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A more perfect union
You know these words, but how often do you stop to think about them? “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general...

Go Lions
The district in July received scores of advanced placement tests taken by high school students last spring. It’s the first batch of test scores since Superintendent Jennifer Gill, chagrined by lackluster AP programs, last year vowed to improve participation in the academically rigorous classes and work to ensure that students would succeed.

LETTERS
My last 15 years in state government was with the Department of Human Services homeless services unit, where I managed approximately 100 homeless shelter program contracts all over the state, excluding Chicago. Managing the contracts included site visits to review both program and fiscal operations.

The DPI has its work cut out for it
Another story in the same publication is entitled “Windhorst vows to work for every resident of 118th House District,” and quotes directly from another Windhorst Facebook post. “As your state representative, I will work hard to ensure that every corner of the 118th is given the time and effort demanded by the position.

State Fair revs up for 2018
Fair manager Luke Sailer appeared at a press preview for the fair last week, touting this year’s eclectic Grandstand concert lineup (ranging from Boy George to Mastodon to Flo Rida, along with country singer Brett Eldredge from Paris, Illinois) and the “sports bar feel” of the new Rising Star stage.

LINKING UP
We never quite understood why University of Springfield Illinois ended up where it did, on the outskirts of town where easy access to Wendy’s and Taco Bell on Toronto Road is about the best thing one can say about a sprawling campus that too often can be a world unto itself.

HAPPY HOOKAHS
More than a decade after hookah lounges started springing up in college towns and big cities across the land, the capital city, at last, stands at the precipice.

Sex in prison
The inmate, identified as Jane Doe in her federal lawsuit filed last week, agreed to an interview, with her lawyer present, on the condition that she not be named.

Candidates for Congress square off
She’s 47, he’s 48. Both grew up in central Illinois, married hometown sweethearts, and they each have two sons and one daughter. Serious family health issues have shaped both of their outlooks on health care, and life experiences have firmed their convictions regarding gun violence, education and economic opportunity.

Zucchini and summer squash
If some zucchini randomly appeared on your porch this week, you weren’t being punked. August 8 th was “Sneak Some Zucchini onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day,” a silly holiday that has been embraced by overzealous gardeners everywhere. As anyone who has grown zucchini knows, they can be incredibly prolific producers this time of year.

Striking ceramics at SAA
The latest iteration of Springfield Art Association’s biennial “Shapes of Influence” exhibit stands as both an exceptional showcase for original ceramics work from across the country and an introduction to the show’s jurist – world-renowned ceramic artist Simon Levin, who settled in Springfield last November.

BlacKkKlansman a fascinating, timely tale
This was significant and of concern to his captain for two reasons – Stallworth, at 24 years old, had only been on the force for three years and he was African-American. That the officer’s boss allowed him to go ahead with this idea is remarkable in itself.

All’s fair in town
There’s plenty of live music on our north side fairgrounds, and no matter who or what, where or when, musicians should take pride in knowing that live performances are an integral part of fair time.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | N.C.R.
Around since 2012, this band has gone through a few personnel changes, but now “the artist formerly known as New City Road” is officially called N.C.R., and with the name change comes a slightly new direction.

PUB CRAWL
Groove Daddies, Tooter Troxell, Jack Flash, Hipbone Sam.

THE CALENDAR
Theatre in the Park, Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, 15588 History Lane, Petersburg, 632-5440..

FAIRS & FESTIVALS | National Farmers Market Week
Celebrate National Farmers Market Week at Springfield’s Old Capitol Farmers Market at Fourth and Adams streets on Saturday, Aug. 11. Special features and activities include yoga under the mural with Ashley Krustolovich at 9 a.m., a food recovery demo with Chef Denise Perry from 9-11 a.

SCIENCE | A special star party
On Monday, Aug. 13, from 8:30-11 p.m., join the University of Illinois Springfield Astronomy- Physics Program, Lincoln Memorial Garden and the Sangamon Astronomical Society for a special star party in honor of the Perseid Meteor Shower.