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Miles of smiles
This will be the first time that Springfield will host the Illinois Mission of Mercy, which has been held every other year since 2010. Since the inaugural event in Bloomington, thousands of folks have gotten fillings, partial dentures, cleanings, extractions and other procedures at no cost.

Where have all the flowers gone? When will we ever learn?
As I thought of my grandson I have been in tears watching the pictures this week of children who were forcibly taken from their mothers and fathers to comply with this president’s policies and orders. They have reportedly been sent to remote detention centers across the country.

What do those people want?
While Republicans are a wholly-owned corporate subsidiary, unabashedly dedicated to the narrow interests of the moneyed elites, the Dems’ congressional elders, key party officials, entrenched consultants and corporate funders continue to push bland,...

LETTERS
STOP ‘BEAT THE TRAIN’ Great article on the railroad sidewalk fencing (“Don’t fence me in,” by Bruce Rushton, June 21). I too drive through that intersection every day on my way home.

The Democrats’ Madigan problem
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan will be on the ballot in just one of Illinois’ 118 House districts this November, but his name and reputation will be featured in electoral battles throughout the state as Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Republican Party use Madigan against every Democrat from J.

State’s top Lincoln expert on shelf
Isn’t that a job for James Cornelius, curator of the Lincoln collection at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum? In fact, yes – Cornelius typically has been the one who trots out The Hat and other artifacts to reporters, prospective...

HISO Music is moving on up
Since 2014, Springfield-based multipleplatform entertainment conglomerate HISO Music has been building its business steadily, to the point where it has started to feel growing pains. Now the company is preparing to open a new, self-contained complex at 1401 S.

ALPLM foundation sells Monroe memorabilia
Seven photographs of Monroe with Carl Sandburg collectively brought $15,000. A Sandburg bust proved exactly that and remains the property of the foundation, having failed to attract a required minimum bid during the weekend auction held at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Sin City.

History lives here
Restoration of the Governor’s Mansion is wrapping up for a grand opening in July. The mansion is the third-oldest continuously occupied executive mansion in the United States and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976. It has a rich history, in its occupants and frequent restorations.

Daily tours planned after July 14 reopening
Daily tours are planned, and a new visitor center will include exhibits. “This will be a living museum, and we plan to share the stories of the children such as Florence Fifer, who rode her horse into the house, or Richard Yates, Jr., who saw his father guide the state as governor, and later became governor himself,” Blandford said.

Many ways to eat local
Most of us are creatures of habit, and it’s easy to fall into the rut of eating at a handful of our favorite restaurants. Events such as 217 Food Week are a good reminder that there may be local places that you’ve never even tried.

Positive effects of spending local
Your money supports your community.

Shopping local by the numbers
• Shopping American-made is something most people prefer to do. According to a recent Consumer Reports survey, more than 60 percent say they will pay up to 10 percent more for the privilege..

Visit Alton – historic and quirky
Alton is a curiosity-seeker’s paradise. Where else can you celebrate the 100 th birthday of the world’s tallest man, pay homage to an anti-slavery and press freedom martyr, marvel at antique torture devices and possibly commune with ghosts, only 85 miles from Springfield?.

Bicentennial and Beyond opens at Illinois State Museum
A vibrant and fanciful painting of Carolina parakeets is juxtaposed with a taxidermy mount of this once prolific bird that was hunted to extinction. An original John Deere steel plow appears so simple, yet it broke the prairie soil and transformed agriculture.

Hot summer, cold soups
As I write this, I’ve just come in from the garden, and it’s so hot outside that by 10 a.m. the morning sun was beating down, and even in the shade, sweat was freely running into my eyes. I’d started garden chores early in the day, knowing that by lunchtime I wanted to be inside and away from the blazing early summer heat.

Soldado heavy on action, short on conscience
Josh Brolin and his swagger return as agent Matt Garver, and he’s been given carte blanche to cripple the Mexican drug cartels by any means necessary.

June jangles away
Friday sets things off in a good direction when the Fabulous Hoedads show up at the VFW Stockyards on Sangamon Avenue and the Stone Cold Cowboys ride into the sunset at Weebles on Peoria Road.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Chris Duarte
This Austin-based guitarist, songwriter and singer gets welcomed and warranted comparisons to the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughan and combines other flavors of electric Texas-blues players as well, including shades of the also late and great Johnny Winter to create his very own sound.

PUB CRAWL
Open Mic with Sam and Kortney.

FAIRS & FESTIVALS | Small town, big family fun
When it comes to getting the most bang for your buck, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more extensive small-town festival than Assumption Fest.

THE CALENDAR
Theater & Comedy Anybody’s Story: 200 Years of Illinoisans and Their Stuff.

THEATER & COMEDY | From the club to a convent
Catch the final weekend of The Muni’s stage adaptation of Sister Act,.

MUSIC | An on-stage throwdown
Don’t miss Beatles vs Stones,.