Illinois Springfield in the News

Controversy surrounds Cohen's withdrawal from lt. governor race

2010-02-09T08:45:00.003-06:00

The controversy surrounding Scott Lee Cohen's nomination and subsequent withdrawal from the race for Illinois lieutenant governor has renewed the debate over whether the position is needed at all.

Kent Redfield, a professor emeritus of political science at UIS, said changing the way the nominee is selected is the ideal way to prevent a Cohen-like scenario from unfolding again.

Under current law, lieutenant governor nominees are selected independently of the candidate for governor, yet they run on a joint ticket in the general election. Running as a team in the primary election, Redfield said, would prevent it from being "just luck if the two
know each other and get along."

Redfield's comments were featured in a February 9, 2010, article in the Daily Herald.

Download a PDF of the article:
20100209-DailyHerald-Cohen.pdf

Electic list of winners partly due to low voter turnout

2010-02-08T14:12:00.002-06:00

The list of victors from the Illinois primary election is electic. With such a hodgepodge of candidates moving into the general election, some say the most revealing mentality of the electorate may belong to the voters who didn't show at the polls.

Illinois political historian Charles N. Wheeler III, a professor at UIS, said the low turnout was ironic considering the disgust many Illinoisans directed at officeholders following Blagojevich's arrest in late 2008.

Wheeler's comments were featured in a February 7, 2010, article in the Daily Herald.

Download a PDF of the article:
20100207-DailyHerald-voterpicks.pdf

Brady already planning campaign against Quinn

2010-02-08T11:00:00.006-06:00

Although the outcome of the Republican race for governor remains in flux, state Sen. Bill Brady headed out on the campaign trail Friday.

For now, Brady and Kirk Dillard are waiting for final ballots to roll in from absentee and provisional voters. If an official count in March shows the two still neck and neck, a recount process could be launched, forcing an even longer delay in determining who will represent the GOP in November, but that's not stopping Brady from plotting his run against Gov. Pat Quinn.

Chris Mooney, a professor of political science at UIS, said Brady is trying to define himself before Quinn gets a chance.

Mooney's comments were featured in a February 6, 2010, article in the Herald & Review.

Download a PDF of the article:
20100206-H%26R-Brady.pdf

UIS sees record enrollment for spring semester

2010-02-04T11:54:00.003-06:00

The University of Illinois Springfield has set a record for spring enrollment, following on the strength of a record-setting enrollment last fall.

The university said Wednesday that 4,862 students are enrolled this spring, an increase of 327 over last spring. Spring 2010 enrollment topped a record set in spring 2007, when 4,613 students were enrolled.

The 7.2 percent increase is primarily due to more continuing students.

The news was reported in the February 4, 2010, State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article:
20100204-SJR-enrollment.pdf

Illinois politics never dull

2010-02-04T11:31:00.003-06:00

During the Illlinois primary election, by Wednesday evening, with 99 percent of precincts reporting, Bill Brady held a lead of only 406 votes out of 765,000 cast over Kirk Dillard for the Republicans.

Among the Democrats, current Gov. Pat Quinn was ahead of State Comptroller Dan Hynes by 8,090 votes.

The possibility of expensive, time-consuming recounts hovered over both parties.

“Whatever you say about Illinois politics, unfortunately it’s never dull,” said Kent Redfield, professor emeritus of political science at UIS.

Redfield's comments were featured in a Feburary 4, 2010, article in the New York Times about the state election.

Download a PDF of the article:
20100204-NYTimes-ILprimary.pdf

Election recount could be costly and delayed

2010-02-04T11:16:00.003-06:00

If Illinois decides on doing its first ever statewide election recount, the process won't begin for at least a month. No recount can be started until the election results — including early and absentee ballots — are finalized March 5.

The monetary cost of a recount shouldn't mean much to candidates who have raised and spent far more during their primary campaigns. But the political price of a fierce intraparty battle could be enough to give candidates pause, said Ron Michaelson, former director of the state board of election and a political science professor at the University of Illinois-Springfield.

Michaelson's comments were featured in a Feburary 4, 2010, article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Download a PDF of the article: 20100204-STLpostdispatch-recount.pdf

Waterfowl research going on at Emiquon Preserve

2010-02-04T11:02:00.003-06:00

Recently, wildlife technicians Danielle DeVito and Curt Kleist, of the Illinois Natural History Survey of the Forbes Biological Station in Havana, have been studying the migration of water fowl at the Emiquon Preserve.

Their mallard research, based at the Therkildsen Field Station - a teaching and research facility owned by UIS - is part of a larger effort to transform Emiquon from farmlands to floodplain.

