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Mad hatters
Chicago journalist Dave McKinney first revealed suspect provenance nearly eight years ago. State historian Samuel Wheeler started research in 2018 and was told three times to write up findings before he finally pulled the trigger in December.

Don’t tear down downtown
As a group of nonprofit organizations that are located in, invested in and committed to the future and vitality of downtown Springfield, we voice our concerns over the preliminary proposal from the Springfield- Sangamon Growth Alliance that could...

Email threatens to bring down Madigan
That’s from an email sent by House Speaker Michael Madigan’s consigliere and ultimate Statehouse insider Mike McClain to Gov. Pat Quinn’s chief legislative liaison Gary Hannig and Quinn’s former chief of staff Jerry Stermer at 2:04 p.m. on July 31, 2012.

LETTERS
WHO’S IN CHARGE? Illinois comptroller will stop collecting red light camera fines. However, unless the Secretary of State follows suit, violators won’t be able to renew driver licenses at renewal time, leading to driving without a license fines. Where does it leave citizens when the enforcement voice of the state speaks with conflicting messages?.

Criminal justice reforms top Pritzker’s 2020 agenda
Those include addressing social determinants of crime and incarceration; improving equitable deflection and diversion opportunities from the justice system; improving conditions and addressing the needs of vulnerable populations in correctional facilities; and supporting positive re-entry outcomes to reduce recidivism.

Far from home
Ted likes to say he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was 17, doing well at a college prep boarding school in Indiana, when a classmate went on a violent rampage while high on a combination of potent drugs.

Pot pies reconsidered
With the recent legalization of recreational marijuana in Illinois it might be “high” time that an alternative weekly newspaper publishes a food article about the nuances of cooking with cannabis. As a chef working in Oklahoma City, where there are more dispensaries than there are McDonalds and Subways, I just might be the one to write it.

Powerful performances save Mercy
What happened to Walter McMillian is unconscionable. Falsely accused of murdering an 18-year-old white woman, he was incarcerated on Alabama’s death row before he was even granted a trial and then returned there for six long years after sitting through a hearing that consisted of “evidence” that was coerced from a prisoner of dubious reputation.

Musician-aid time
On Sunday, Jan. 19, we gather in support of musician, booker, fundraiser, working man, parent and friend Micky Shomidie at Boondocks from noon to 7 p.m.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Matt Hill
With an outstanding reputation as an energetic performer of the blues, Matt Hill is known for his offthe-wall stage antics, as well as his top-notch abilities on guitar and vocals.

LIVE MUSIC
Jackpot Karaoke with Debbie Cakes.

THE CALENDAR
Not afraid to go any whare, 1862-1865: A history of the 114th Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry,.

ART | Sacred and Liturgical Visual Arts
In cooperation with the Liturgical Arts Festival of Springfield, the Springfield Art Association will host a juried exhibition of liturgical and sacred art as part of the biennial, interfaith Liturgical Arts Festival, Come Creative Spirit, scheduled to run March 28 through April 25.

POLITICS | Editorial cartoons
Chris Britt has been challenging and entertaining readers with his editorial cartoons since 1991. His award-winning work offers commentary on national and international events. His work runs regularly in Illinois Times,.