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Pritzker gambles on new direction
Democratic Gov. J. B. Pritzker and the legislature have gambled on a new direction for Illinois. The dramatic new course seeks to turn our state from a government mired in conflict, impasse and perennial deficits to that of big-picture thinking, and big spending.

We are stardust, we are golden
Coming next month is the half-century observation of man’s landing on the moon, the earliest historical event I can remember. For me, the day began with a visit to an arts-and-crafts fair, where my sister and I were gifted stones painted to resemble ladybugs.

Pritzker follows Gov. Thompson’s model
Thompson, a master schmoozer and cajoler, didn’t try tackling nearly as many huge, generational changes all at once like Pritzker did in his first session.

LETTERS
I have enjoyed the recent stories on baseball by Stuart Shiffman. Regarding his story on Harry Caray (“Baseball’s salesman,” May 30), I heard many a broadcast by Harry, first with the Cardinals and later the Cubs.

MAKING WHOOPEE
When we think steamy historic romances, our eye turns to Elizabeth Bacon Custer and her husband George Armstrong, who was court martialed on charges of abandoning his duties to visit his beloved, whom, after her husband’s death, spent the remainder of her life spinning webs of heroism at Little Bighorn.

IT’S A CODE BROWN!
There is no truth to the rumor that a 30-foot-high statue of beleaguered nice guy Joe Crain, erstwhile TV meteorologist, has been commissioned for installation outside city hall, but lordy, stranger things have happened.

Getting tough
Maybe he was naïve. He got busted for driving under the influence in Rantoul last year, and it’s well-known that illegal immigrants arrested for such offenses end up on Immigration and Customs Enforcement radar. Maybe he was greedy.

Mendoza: Illinois must ‘remain grounded’
Mendoza, a Chicago Democrat who took office in the middle of an unprecedented 736- day state budget impasse, said there was not much in Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s agenda she disagreed with this year. This led her to play a less vocal role than she did during the tumultuous governorship of Republican Bruce Rauner.

Letting go
“Crown jewel” is a familiar tag, but growing ever harder to justify when discussing a faltering municipal utility stuck with wrong choices in the past and an uncertain future. Environmentalists say that CWLP is wasting tens of millions of dollars. The business community has said much the same thing.

Historic Marbold Farmstead makes a comeback
Doris Marbold Decker, 82, is looking forward to the Sixth Historic Marbold Farmstead Antique Show and Farm Fest on June 22-23. Tears well up in Decker’s eyes – and in all listening to her – as she expresses her appreciation for the work of the Historic Marbold Farmstead Association (HMFA).

Cook like a Cajun
Food and music top the list of things I’m passionate about. Several years ago I saw a southwest Louisiana band called the Red Stick Ramblers who played a mix of Cajun, Texas Swing and gypsy jazz.

MIB: Int’l a pointless drag
Bouncing back and forth in time, from today to 1996, and around the world from Paris, New York City, London, Marrikesh and back again, the movie limps from one locale to another, failing to generate any excitement concerning their new team or their mission.

June is upon us
Welcome to the middle of June, as the outdoor events continue to multiply like the mosquitoes and gnats that seem to like to attend the events almost as much as our intrepid Springfield-area music fans.

A musical tribute to civil rIghts
When the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s gained momentum, music and song were at the forefront of the action.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Jamie and Lilly Merideth
This father and daughter duo from the local music community are both gifted musicians and singers, blessed with powerful and emotive voices that blend with a special harmony reserved for family members who sing together, all while accompanying themselves on piano and guitar.

LIVE MUSIC
Black Magic Johnson and David Lumsden Guitar.

THE CALENDAR
Jun 16, 7am-1pm Sun. All you can eat. Adults $7, children 6-12 $5. Age 5 and under are free. 217-953-4757..

HISTORY | History Comes Alive
The history of cricket goes back to 16th century England. It later made a successful leap across the Atlantic and eventually made its way to this area by the early 1800s. For a time, it was almost as popular as baseball.

MUSIC | Concert season
Municipal bands are a tradition in many towns and cities nationwide, and Springfield is fortunate to have one. In fact, for over 80 years the Springfield Municipal Band has been providing summer entertainment for devoted followers and fans.