stopped their PR campaign, pitching their “salad” as good and good for you. For example, a recent article touted a study blaring the happy news that TPP will increase real incomes in the U.S. by $133 billion a year.

LETTERS
I first became aware of Legacy many years ago when I came upon an ad for a beautiful set of speakers in one of the audio magazines. My first thought was “Wow! Who makes these?” I looked to the bottom of the ad to find that they were not only made in Illinois, but in Springfield.

Not working, not winning
Obama talked about his first Illinois Senate speech, after which Republican Senate President Pate Philip “sauntered” over to his desk, slapped him on the back and said, “Kid, that was a pretty good speech. In fact, I think you changed a lot of minds. But you didn’t change any votes.

Downtown student housing coming this fall
A partnership between UIS, Town and Country Bank and Bluffstone, LLC., a student housing development firm, will give graduate students a new option for off-campus housing in the downtown area. Bluffstone, LLC will build a residential complex for students called Villas Downtown Springfield, located on Third and Madison streets.

It’s a wrap
The local sheriff’s office acquired the MRAP in 2014 under former sheriff Neil Williamson. The vehicle became a campaign issue that year, with Democratic candidate Jeff Regan saying that the MRAP was too heavy to negotiate some roads and was also hard to operate and maintain.

PAST AND PRESENT
www.facebook.com/groups/.

TELLING ALL
When Roland Burris moved his family back to Illinois from Washington, D.C., in 1963 after he fi nished law school, he swore only two conditions could convince him to move back to the nation’s capital: he would go either as vice-president or as a U.S. senator.

Illinois behind on federal ID mandate
The federal REAL ID Act of 2005 required state governments to adopt certain standards for driver’s licenses and other state-issued identification.

Still no contract at SJ-R
Shannon Duffy, administrative officer for the United Media Guild that represents about 25 newsroom workers, said that a Feb. 11 bargaining session resulted in no breakthroughs. It was the first session since union members last month unanimously rejected a contract offer that was billed as the company’s final and best offer (“Shove It,” Jan.

Nature’s friends
Wherever you are right now, odds are the world surrounding you is made of human-designed objects. With a stretch of the imagination, perhaps this world can become one of nature, filled with acres of prairie, woods and wetlands, inhabited by creatures of all shapes, sizes, abilities and functions.

The last waltz
We hosted her memorial reception in our home. The receiving line stretched far outside and wound, fittingly, through her kitchen. Now that the guests are gone, the big old house she loved so much stands quiet. The kitchen is spotless and the only aromas are coming from her memorial flowers.

Small but mighty
For the last ten years, the Oscar Nominated Short Films have been packaged and released to select theaters around the country. What began as an experiment has become an eagerly awaited annual event for film lovers. Below are mini-reviews of the five animated nominees which are currently playing at the AMC Parkway 8.

The sweet flow of Poetry Out Loud
Mariah Brooks, a junior at Southeast High School in Springfield, and Aleeya Reed, a sophomore at Eisenhower High School in Decatur, won the central Illinois regional competitions last week.

PUB CRAWL
The Complaint Line, The Mizzerables, Flamingo, Winder.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Fun DMC
Take the cover band concept of playing popular songs and combine it with a DJ-style song mashup to make an “oddly entertaining blend of musical alchemy”, and there you have the design behind Fun DMC. Combined artists include Journey and Metallica, Nelly and The Bee Gees, Run-D.

Music goings on
David Cain, owner/operator of UMEDIA located at the Hoogland Center for the Arts, offers up a new set of Wertico, Cain and Gray music and video releases for public viewing.

THE CALENDAR
Fairs & Festivals Cask and Carhartt Outdoor Festival.

COMEDY | A charitable comedian
Comedian Peter Berman’s big break occurred when hallucinogenic drug guru Dr. Timothy Leary caught his act and invited the then-University of Michigan student to perform a gig in Los Angeles at Hollywood Improv. One year later, with a degree in communications in tow, Peter moved to Los Angeles and quickly became a regular on the stand-up comedy scene.

MUSIC | Linking music and sports
Enjoy a Sunday concert that showcases Millikin University’s powerful interdisciplinary alliances with collaborative performances by students and faculty from the College of Fine Arts. This exciting program by Millikin University’s Chamber Percussion Ensembles explores the relationship between music and sports.