Observing the impeachment

The news about our governor's impeachment today probably sounds terrible to the rest of the country. But if you live in Springfield, there is a strange feeling of great relief that it's finally happened. At UIS, we have a keen eye on state government. Professsor Kent Redfield and others have been interviewed dozens if not hundreds of times around the country in recent weeks. Illinois Issues has an award-winning blog with a unique up-to-date perspective, and WUIS public radio covers everything in-depth. Being in the state capital, for UIS, is another way of saying "location, location, location" makes all the difference to people seeking accurate information.

Evidence of our expertise: we're widely quoted

It's been an historic week for Illinois politics and government, reaching "a truly new low," according to U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.

Located in the state capital, UIS has a lot of expertise on this topic. Here are a few ways we've been in the news:

Dr. Kent Redfield in the NY Times: "Sad commentary that we re-elected him"'
Charlie Wheeler in Chicago Tribune: "Most incompetent governor"
Dr. Redfield in Huffington Post: About Quinn and Blagojevich
Dr. Christopher Mooney to AP: "We're making this up as we go along"
For more quotes from around the country, and the latest, go to UIS in the News and pay special attention to "Previous Posts" on the right-hand side.
Also see Illinois Issues' blog. The magazine is published by UIS.

Redfield

There was a lot of energy in the room last night at the reception honoring the "retired" Kent Redfield, professor of political science. Kent is perhaps most recognizable as the professor who is always on TV or in the newspapers because reporters want to know what he thinks about every Illinois political story. Many revere him for his work with interns in our highly successful Illinois Staff Legislative Internship Program, a program he directed for 20 years. A scholarship has been established in his name, and local columnist Bernie Schoenburg wrote about it yesterday.