Krasinski's If an over-calculated misfire Scattered and confused, John Krasinski's If is a misfire from start to finish, a film that promotes itself as a heart-warming fable yet comes off as overcalculated and obvious ..read more

I didn't know what to expect when I attended a tech rehearsal of Springfield Theatre Centre's The Bridges of Madison County last week. I had seen the movie and remember finding it heartbreaking while loving the direction and the acting (it's Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood, so ..read more

She'll discuss An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s Doris Kearns Goodwin, the renowned presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, is returning to Springfield June 11 to share insights about her recent book, An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s. The Lincoln Presidential Foundation is hosting the event at 7 p.m. at the Hoogland Center for the Arts ..read more

Delicious hummus provides a blank canvas for cooking creativity Whether you're worn out from yard work or looking for a breezy meal to welcome in the warm weather, these dinner-worthy dips are as nutritious as they are tasty. They all keep well in the fridge for three to five days, making them perfect for meal prep ..read more

The May 10 teacher walkout at Grant Middle School over student discipline issues, and the May 11 prayer walk at Southeast High School in the aftermath of a student killed by gun violence, raise big issues for next school year. Clearly the school administration and the teachers union need to double down on planning for what to do about fights, about verbal threats and students who "aren't ready to learn ..read more

Brandon Johnson lobbies for budget requests Much of the Illinois Statehouse appeared to be girding itself for battle with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson before his Springfield visit last week. After dramatically announcing to Chicago reporters earlier in the week that the city's families are "owed" $1 billion from state government, particularly education, Gov. JB Pritzker sent two distinct messages to the building ..read more

NO FAVORS So a guy buys a house for $1 and somehow racks up more than $40,000 in fines – do you expect that debt to ever be paid ..read more

My First Home initiative will target first-time homebuyers The city of Springfield is launching a pilot program geared toward helping first-time homebuyers by rehabilitating dilapidated properties on the city's east side. "On the east side of Springfield, we own properties as a city, and we're not doing enough to revitalize the neighborhoods," said Ethan Posey, Springfield's director of community relations ..read more

If you're looking to find the end of the rainbow this weekend, head to downtown Springfield where four vibrant community events converge into a kaleidoscope of family-friendly fun. There's a little something for everyone with live music, shows, art, books, vendors, and of course, delicious food ..read more

Only state-licensed professionals would be allowed under potential city ordinance Springfield officials are crafting an ordinance to crack down on sites of suspected prostitution promoted as Asian massage parlors or spas. Springfield Police Chief Kenneth Scarlette told Illinois Times that the ordinance would require establishments offering broadly defined massage services to register with the city ..read more