Imagine a lobbyist approaching a legislator and promising that if the member voted for a specific bill the lobbyist would contribute to their campaign committee. Lobbyists have been convicted here for doing just that, going back to at least 1982 ..read more

NOW PLAYING | Tom Irwin Here we come a-wassailing and there we go, too, as the holiday-tinged experiences of December music fill the air with lots of jolly stuff and plenty of holly-ish things as well ..read more

This week's cover story on the disappointing state report card for Springfield's public schools is a study in frustration. Students, teachers and administrators trying their hardest aren't moving the education needle much ..read more

Bourbon sauce and biscotti for boxing I finally got my act together this year and got a head start on holiday baking preparations. Last weekend's blustery weather practically begged me to bust out the stand mixer, put on some jaunty carols and get to work ..read more

Union officers and command staff to receive raises, bonuses The total 21% increase in pay that Springfield police will see by the end of a new four-year union contract – including a 13% raise in the current fiscal year – will help recruit and retain officers and put their salaries more in line with comparable Illinois cities. That was the consensus of representatives from the police union and city leaders after the contract, which is retroactive to March 1, 2022, and expires Feb. 28, 2026, was approved Nov. 21 by the Springfield City Council ..read more

Profiles of progress at Owen Marsh, Enos, Jefferson and Southeast Here is an in-depth look at four Springfield School District 186 schools b ..read more

District isn't happy about the overall report. There is progress in some areas. It's a place to start. The COVID-19 pandemic may be officially over, but its effects linger throughout the state's education system ..read more

Pritzker says goal is to send free books to all children, ages 0-5 Illinois families with infants and toddlers now have access to free children’s books that can be sent directly to their home, regardless of their income. Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday announced the official launch of the state’s partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a program founded by the country music legend in 1995 in her home county in east Tennessee ..read more

The Governor’s Office of Management and Budget released a revised state revenue and spending forecast last month for the current fiscal year and it’s pretty good. Its projections for next fiscal year, however, were not nearly as strong ..read more

THEATER | Journey with Clara, prince to magical Kingdom of Sweets The magical holiday classic The Nutcracker is a perennial favorite this time of year ..read more