Posts Tagged ‘ springfield ’

Someone tried to blow up the Feds in Springfield (UPDATED)

September 24, 2009
By Billy Dennis

I get the impression that the feds were onto this guy from the beginning: Michael C. Finton, also known as “Talib Islam,” according to a statement from federal prosecutors, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Byron Cudmore and waived his right to a detention hearing. Federal officials allege that on Wednesday, Finton drove a van containing what...
Read more »

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Local | 2 Comments »

Media: Apparently, that really was Sir Paul hangin’ out in Springfield

August 9, 2008
By Billy Dennis

Anyone catch the report in the Springfield Journal-Register about how Paul McCartney was spotted in Springfield at a Circle K gas station, driving a 1989 Ford Bronco. Hell, he posed for photographs. But I thought it was a lookalike, and the newspaper the victim of a pretty good prank. Apparently not: Former Beatle Paul McCartney and girlfriend...
Read more »

Tags: ,
Posted in Local | 7 Comments »

Media: State Journal-Register switching Web sites this week

May 11, 2008
By Billy Dennis
Media: State Journal-Register switching Web sites this week

While I have yet to see an announcement on the Journal Star’s Website (perhaps I missed it), the Springfield’s GateHouse Media newspaper is keeping its readers informedof the coming changes, with a nice long story detailng what is coming: The State Journal-Register’s Web site will look different when you log on Tuesday night. Sj-r.com will...
Read more »

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Media | 1 Comment »

Politics: SJ-R looks at Schock’s claims

December 6, 2007
By Billy Dennis

State Journal-Register political columnist Bernie Schoenburg puts Aaron Schock’s campaign ad claim of  “passing” 18 pieces of legislation during his two terms in the Illinois House of Representatives. Schoenburg points out that Schock’s definition of “passing” is somewhat generous. But the article as a whole is kind to Schock’s ’cause. I’m thinking the average...
Read more »

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Politics | 6 Comments »

Media: Newspaper execs can’t talk about it

December 1, 2007
By Billy Dennis

A regular commenter noticed the following: This is the last graf of the SJ-R story on their new publisher. I wonder if Jack Brimeyer got the same deal. It makes the three Springfield departures seem less ominous, too: A revised version of the paragraph: Scott Champion, co-president and chief operating officer for GateHouse Media Inc., revealed during...
Read more »

Tags: , ,
Posted in Misc | 4 Comments »

Politics: McConoughey to maintain offices

December 1, 2007
By Billy Dennis

Via a press release: Springfield, IL- Jim McConoughey, candidate for the Republican nomination to succeed Congressman Ray LaHood in the 18th Congressional District, announced today that, if elected, he will keep open the District Offices LaHood currently utilizes to deliver constituent services to the public. “We have an amazing tradition of service in the 18th, dating...
Read more »

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Misc | 6 Comments »

Media: More GateHouse bloodletting, this time in Springfield

November 20, 2007
By Billy Dennis

The State Journal Register is losing its top three bosses: Publisher Sue Schmitt, editor Barry Locher and managing editor Robert Pope each cited personal and professional reasons in notices to the newspaper staff today. Each also said the decisions were voluntary and were reached independently. “We know our positions on the newspaper’s masthead give us more...
Read more »

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Local | 10 Comments »

Politics: Springfield newspaper providing top-notch coverage of Peoria politician

November 18, 2007
By Billy Dennis

Journal Star readers hungry for coverage of the issues in the 18th District might want to start reading the State Journal Register. Political columnist Bernard Schoenberg tried to get Aaron Schock to name even one of the ‘knowledgeable people” who advised Schock that it was a good idea to advocate selling nuclear weapons to...
Read more »

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Politics | 17 Comments »

Media: Springfield’s alt-weekly takes media matters seriously

November 16, 2007
By Billy Dennis
Media: Springfield’s alt-weekly takes media matters seriously

Kudos to Marie Carnes for linking to a group of media-central articles in the the Illinois Times, Springfield’s intelligent alternative weekly newspaper. I enjoyed the piece on the State Journal Register under GateHouse Media and on how low salaries affect area television stations. For years, I’ve hated the fact that Springfield has a decent...
Read more »

