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Making Illinois safe for the Bs
New programs would be subject to the rigor of the market; if a course or a degree program doesn’t attract enough takers to pay for itself, it shouldn’t be taught. Making popularity the test of a course means surrendering the power to set public education priorities to kids who are still figuring out how to operate a coin clothes washer.

Aldermen and big money
When Springfield City Council members repeatedly accept large campaign contributions from the same serial donors year after year, they invariably compromise their impartiality and subordinate the general interest to special interests. Last month, several serial givers held a “thank you” event for a quorum of aldermen.

Think your job is safe from the robot invasion?
Doctoring. Robots have long served as surgical assistants, but today’s robotic sawbones can be the primary slicer-dicers, operating with more precision than humans. Moreover, advanced doc-bots increasingly diagnose and choose treatments based on their ability to digest thousands of scientific articles, medical reports, patient records, etc.

LETTERS
Vice President of SearchLight, William Mercer, gave the SearchLight executive board a report regarding an oversize homeless man in a wheelchair. Because of his size and his wheelchair, the homeless man couldn’t utilize available washrooms and showers available to the homeless, nor was he able to use the restrooms.

The 2017 exodus
Now, there are some caveats here. Two House members (Juliana Stratton and Litesa Wallace) are leaving to run for lieutenant governor, but that’s unusual because they’re really just beginning their legislative service. Another, Scott Drury, is running for attorney general, but he’s clearly dissatisfied with the House.

MEMBERS OF HOPE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CHOIR TO SING AT CARNEGIE HALL
Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY), a New York based production company, has invited the Hope Presbyterian Church choir, along with choir director Tom Heintzelman, to perform at Carnegie Hall.

Indie rock hero at Radon Lounge David Bazan (Pedro the Lion) to play intimate Springfield show Friday
For more than 20 years, Seattle-based singer-songwriter David Bazan has been wrestling with his demons in public, both as a solo artist and with his near-mythical band Pedro the Lion, which will be playing its first shows since 2005 later this year.

DOWNTOWN POP-UP BOOK SHOP
The Springfi eld Public Schools Foundation will host “One Eighty Six Books,” its fi rstever pop-op book shop, on Saturday, Oct. 14, from 8 a.m.to 4 p.m. at the Old Capitol Farmers Market at 407 E. Adams in downtown Springfi eld. Proceeds from the event will be used to supply books for school libraries and classrooms district-wide.

A “welcoming city” in the making
A citywide committee is promoting a resolution affirming the city of Springfield as a “welcoming city that respects the innate dignity of all people,” according to an email circulated by the committee. “A public statement will convey that Springfield is a community that is compassionate, immigrant-friendly and welcoming.

Guilty as charged Brown faces 30 years for shooting
A jury last Thursday convicted Brown in connection with the killing of Charles Rice, who was 38 when he was gunned down on Jan. 30, 2013.

The top 10 missing stories. And exposing patterns of what’s missed.
In America, we commonly think of press freedom and censorship in terms of the First Amendment, which focuses attention on the press itself and limits on the power of government to restrict it. But the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, drafted in the aftermath of World War II, presents a broader framework.

What’s behind bad behavior? Acting up and melting down result from Adverse Childhood Experiences
Educators are beginning to get answers to questions they have always asked: Am I doing something wrong? Why does a student react violently to a simple request? Why does another student retreat and sleep in class? And why, even after repeated disciplinary consequences, do some students continue with inappropriate behavior?.

What’s a cucurbit?
While attending one of Urbana’s Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery’s Farm To Table Dinners, I asked owner Leslie Cooperband if I could “stage” (work as an unpaid apprentice) for one of their events. Guest chefs, often from Chicago, would come down to the farm to create amazing meals, eaten communally outdoors.

Mid-October music making
First, let’s congratulate the popular local, contemporary country band Lick Creek for winning the “NASH Next” contest for the Bloomington/Peoria area. Now in their third year of operation, this national selection process of up-and-coming country music acts gives artists from 62 different radio markets in the U.

Battle only provides part of the story
The battle starts from frame one as we see King (Emma Stone) going toe-to-toe with Jack Kramer (Bill Pullman), head of the International Tennis Federation, over the inequity in pay between male and female players.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | James Armstrong
Known as the “Ambassador of the Blues” and also as a resident of Springfield, Mr. Armstrong gets all the credit for being an excellent and constantly touring guitar player with sharp songwriting skills, an all-around good guy of the blues.

PUB CRAWL
Find more details and gigs in our online calendar at.

THE CALENDAR
Kids’ only event for ages 3-5 features fall activities, crafts and yummy treats. $27 residents; $37 non. springfi eldparks.org. 546- 3970. Washington Park Pavilion, 1400 Williams Blvd, 544-1751..

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS | Haunted Halloween fun
A favorite fall haunting event is back and spookier than ever. Don’t miss Riverside Stables’ Extreme Haunted Hayrides and Zombie Paintball Rides every Friday and Saturday night through Oct. 28. During the zombie paintball ride, guests board a double-decker trailer and travel deep into the woods to shoot at live zombie characters and targets.

SPORTS & RECREATION | Nighttime bike brigade
On Saturday, Oct. 14, from 8-11 p.m., join Chef Michael Higgins and the Springfield Bicycle Club for a Moonlight Bike Ramble. The ramble will begin in the parking lot behind Boone’s Saloon, and takes participants on an 11-mile bicycle ride consisting of two loops.