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What whites in Springfield can do for racial justice
Enough is enough. This familiar refrain from African Americans, who for generations have lamented the repeated deaths of their brethren at the hands of law enforcement personnel, have been joined in recent weeks by a diverse chorus of mostly young people across the globe.

Of crises and fireworks
From challenges come triumph, that’s always been the American way, ask Frank Capra. The Great Depression ended with a world war, which brought in a new era of unprecedented prosperity, Jim Crow and Emmett Till notwithstanding. We got over Vietnam, more or less, if not George W.

Dark money super PAC attacks Pritzker
Called “Failed,” the ad heaps criticism on the governor for the toilet scandal, increased gas taxes, increased taxes on cars and allegedly giving a “huge” pay raise “to his politician buddies.” It also goes after his administration’s response to massive unemployment.

LETTERS
I was given a 30-year prison sentence and over $200,000 in fines for nonviolent cannabis offenses. I was a young white male, hauled off to prison to serve nearly 15 years before being released in 2016. I am currently at Stanford University, making use of my second chance, and many have used my situation as reasons for policy change.

The 1½-story Lincoln home to be rebuilt
The association has launched a $400,000 fund drive to acquire land in the 600 block of Eighth Street between Edwards and Cook and to design, construct, landscape and furnish an accurate replica there of the original one-anda-half-story, six-room Lincoln family dwelling.

Questioning Statehouse statues
The Martin Luther King Jr. statue in Springfield is no stranger to controversy. “The placement is a complete insult to his legacy. The way it’s maintained has been completely demeaning,” said Dominic Watson, head of the Springfield Black Chamber of Commerce.

The chef has left the building
Augie Mrozowski was at an awards ceremony when the announcer described a chef who was the son of immigrant parents and who began his storied career as a 14-year-old. Huh, he thought. Sounds familiar. To his surprise, within moments, hundreds stood to applaud him.

Reinventing police
The federal court docket in Springfield shows few lawsuits alleging police brutality. Crime has gone down during the past decade, according to federal databases compiled with data supplied by local police departments.

After Lincoln left Springfield
On Feb. 11, 1861, when Abraham Lincoln stepped onto the train in Springfield for what would be a 13-day journey to the nation’s capital, America was “on the verge of a precipice,” as a French visitor observed. Ted Widmer tells the story of the grueling and dangerous journey in his masterful book, Lincoln on the Verge.

Savory kimchi pancakes
We’ve been living in our converted school bus for two months and I have to confess it’s been quite a challenge trying to figure out how a family of two adults and a Jack Russell can live a rich and full life in a downsized minimalist environment.

Bacon salvages Left
Kevin Bacon has been around quite a while, so much so that we take him for granted. His solid, understated approach, a “don’t just do something, stand there” technique that makes him a worthy successor to Clint Eastwood in that regard, is one that is often overlooked.

Celebrate carefully
Welcome to July 2020, and more specifically, the Independence Day holiday weekend. What a shame that when July 4 actually falls on a Saturday, we happen to be in the midst of a global pandemic disrupting our scheduled funin-the-sun daily lives.

LIVE MUSIC
Angel Brown’s Smooth ‘N Blue Duo.

THE CALENDAR
Tales from the Vault: Behind the Scenes of Fashioning Illinois.

BULLETIN BOARD | Animal Protective League
Join the Animal Protective League (APL) during July for an entire month of adoption events and fun virtual activities. You can enter a photo of your pet in the Online Christmas Costume Contest or join in the virtual Cool Down with Dogs celebrity fundraiser.