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Looking beyond the election
Let’s start with the belief expressed by a lot of people – including some candidates – that the system is “rigged.” This is a perilous way to treat the country’s political system; it sows distrust in future election results, delegitimizes winners, and undermines the government’s credibility.

Who’s rigging elections?
“You cheated!” is the lament of sore losers everywhere. Donald Trump warns – ominously, ludicrously – that the November election will be rigged too, presumably because the Democrats will flood the polls with phony voters. This is a nightmare from the Chicago of the 1950s that Republicans can’t get out of their heads.

Laboratories of democracy
In a 1932 dissenting opinion, Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis noted that the benefit of America’s federal structure is that “a single courageous state may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country.

THIS WEEK
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LETTERS
The Illinois General Assembly can make our state a leader in clean energy. As a progressive leader in Springfield, I know that policy that supports energy-efficiency programs encourages economic development and keeps homes in our neighborhood affordable.

Long-forgotten court case bubbles up again
The Illinois State Board of Education is reportedly mulling whether to settle a civil rights lawsuit filed eight years ago by the Chicago Urban League.

THIS MODERN WORLD
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Obed and Isaac’s redux
It is instantly obvious why this is not the men’s room. Few public bathrooms feature a spacious anteroom graced by a marble-lined fixture in an alcove that resembles – and there is no getting around this – a massive urinal, albeit one lacking a drain, and the Conns wanted customers to make no mistakes.

The forfeit game
In one case, a Decatur man would have done well to exercise his right to remain silent during a 2014 arrest for selling drugs after officers served a search warrant at his home. Instead, Terrance Norwood told a Macon County sheriff’s deputy that he planned to get out of the drug business because he’d just won the lottery.

Gambling explosion
Now 79 years old, he is a recovering alcoholic but hasn’t drank a beer in 35 years. He quit smoking, too; he once inhaled three or four packs per day but hasn’t touched a cigarette in years. Still, there’s something about video gambling that keeps him hooked.

Trutter’s art and architecture
Art and artifacts from the travels of Springfield architect Philip Trutter and his wife, Mary Kathryn Trutter, are on display along with black and white photographs of Trutter’s architectural projects, which include Capital Airport, the Municipal Building West, Franklin Junior High School and Washington Junior High School.

Blackburn’s one-armed baseball player mystery
The story involves a one-armed baseball player at Blackburn from a century ago. In recent years, debates have erupted over his identity. One popular belief was that the player was Pete Gray, who played for the St. Louis Browns in 1945 and has since become a part of American sports lore.

Sugar fundraisers
It’s fundraising season again. Kids are returning home from school with cookie dough and popcorn order forms, and churches and community groups are gearing up for their annual holiday bake sales. It’s hard to say no to the bright-eyed kid selling candy bars to raise money to buy new baseball uniforms, and why should we? It’s for a good cause, right?.

Miss Peregrine overcomes a slow start to delight
Creatures who eat eyeballs to regain their humanity; children who are invisible or can turn you to stone with a glance or are lighter than air; and a sense of alienation felt by all. Yep, Ransom Riggs’ novel Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.

A musical fall
As the weather changes, so do our music venues. This week brings the last of the big outdoor festivals (as far as I’ve heard), and it is very likely the heaters came out and on last week in our indoor/outdoor beer/music garden areas. Before you know it, we’ll be singing “Auld Lang Syne.

PUB CRAWL
James Armstrong Presents Dave Lumsden and Friends.

BAND SPOTLIGHT
Based out of Waterloo in Monroe County, the Waterloo German Band began in 1939 then fell apart during the war for obvious reasons. By 1952, Waterloo resident and U.S. Marine Harry Wolf got the band going again with help from family and friends, and it’s never stopped.

THE CALENDAR
Oct 8, 11am-2pm Sat. Dog games and activities, PAWcasso paw painting, buried treasure for dogs, dog costume contests, demonstrations, vendors, kids area, more. $3 for one dog, $5 for two. apl-shelter.org. 217- 544-7387. Stuart Park, Winch Lane (north of Jefferson).

THEATER & COMEDY
See comedian Kevin Farley live this weekend at Donnie B’s Comedy Club. While Kevin is commonly known as the younger brother to “Saturday Night Live” superstar Chris Farley and the older brother to actor John Farley, Chris himself has a storied career that includes acting in, directing and producing films and TV shows, stand-up comedy and more.

FAIRS & FESTIVALS
Springfield’s premier event devoted to the physical, emotional and financial health and well-being of women of all ages returns to the Illinois State Fairgrounds’ Orr Building this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

HISTORY | Springfield’s history and heritage
See actors and actresses in period costume portray eight people buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery whose actions were central to the development of Springfield. Portrayed individuals include Leanna Donegan Knox, whose son William Donegan was murdered during the 1908 Race Riots of Springfield.