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March madness
We knew it all along, That, in a nutshell, is what Springfield School District 186 is saying about a forensic audit released last week that confirms tons of problems surrounding the high school basketball jamboree formerly known as the Adam Lopez Country Financial Thanksgiving Basketball Tournament.

Providers should call the shots
Since leaving the U.S. House of Representatives in 2011, I’ve dedicated my professional life to fighting for full implementation and enforcement of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 – a law I had the honor of authoring with congressional colleagues in true bipartisan spirit.

The path to legalization
The resolution, HR157, urges legislators “to slow the process of legalizing recreational marijuana in Illinois.” Moylan’s resolution now has 60 sponsors and co-sponsors, which is a majority of the House’s 118 members. In theory, anyway, it has enough votes to pass.

LETTERS
CHANGING OUR HABITS There are many of us who share Carey Smith’s deep concern for the future of our Earth (“We need something better than blue bins,” March 14).

POLITICS GET PETTY
Two reports issued at the end of last month by Judge Roger Holmes provide a glimpse into topics that have triggered investigations. The reports were absent of names, but anyone following the local races closely can identify those involved with Holmes’ fi ndings.

WHY DO THEY CALL IT BLUFFSTONE?
Business types, downtown boosters and University of Illinois Springfi eld offi cials lauded the idea: This would be a great deal for everyone. Downtown needs housing, they said, and graduate students in particular are in need of places to live.

A crowded field
Four years ago, Ward 2 had the lowest turnout of any ward, with 20 percent of registered voters casting ballots and more than 400 of the 1,828 voters who did go to the polls not expressing a choice in the aldermanic race that Herman Senor won handily.

Ward 1: Same faces, new race
McJunkins, lead pastor at Union Baptist Church and a founder of the Faith Coalition for the Common Good, received about a quarter of the votes in the 2015 election. McJunkins said he had no intention of running against Redpath a second time until he was approached the week of Thanksgiving by residents who wanted to see him on the ballot.

Stormy comes to Springfield
Stormy Daniels walked from her car to the Lincoln statue on the grounds of the Illinois State Capitol, gave her brief prepared remarks and left without taking questions. She was protesting the “pole tax” (Live Adult Entertainment Facility Surcharge Act), which strip clubs pay to help fund rape crisis centers.

The legend of Mr. Cub
Baseball is a far different game than during my youth when admission to Wrigley Field was 50 cents, hot dogs were 25 cents, and the greatest days for baseball were weekday doubleheaders that began at noon because two games needed to be played before darkness enveloped the home field of the Cubs that lacked sufficient lights for a night game.

It’s time to eat more fish
The American Heart Association recommends eating two servings of fish per week based on numerous studies indicating that consuming fish is good for your heart.

Peele’s ambitious Us ultimately falls short
The worlds of art and sports are littered with filmmakers, authors and athletes who have fallen victim to the sophomore slump, having wowed the world with their debut only to fail to live up to expectations the second time around.

March celebrations and more
Supporting the blues scene with amazing dedication for over three decades, the Illinois Central Blues Club continues on in its stated purpose of “preserving and promoting blues music culture and sponsoring live blues performances.

LIVE MUSIC
4th and Monroe with Trina Stremstefer.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Scott H. Biram
Known as the Dirty Old One Man Band, Scott H. Biram plays by himself for anyone who will listen, and that’s been a lot of folks during his nearly two decades in professional music. From humble beginnings in his native Texas, Scott has traveled the U.S., Canada and Europe many times over jamming in joints from here to there.

THE CALENDAR
Hunchback of Notre Dame: A New Musical.

FILM | A meditation on the delicate balance between humans and nature
Each month the Paul Mickey Learning Series features a different topic and speaker that are free and open to the public. A film screening of The Guardians.