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Where to cut the city budget
The city of Springfield’s pending financial disaster is much more a problem of priorities, and less a problem of revenue. Informal comments already suggest that there is nothing left to cut, but they mean “other than police and fire, there is nothing left to cut.

Grave matters
Cemeteries are not only places to park dead uncles while they await their maker. They also are, or were, parks, picnic grounds, trysting places, settings for patriotic rituals and party venues for teens happy to find one place where their elders didn’t shout at them to quiet down.

Why net neutrality is an important democratic virtue
We’re told by politicos, pundits and internet providers themselves that access to the net is crucial to our educational achievement, future prosperity and ability to be self-governing. Yet while this digital highway is deemed vital to our nation’s well-being, access to it is not offered as a public service – i.

LETTERS
We three Mills boys could grab our swimming suits, jump on our bikes, and be at Nichols Park swimming pool in 20 minutes. No one locked their homes, everyone left their car keys on the car floor, and everyone knew whose husband was good and whose check was bad.

Mike Z returns
As you may already know, Leader Durkin is being challenged by Burr Ridge Mayor Mickey Straub, who has backing from conservative activist Dan Proft and Operating Engineers Union Local 150. It’s a bizarre duo teaming up in an unprecedented attempt to take out a Republican legislative leader.

A broken records unit
It’s not clear what prompted Wanzo to be sent home on paid leave last spring, but the inspector general’s office has launched a probe. Inspectors general don’t move at the speed of light, or even tortoises.

SEASON’S GREETINGS, MR. MAYOR
On Dec. 12, members of the Sangamon Valley Group of the Sierra Club and the Springfi eld Branch of the NAACP delivered a large holiday card to Springfi eld Mayor Jim Langfelder drawing attention to Springfi eld’s many environmental issues and asking the mayor to hold the next promised public process meeting.

INDEPENDENT?
The Springfi eld police union is crying foul over the way the city handled the discovery that police interview rooms have been under constant electronic surveillance.

Keeping an eye on cops
That police cannot turn off recording gear installed in interview rooms 10 months ago would seem to discourage officers from engaging in wrongdoing while also shielding police from false allegations of brutality. It is not a theoretical issue, given that Officer Chuck Redpath, Jr.

Med school is a cut above
Founded in Springfield in 1970, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine has seen 2,818 students graduate (with 42 percent of those currently practicing medicine doing so in Illinois).

Centennial of shame
One hundred years ago, East St. Louis surpassed Springfield for the most ignoble reason – it had race riots worse than the Springfield riots of 1908. Springfield’s riots became known for helping establish the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Sharing the love of reading
Tiffany Roe and Litina Carnes looked at their collection of books that had outgrown their houses and started brainstorming ways to share their love of books. “We didn’t just want to donate them and have them resold. So we said, let’s find a way to give them to ones in need,” Tiffany explains.

Healthy holiday gifts
The holiday season brings many celebrations and traditions to enjoy, including gift-giving. Caitlin Huth, a University of Illinois Extension educator and registered dietitian, shares five healthy holiday food gifts this season..

Start a new tradition
Most of the foods that show up every year on my family’s holiday table have origins in the culinary practices of our past generations. Our holiday table has never been a forum for innovation; it has always been a showcase for our family traditions. We always.

Familiarity, pace trips up Jedi
The film opens with a massive battle in space in which a small group of rebels, led by the ever-reckless Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), take out massive destroyers in the First Order’s fleet. Meanwhile, would-be Jedi savior Rey (Daisy Ridley) has found Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) on an isolated island, unwilling to leave and teach her.

Music for goodness sake
As we approach the point of saturation and consternation of the Christmas excess surrounding and encompassing our lives at this time, perhaps it’s best to succumb to the magic of the moment, if not with glee, then at least with tolerance and...

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

BAND SPOTLIGHT | The Meerkat Mobsters
When the pumped up, high-rockin, rockabilly trio The Meerkat Mobsters, featuring Springfield resident Mark Mills (guitar, vocals), Ray Biagioni (drums) from Oglesby and Rick Topolski (stand-up bassist) from Streator, hits town for a show in support of Toys for Tots, expect a wild ride from this blistering rock ‘n’ roll band.

THE CALENDAR
Concert by Mark Gifford and Damien Kaplan features holiday favorites from two pianos, four hands, and two talented and creative brains. $18, $20. hcfta. org. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., 523-2787..

MUSIC | Winter concert
Don’t miss Collegiate Choir, the vocal ensemble of Illinois Wesleyan University, performing at Blessed Sacrament Church, Friday, Dec. 15, at 7:30 p.m. The concert is one of five appearances that the choir, under the direction of Dr. J.

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS | All aboard the Polar Express
Don your pajamas, slippers and housecoats and make the short trip to Mason City’s historic Arlee Theater to experience the magic of the Polar Express..

CHILDREN’S CORNER | Baseball in December
On Saturday, Dec. 16, baseball fans of all ages can enjoy an afternoon of baseball-themed crafts, a tour of the ongoing “Cubs vs. Cardinals: The Rivalry” exhibition, and a chance to mingle with the Cardinals and Cubs mascots during the Abraham Presidential Library and Museum’s Mascot Day.