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Under new management
After a two-year battle for control of Wyndham Springfield City Centre, downtown Springfield’s tallest structure, owner Robert Egizii in September turned over the keys to U.S. Bank and an outfit called LNR Partners, LLC., the bank’s “special servicer,” as per Sangamon County Circuit Court records.

Understanding the harm in hate speech
Due to the apparent disregard for civility in discourse in our country recently, as well as more mood and behavior problems in students, heightened anxiety in minority students and a trend suggesting extremist groups are trying to recruit youth, exploring the effects of hate speech appears to be in order.

Beware of the real gremlins
Of course, the GOP can’t come right out and say they intend to gut the middle class, so their candidates and officials have been speaking in tongues about it. Here’s hoary senatorial scamp Mitch McConnell babbling that Republicans will “address the real drivers of debt by (adjusting) those programs to the demographics of America in the future.

LETTERS
EVERYONE NEEDS A PLACE TO GO The First Presbyterian Church of Springfield has respectfully requested that the mayor’s office and the City of Springfield address the chronic issue of human waste left behind nightly on our city streets and around public and private properties in the downtown area.

Sign wars head to court
A group called IL Citizens Ignited formed after one of Roskam’s constituents had two yard signs made to protest Roskam’s National Rifle Association support. She placed the signs, which read “Roskam accepted $20,450 from the NRA,” next to Roskam yard signs.

Trying to get a killer under control
Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, designed to focus attention on the impact of diabetes on millions of Americans.

Trials and tribulations
While the nationwide number of cases, and trials, has dropped steadily over the past decade, the local plunge has been dramatic and recent. So far this year, there have been 11 jury trials in Sangamon County Circuit Court, including both criminal and civil cases.

#MeToo comes to prison
Sex between inmates and staff is illegal – under the law, prisoners cannot consent to sex with employees, and custodial sexual misconduct is a felony punishable by between two and five years in prison. But court records and investigative files show that employees aren’t always charged with crimes, even when allegations are substantiated.

Friendsgiving
Growing up, my family didn’t play around with Thanksgiving dinner. Other holidays were open to interpretation, but every year on the fourth Thursday of November we ate the exact same meal consisting of turkey roasted with butter and sage stuffed with...

Carrell and Chalamet shine in flawed Boy
As the elder Sheff, Steve Carrell does some of the best work of his career, tapping into his constant sense of anguish while struggling to maintain a degree of optimism, all the while knowing the odds are against Nic to succeed.

November to remember
Every once in awhile (actually, it’s happening a lot lately) profoundly great musicians of our time pass through the area, and on Thursday night the Paris-Belle House Concerts features Dave Curley and Andrew Finn Magill, a pair of world-class, real Irish-music musicians.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Bruce Katz Band
Generally considered one of the premier roots/blues keyboardists in the whole wide world, Bruce Katz has played with most everyone, including Delbert McClinton, Butch Trucks, Gregg Allman and Ronnie Earl, but he shines brightest when fronting his own band and playing his own stuff.

PUB CRAWL
Open Mic with Sam and Kortney.

2ND ANNUAL BEST OF SPRINFIELD PARTY
The second annual Best Of Springfield party, presented by Head West Sub Stop, was double the fun, with twice as many food and drink samplings and attendees as the first year. On Thursday, Oct.

POLITICS | A timely discussion of public policy
On Thursday, Nov. 8, hear a distinguished panel of local public policy experts discuss implications of the Nov.

THE CALENDAR
Veterans Day Ceremony and Reception.

ART | Creative cookies and ornaments
Spend Saturday, Nov. 10 getting a jump start on your holiday décor and gift-making during these nature-themed crafting sessions at Lincoln Memorial Garden. Youth ages 5-12 are invited to create snowmen and reindeer ornaments from 10-11 a.m. Adults and teens ages 13 and up are invited to create a tree-cookie wreath from 2-4 p.