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Misc | Comments Off

Politics: Springfield has a problem

November 12, 2007
By Billy Dennis

I am stunned to read this report in the Springfield Journal-Register: “Tough.” That was Springfield Mayor Tim Davlin’s response Sunday when pressed about why it took officials two hours Saturday to release information to the public about the power plant explosions and possible dangers to the community. Tough? “It’s the best we could do. Tough,” Davlin...
Read more »

Tags: , ,
Posted in Misc | 1 Comment »

Blogs: Liveblogging an explosion

November 11, 2007
By Billy Dennis

There was a huge explosion in Springfield yesterday, and long-time blog-buddy Marie Carnes liveblogged it. It’s a miss of personal observations, posting data as it comes in from broadcast media. At least one commenter from San Diego was using her blog to keep track of updated information.
Read more »

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Misc | 2 Comments »

Politics: Same old names on the ballot. Why? (Updated)

November 7, 2007
By Billy Dennis

Are we to assume that because the list of people who filed petitions to run for for local office is strikingly similar to earlier election years ballots that people are happy with their government and aren’t outraged enough to run? Many of the Statehouse candidates — including Peoria’s Rep. David Leitch (R-73rd District) will...
Read more »

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Politics | 3 Comments »

Politics: Springfield is a million miles away to most voters

November 5, 2007
By Billy Dennis

I chatted briefly with Jehan Gordan a few minutes ago. She’s the Illinois Central College administrator who (along with Allen Mayer) ’s running for the Democratic nomination for the state legislature seat now held by Aaron Schock. She made the mistake of calling at the exact same moment I was having some database issues following...
Read more »

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Misc | Comments Off

Politics: McConoughey to reveal ‘rural initiatives’

October 23, 2007
By Billy Dennis

A “news advisory” from the Jim McConoughey for Congress campaign: Jim McConoughey, a candidate for the Republican nomination in the 18th Congressional District, will be holding a series of News Conferences on Wednesday (October 24, 2007). McConoughey will be discussing his Rural Initiatives on which he will focus if he is elected to fill...
Read more »

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Politics | Comments Off

Media: GateHouse trying to eliminate 149 newspaper jobs in Springfield

October 16, 2007
By Billy Dennis

Wow. Just this morning, I left a comment at Rich Miller’s site about how I was worried that by not replacing workers who leave, GateHouse Media was making it harder to practice newspaper journalism at the Peoria Journal Star. Now comes this news at one of the Journal Star’s sister papers: SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Springfield’s...
Read more »

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Misc | 20 Comments »

Matt Hale’s replacement

September 25, 2005
By Billy Dennis

The guy who replaced Hale as “Pontifex Maximus” of the Creativity Movement, is on his way to prison for beating up his roomie. matt hale, Adam Jacobs,church of the creator,creativity movement,peoria,springfield
Read more »

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Misc | 3 Comments »

“Springtucky” blasts Peoria broadcasters

September 18, 2005
By Billy Dennis

According to Jeff, some Springfield media people don’t don’t think very highly of Peoria televisions stations. I used to live in Jacksonville and got a taste of Springfild media. What little I saw of them, most of the time, their signal didn’t get very far. springfield,television,peoria
Read more »

Tags: , ,
Posted in Misc | Comments Off

LaHood disses Bush Administration

August 28, 2005
By Billy Dennis

I can’t believe I missed this quote on the day it appeared in USA Today: A Defense Department plan to close hundreds of facilities that it says are obsolete has infuriated prominent Republican lawmakers at a time when their support for President Bush’s Iraq strategy could be more critical than ever. “I think they are going...
Read more »

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Politics | Comments Off

Vallas: Is he or isn’t he?

August 7, 2005
By Billy Dennis

First, supporters of Paul Vallas set up a Paul Vallas-for-Governor Web site. I take it down after Vallas says, supposedly definitively, that he lives in Pennsylvania now, and he’s not running. So, I take the link down. Then his supporters go to court to get a ruling on residency. Vallas says again he isn’t...
Read more »

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Politics | 3 Comments »