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Patients will die if Congress doesn’t act
The legislation, the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, charges pharmaceutical companies in order to fund the FDA. Without this legislation (renewed every five years), the FDA wouldn’t have the resources to review and approve new medicines in a timely manner.

The next big thing
Every parent knows how hard it is to have a serious conversation when there’s a two-year-old throwing a tantrum in the next room. Thank goodness enough grownups in the General Assembly ignored the governor’s whining on the second floor to solve (sort of) the state of Illinois’ immediate spending crisis.

Nothing ended last week
The woman, described by a friend as a “wonderful” person and “beloved” by many, threw some sort of substance at or into a few offices, including the governor’s. A couple of her friends said she might have been attempting to perform a “good luck” ritual.

LETTERS
THE BUDGET BURDEN The Illinois legislature has overturned the governor’s veto, thereby implementing a budget unseen by the state in more than two years. In order to pay its spiraling liabilities and avoid junk bond status, the legislature has seen fit to raise the income tax rate and the corporate tax rate, each more than 30 percent.

AG dings Rauner for FOIA violation
After making the original request, the newspaper sent a half-dozen follow-up emails to the governor’s office but received no response. Pursuant to state law, the paper on May 3 contacted the attorney general’s office, which is supposed to referee FOIA disputes.

Illinois to Trump: “No”
It all began with a June 28 letter sent to the secretary of state of each state and signed by commission vice chair Kris W. Kobach.

LINCOLN MEMORIAL GARDEN Living memorials
Memorial. What a fitting middle name for Lincoln Memorial Garden. The founders of this gem on the shore of Lake Springfield envisioned a living memorial to honor Abraham Lincoln and his association with Springfield.

Bridge dedication
Lincoln Memorial Garden has always been a place where the contributions of many make things possible. Myrtle Walgreen once quoted Abraham Lincoln in describing Harriet Knudson’s contributions: “Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall fi nd the way.

Kohlrabi, for a change
A member of the brassica family, kohlrabi has been cultivated in Western Europe since the 16 th century, and has its first recorded mention in the United States around 1806. Kohlrabi’s name is a direct combination of the German words ‘kohl’ meaning cabbage and ‘rabi’ meaning turnip.

Legacy’s Newsies is dazzling, topical
The first section of the play, which establishes the world inhabited by the newsies, is enjoyable and charming but things catch fire once the boys decide to unionize, a storyline that provides real stakes (including stylized baseball-bat beatdowns courtesy of Pulitzer’s anti-union thugs-for-hire) as well as some present day social relevance.

Deliberate pace nearly undoes Apes
At this point, the film takes on the feel of a western as Caesar finds himself reluctantly traveling with unwanted allies.

Fruit of the Amaranth Apple
Congrats to our friends Tammy and Larry for getting hitched on Saturday, hosting a reception at George Rank’s, then taking the party to the Amaranth Apple Festival in downtown Springfield. May the union be long lasting and long loving, and may I continue to see you all Fridays at the round bar.

PUB CRAWL
Captain Geech and The Shrimp Shack Shooters.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Joel DaSilva
This nationally renowned blues/roots musician is hitting the road as part of his “Fire and the Fury Tour” and preparing for the latest release of a new album that’s the follow-up to his acclaimed 2014 release, Durty Howlin’ Blues..

THE CALENDAR
THEATER & COMEDY Belly Laffs’ Joke Lab.

MUSIC: GENERAL EVENTS | A captivating concert
On Thursday, July 13, enjoy the award-winning sounds of Celtic-Americana duo Switchback during July’s “Music at the Museum” concert, a monthly concert series that showcases all styles of music. The concerts are produced by Chris Vallillo and held the second Thursday of each month.

FAIRS & FESTIVALS | Celebrate the beauty of Springfield
Enjoy a revitalization of Springfield’s premiere downtown food and music festival this weekend during the Amaranth Apple Festival, whose name is a nod to Springfield’s most famous poet Vachel Lindsay, who wrote of the mystical fruit called the “Amaranth Apple” in his 1920 novel titled The Golden Book of Springfield.

BOOKS & AUTHORS | Obama: The Call of History
On Tuesday, July 18, enjoy a presentation and book signing by New York Times.