Why the new Exelon/ComEd bill is bad for Illinois consumers
With the spring legislative session in Springfield only a few days from adjournment, legislators are rushing to move bills up the chain for a final vote on the floor and passage. As they do so, it’s critical that lawmakers pay special attention to specific pieces of legislation that will have dire impact on their constituents.

Undesirables
Downtown Springfield is, or will be, fairly humming with new residential construction. The refurbished St.

Meet Glencore, rapacious global lord
The beatings of American workers (wage slashing, axed benefits, union busting, mass firings, offshored factories and brutish abuse of worker rights) have been increasing in frequency, intensity and scope – mostly ordered by CEOs in the posh, faraway headquarters of multi-tentacled global empires.

LETTERS
Oak Ridge is the largest municipal cemetery in Illinois and the second most visited in the nation. Created in 1856 by our Springfield City Council, the 365 acres of beautiful rolling prairie with thousands of trees, and the final resting place of our...

More crazy talk in Springfield
It has looked to me for a very long time that House Speaker Michael Madigan has been waiting for an existential state crisis to force Gov. Bruce Rauner to back completely away from his anti-union, pro-business Turnaround Agenda so that they can pass a “clean” state budget.

Silence is golden
There is, of course, one way for Mautino to put questions to rest. He could produce records showing exactly who got money and why during his time in the General Assembly, which ended late last year when he became auditor general. But Mautino hasn’t done that.

INDEPENDENT MAPS CLEARS HURDLE
May 23 marked the fi rst sign of victory for the controversial Independent Map amendment, which would eliminate the General Assembly’s role in the redistricting process. At least 290,216 petition signatures needed to be submitted to the Illinois State Board of Elections by May 9 in order for the amendment to be considered for the November ballot.

BE A SUPERHERO
On June 4 at 10 a.m., Prevent Child Abuse Illinois will host its seventh annual Illinois Walk for Children featuring Spiderman and Ironman at the YMCA Gus and Flora Kerasotes location. According to a press release, there will be a one-mile walk followed by superhero-themed games and activities for children ages 12 and younger.

A better way to investigate rape
A 2013 investigation by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office found 176 rape kits in the basement of the Village of Robbins police department. The kits never made it to the Illinois State Police crime lab to be analyzed. One of those kits belonged to the 15-year-old from Harvey.

Slow heist
George Dinges trusted Susan Satterlee with every aspect of his Springfield-based business when he hired her 10 years ago as his operations manager. He would later find out she stole $2.5 million from his business over the course of more than five years.

Travel through history on the National Road in Illinois
“Road trip!” can evoke images of fun and freedom for family and friends. This summer, toss in a little history and take off with a “National Road Trip!” Driving Illinois’ 164-mile stretch of the iconic route takes you from the National Road Welcome Center in Marshall on the Indiana border to the Mississippi.

Three very different artists, one satisfying exhibit
“Translations,” the first new group exhibit featuring members of the Springfield Art Association since its merger with the Prairie Art Alliance early this year, is currently on display at the newly rechristened SAA Collective in the H.D. Smith Gallery at the Hoogland Center for the Arts.

Produce trailer heads into the food desert
There are a lot of things about cooking that makes it hard. I try to be very conscious of not calling recipes or menu plans “easy,” because they never really are. Even the simplest recipe is not technically easy; making anything from scratch requires certain skills and has a time cost.

Director’s misstep hinders Nice Guys
Crowe is Jackson Healy, a grizzled cynic who works as an independent detective despite not having a license. He crosses paths with Holland March (Gosling), a single father who also happens to be the worst … private … eye … ever. His intentions are good, but he has a drinking problem and is easily rattled so the chips are stacked against him.

MMDW music
The above headline translates into “Memorable Memorial Day Weekend music” by my calculations, but feel free to make it into anything you want. All I know is we are in for one of the most incredible runs of live music I think I’ve ever known in good ol’ Springfield.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Legendary Shack Shakers
Celebrating 20 years as an entity on the scene, head Shack Shaker J.D. Wilkes (now an official Kentucky colonel as bestowed by the state’s governor) brings his fellow bandmates bassist Mark Robertson, guitarist Rod Hamdallah and drummer Brett Whitacre on a Midwest tour in May.

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

THE CALENDAR
Two-day fest features 60 local bands on 5 stages. Kids and family area offers games, entertainment, food, drink, fun. Proceeds support 10 local charities. $5 per ticket, kids 12 and under free. springfi eldsoho.org. 217- 415-0411. Old State Capitol, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza, 785-9363.

BOOKS & AUTHORS | Your Friend Forever, A. Lincoln
According to Cullom Davis, the former head of the Lincoln Legal Papers project, Strozier’s book is hailed as “the definitive account of this critical period in Lincoln’s life.” The evening’s festivities include a book signing at 6 p.m. followed by a talk at 6:30 p.

HISTORY | An old-fashioned gathering
Enjoy an early Memorial Day celebration along with the splendor of Oak Ridge Cemetery on Saturday, May 28, from 1-4 p.m.