Page 1

Lost in Illiniville
I expect that the main campus in Urbana and Champaign of the University of Illinois is the Downstate town that many Springfieldians know best after their own – in some parts the prettiest and in some ways (people walking!) the most interesting.

In France, the center held
Yeats’s famous line of poetry during the dark times after the Great War comes eerily down to us today: “Things fall apart, the centre cannot hold.” Yet in the preliminary French elections on April 23 the center did hold, or so it seems. Let’s unravel this most important election which could decide whether the European Union continues or dies.

Keep our Postal Service public
In addition to “news,” we’re now getting “fake news” (stuff that’s completely made up). But wait – the barons of corporate news are adding to today’s tumultuous state of journalism by putting out feeds of “BS news” (stuff they know is untrue but is reported as fact because it advances their political agenda).

LETTERS
HOLD ON TO DREAMS After the women’s movement marches earlier this year, new and emerging leaders organized the recent Springfield Women’s March, held April 25. I’ve been watching and admiring these brave women as they find their collective voices and inner power over the past few months.

A meeting that shouldn’t have been news
And House Speaker Michael Madigan hasn’t formally met with the governor since Dec. 6 of last year, about five months ago. Gov. Bruce Rauner announced at the time there would be no more such meetings until the Democrats were prepared to offer up a balanced budget with specific reforms – something that the governor hasn’t done since, either.

Bill to restrict isolation cells fails
But a bill that would restrict the use of isolation cells in local jails appears dead. The measure remained in committee as an April 28 deadline passed for the House to take action on bills sponsored by House members.

COFFEE PAINT FOR A CAUSE
Proceeds from the event will go to the LMS Jr. Beta Club, a service organization at the middle school level that volunteers for various events throughout the school year.

IN THE CLEAR
Sangamon County state’s attorney John Milhiser says no charges will be fi led after an investigation into the North County Teen Court requested by Sherman Police Chief Craig Bangert in January.

“Past Due” hears stories of impasse pain
“Over the last 22 months, we have had devastating impact to the people we serve and to the community because of the budget impasse,” said Theresa Collins, associate executive director of Senior Services Plus in St. Clair County.

Crime down?
Last year, prosecutors filed 1,323 misdemeanor cases compared to 1,733 cases in 2015. The reduction accelerated in the fall of last year, when 396 misdemeanor cases were filed between Sept. 1 and Jan. 1; in 2015, 676 misdemeanors were filed during the same time frame.

UIS takes back the night
According to a 2015 report by the Association of American Universities, 23.1 percent of female undergraduate students and 5.4 percent of male undergraduate students experience rape or sexual assault through violence, physical force or incapacitation..

What’s so funny about Philly?
So goes the joke of Raymond “Philly” Phillips, one of the first quips he came up with back in 2000 when he broke into the business at Springfield’s Funny Bone Comedy Club (now Donnie B’s).

Movie magic plus a minor in music
“We are starting an annual tradition,” said Yona Stamatis, director of the UIS Orchestra. “The plan is to have an orchestra concert every year that is half concert and half info session for high school students and their parents and anybody else interested in the UIS music program.

Darker Guardians 2 is still great fun
If the film has a fault, it’s that it’s guilty of trying too hard during its first act to please its audience.

Waste not, want not
Approximately 40 percent of the food produced in the United States, approximately 133 billion pounds, will end up in the trash. That’s roughly equivalent to buying five bags of groceries, then pitching two of those bags in the trash on the way out of the store.

A new history of New Salem
If not for Abraham Lincoln, New Salem would have been just another frontier community lost to history. Instead, the people, places, and events live on in books, articles, plays, and a reconstructed village aptly named Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site.

Maybe music here
Nothing says May like Cinco de Mayo and we have plenty of places celebrating the Mexican holiday with drink specials and live music. Larson, Larson and Harte bop the Craft Beer Bar and Pimpin Henry and John Brillhart rule at the Butternut Hut. Fun DMC hits the Boar’s Nest in Athens while Captain Geech dances into the Curve Inn.

PUB CRAWL
Captain Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Alec James
Sometimes the best descriptions come from the artists themselves, and in this case we get: “Alec James is a musician and songwriter in the central Illinois area. He plays guitar, harmonica and has a particular affinity for acoustic folk music.” We could stop right there and that should be enough to intrigue a soul, but there’s more.

THE CALENDAR
May 7, 3pm Sun. UIS music program concert features pieces from famous movies such as Star Wars, The Pink Panther and James Bond. Meet-andgreet following concert. Free. 206-8583..

MUSIC | Fantastic Finale
Celebrate the close of the 24 th season of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra with a concert featuring Grammy Award-winning guitarist Jason Vieaux led by guest conductor Andrew Sewell. Sewell, maestro of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, is one of four finalists in the ISO’s 2016-2017 music director candidate search.

SPORTS | Track and field athletics
On Sunday, May 7, show your support for nearly 200 Special Olympics Illinois athletes as they compete in track and field events during the largest area event of the year for Special Olympics Illinois. The day commences at 9 a.m. with an opening ceremony, including a parade of athletes.

MUSIC | Unlocking spirituality via music
The Liturgical Arts Festival of Springfield is honored to present a gratis jazz concert that celebrates the human quest for spirituality through music on Sunday, May 7, from 3-5 p.m.