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Supreme Court victimizes kids via sports gambling
Trying to legalize sports gambling, New Jersey lost twice in the U.S. District Court and twice in the Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals between 2012-2014. In a perplexing move, however, the U.S. Supreme Court accepted New Jersey’s appeal and heard the case on Dec.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
J. Christopher Smith, erstwhile president and chief executive officer of H.D. Smith, didn’t appear happy to testify under oath on May 8 along with executives from three other drug distribution companies that shipped millions of addictive painkillers to pharmacies in tiny West Virginia burgs where addiction and overdose rates have skyrocketed.

Good politics isn’t always good government
The governor developed an unexpected and dramatic message and then stayed relentlessly on message during his press conference at an Illinois State Police facility that featured plenty of law enforcement types by his side. Not a word leaked out in advance, either.

LETTERS
SUPPORT FOR SAM I have been an active conservative and a Republican precinct committeeman. In this role, I have been able to meet with Governor Rauner many times and give him my support to turn Illinois around. Recently I have seen the governor take actions that required me to withdraw my support.

Sports betting bills bolstered by Supreme Court ruling
The decision coincides with three current measures introduced in the state Senate -- the Sports Betting Consumer Protection Act, the Sports Wagering Act and a revised version of the Horse Racing Act of 1975, which proposes to standardize sports betting in Illinois.

ENOS PARK ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE
Albuquerque-based artist Allyson Packer, Nick Wylie of Seattle and Illinois State University student Zack Buckley have been chosen as this summer’s artists-in-residence by the Enos Park Residency program, a partnership between the Springfield Art Association, the Enos Park Neighborhood Improvement Association and the City of Springfield.

The fight to reform child care
Protesters gathered outside the Capitol May 16 to press for legislation to reform home care and child care services across Illinois. Organized by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare Illinois and Indiana, home care workers, child care providers, seniors and lawmakers took part in the rally.

TAKE THAT, HOTELS
In a missive sent this week, the company accused hotels of gouging during commencement exercises, squeezing proud families of graduates even more than they’ve already been squeezed by tuition, educational loans, Domino’s pizza tabs and the like.

Big money
The nonprofit foundation that says it might have to sell artifacts related to Abraham Lincoln has taken in more than $40 million since 2007, when the group borrowed $23 million to purchase relics held, but not owned, by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

2018 Summerlong Summerguide
Illinois Products Farmers Market.

Bicentennial buddies: Union County and Illinois
Union County was born the same year as Illinois – and just happens to have some spectacular spots for a 200 th birthday party. A popular state park, a giant cross, a significant Lincoln site and an old school turned into a bed and breakfast await visitors to this scenic area deep in southern Illinois.

Destination Danville, a city reclaiming its treasures
A strong labor town during the Industrial Revolution, Danville’s early economy grew in large part due to coal mining to the south and west of town, brick manufacturing and railroads, says Doug Ahrens, a lifelong resident who has made a career in city and public services.

A Decatur writing professor’s novel about a writing prof
The central character, Henry Streator, is burned out. He misses his ex-wife, who left for a plum teaching job out of state. He’s stuck in their rundown house in his “little island town” of people “adrift in a vast ocean of corn and beans.” Each semester he faces another roster of students he barely tolerates.

Stained glass, a Springfield tour
Springfield is home to gorgeous stained glass installations in churches, historic sites and other public spaces. Architect Ralls Melotte, co-founder of Melotte Morse Stained Glass and Melotte Morse Leonatti Parker, Ltd. Architects, spent 21 years restoring, repairing and fabricating much of it.

Playing around
Fittingly for a theater situated within a village once called home by the future 16 th U.S. president, New Salem’s Theatre in the Park.

Sizzling summer of sound
So many summer concerts, so little time. From big festivals to tiny venues and from hard rock to bro-country and from new wave to hardcore to hip-hop, here’s an overview of some of the best music heading for the area..

All the asparagus
I dearly love asparagus – but I only allow myself to enjoy it in the spring and early summer, when local asparagus becomes available. After a winter of trying to come up with interesting and varied ways to prepare cabbages and root vegetables, those first fresh green shoots are the official prelude to the new season of homegrown vegetables.

Solo: A rollicking, entertaining entry in storied franchise
Corellia is the planet our adventure begins on as we see Solo and his fellow street dweller Qi’ra (Emilia Clarke) try to find a way to leave this planet of thieves for greener pastures. They are soon separated, and each is forced to follow their own destiny.

Memorable Memorial Day weekend
On Thursday night The Curve Inn hosts an event called “The Upside Down” as a benefit for Grant Middle School’s music program. Inspired by Champaign-Urbana’s “The Great Cover Up,” the idea is to get bands to play songs by a group they don’t normally cover.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Stuart Smith
Hailing from the west central Illinois town of Winchester, Mr. Smith’s been performing in Springfield for some time now, and the gifted singer, songwriter and versatile guitarist recently expanded his solo-acoustic gig reach (he also plays with Smashtag) to include St.

PUB CRAWL
Fireside Relics, The Get Down, Tennessee Borderline, 90’s Daughter, Smashtag, Fun DMC.

MUSIC | A comedic piano concert
Mark Gifford and Damien Kaplan’s popular Dual Piano show returns to the Hoogland Center for the Arts May 25-27 at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. While Mark and Damien are very different musicians, this dynamic duo has found a place together by playing, singing and inviting others to have fun with them.

THE CALENDAR
dance of your choosing during your birth month. danceforhope3111.com. Normandy Hill Plaza, 3111 Normandy Road, Suite 104, 522-9106..