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Republicans’ replacement for Obamacare
All Americans face the prospect that very shortly after Jan. 20, Congress will repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). That means between 14 and 17 million people (depending on the report you want to use) will have their health care benefits in jeopardy. It is estimated that over one million of them are in Illinois.

Manufacturing crisis
Let’s talk about manufacturing in Illinois – everybody else is. Our new honorary president and our not-so-new governor have promised to bring back good manufacturing jobs, jobs just like the old days. Only they won’t, because they can’t.

Right-wingers, Red Pope and Jesus
Not war like in Afghanistan. No, no – this is the far right’s God-awful “War on Christmas.” In this season of Peace on Earth, a delusional faction of rightists has cooked up a hokey “cultural crisis” to rally their own followers by fomenting hatred of .

LETTERS
I, along with others, am becoming concerned about Springfield TIF spending policies. Tax increment financing, as often espoused, has taxes (generally property tax) removed from the public rolls in distressed areas to create economic development that would give a greater return than taxes encumbered.

Illinois is in danger of becoming a failed state
In response to that last cataclysmic revelation, we got a tweet from the governor about the need for “reforms” and a press release from Rauner’s office calling on the Democrats to back his pro-business/anti-union reforms so that a budget deal could get done.

A half-century of sewing
And Costa knows about governors, having sewn for former Gov. George Ryan (and First Lady Lura Lynn Ryan) and former Gov. Jim Thompson back in the day, when his shop would sell 50 or 60 made-to-measure suits each year. Former Springfield Mayor William Telford, who left office in 1979, was also a customer.

Jennifer Watkins fights for custody
“She’s a charming little girl, and I was moved when I met her,” said Cass County Circuit Court Judge Robert Hardwick, Jr. during a hearing last week that will help define Sidney’s future. “I’d like to take her home myself. She’s turned out pretty well, despite what the adults have done.

A delightful mixed bag of movies
There were two dominating factors in American film this year – Disney Studios and animated features – and it should come as no surprise that the success of one went hand-in-hand with the other. Never before has one studio controlled the overall global box office as the Mouse House did in 2016.

The 10 best film scenes of 2016
Movies are about moments – big moments that erase our cynicism about cinema and remind us of its capacity to dazzle as well as touch us. This happens in a way only possible with a medium that seamlessly combines so many other art forms.

SAA’s film series brings drama, variety
Each winter for the past 25 years, the Springfield Art Association has offered an antidote to the common blockbuster with the Molly Schlich Independent and International Film Series. Over the course of several weeks (Sunday matinees and Tuesday evenings) at AMC’s Parkway 8, 3025 Lindbergh Blvd.

Figures fine but lacks bite
Based on the book by Margot Lee Shetterly, the film chronicles the lives of Katherine G. Johnson (Taraji Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae), three brilliant women who rose through the ranks of three separate divisions at NASA during the space race.

Resolve to have fewer, better kitchen gadgets
We know that eating fresh, simple, home-cooked food is one of the best ways to foster our health and overall well-being. Many of you, like me, will be entering the New Year with a renewed commitment to health and to improving order and efficiency in our lives and households.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Barry Cloyd
A talented, hardworking artist of stature, this Peoria native plays steady all year, making a living making music, and he does it by making people feel good. A versatile, multi-instrumentalist on banjo, guitar (six and 12 strings, Dobro and high-strung), harmonica and mandolin, our man Barry does classic covers (Beatles, etc.

PUB CRAWL
Open Mic w/ Roger Wilco and the Starship Troopers.

New New Year’s news
Well, here we are in 2017, and don’t you know it, it will be 2018 before you know it. I know, I know, don’t say things like that, but, as some folks say, it’s better than the alternative. The holidays are mostly over, so let’s get right back to seeing what’s going on in the live music scene in Springfield.

THE CALENDAR
‘Cheese-Murder in Paradise’ Murder Mystery Dinner.

AUDITIONS | The quirks of community theater
Exercise your creative side by auditioning for Historical Fiction,.

FOOD | Heal from food struggles
If your new year’s resolution is to take charge of your nutrition, this “Winter Nutrition Retreat” hosted by AnnaNutrition might be the resource you need. Split into three sessions, the retreat is geared towards women healing from food struggles. The morning session runs from 9:30 a.