Their research and details about Emiquon were featured in a February 4, 2010, article in the Illinois Times.

Download a PDF of the article: 20100204-ILTimes-mallards.pdf

UIS Prairie Stars names new men's head soccer coach

2010-02-04T08:54:00.003-06:00

The University of Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars named a new men’s soccer coach. Chad Jones will take over for Joe Eck as head coach.

Jones is new to the head coaching ranks and UIS, but not to the Springfield area.

The news of Jones' new position was reported in a February 4, 2010, article in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article:
20100204-SJR-soccercoach.pdf

Democrats might have reasons to worry this fall

2010-02-02T11:52:00.003-06:00

The polls are now open in President Obama's home state of Illinois, which holds the nation's first primary in what is expected to be a tumultuous election year across the U.S.

Whatever the outcome of Tuesday's voting, Democrats might have to worry this fall about this "blue state" — where Democrats hold all statewide offices and control both chambers of the General Assembly, says Kent Redfield, professor emeritus of political science at UIS.

Redfield's comments were featured in a February 2010 article in the USA Today.

Download a PDF of the article:
20100202-USAToday-voters.pdf

Downstate Illinois Innocence Project takes on Slover case

2010-02-02T10:57:00.002-06:00

Pinning hopes for a new trial for the Slovers on a fingerprint found on a bridge railing, the Downstate Illinois Innocence Project presented its case at a hearing Monday afternoon.

The project, based at UIS, has taken the case of Michael Slover, Jeannette Slover and Michael Slover Jr., who are all serving 60-year sentences for the murder of Karyn Hearn Slover.

The latest details about the case were reported on February 2, 2010, by the Decatur Herald & Review and WCIA-3.

Download a PDF of the Herald & Review's story:
20100202-HR-Slover.pdf

Download a PDF of the WCIA-3 report:
20100201-WCIA-Slover.pdf

Democratic control could lead to redistricting

2010-02-02T10:42:00.003-06:00

The contested primary races for governor among Democrats and Republicans could lead to national attention -- and money -- in the fall. If Democrats continue to control the legislature and the governor's office, they could draw new legislative districts for Congress and the General Assembly that could further marginalize Republicans.

"The governor's race is going to be a tough race and clearly there's a lot at stake with redistricting," said Christopher Mooney, a political science professor at UIS. "The national GOP might bring money into the governor's race, though they almost never do. Democrats have a natural advantage, but Republicans have Blagojevich to run on. Both sides have strong themes they can run on."

Mooney's comments were featured in a February 2, 2010, article in the American Chronicle.

Download a PDF of the article:
20100202-AmChronicle-elections.pdf

TV ads won't necessarily help candidates

2010-02-02T10:25:00.003-06:00

There are currently several high-profile political races going on in Illinois, and it may be difficult for any candidate to count on TV ads this weekend to put them over the top.

"There are candidates for a variety of offices on TV (and) plenty of commercials," said Christopher Mooney, a political science professor at the University of Illinois Springfield. "I've never seen this much clutter."

Mooney's comments were featured in the January 30, 2010, Chicago Tribune.

Download a PDF of the article:
20100130-ChiTrib-Mooney.pdf

Wheeler: Illinois is becoming more Hispanic and Asian

2010-02-02T10:13:00.002-06:00

In the January edition of Illinois Issues magazine, Charlie Wheeler, director of the Public Affairs Reporting Program at UIS, wrote that Illinois is becoming more Hispanic and Asian. The GOP should be concerned, Wheeler wrote, because “voters in burgeoning ethnic communities — particularly Latinos — tend to vote Democratic.

Wheeler's editorial and comments were featured in a January 31, 2010, column by Bernard Schoenburg in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the column:
20100131-SJR-Wheeler.pdf

Republicans fight to get back control in Illinois

2010-02-02T09:59:00.003-06:00

Six candidates are vying to fill the position of governor in a state that has generally rejected the national Republican Party’s hard-line positions. The GOP nominee will face the winner of a contentious Democratic primary battle between Gov. Pat Quinn, the former lieutenant governor who succeeded Blagojevich, and Comptroller Dan Hynes.

Debates between the contenders have put the state GOP’s internal conflict between conservatives and moderates on full display, especially regarding tax policy as Illinois struggles with a historic $12 billion budget deficit.

Kent Refield, professor emeritus of political science at UIS, weighed in on the primary elections in a January 31, 2010, article in the Decatur Herald & Review.

Download a PDF of the article:
20100131-H%26R-elections.pdf

Most Illinois gubernatorial campaigns in debt

2010-02-02T09:39:00.003-06:00

Seven of the eight active candidates for governor go into Tuesday's election with a substantial campaign debt, somewhat ironic given the fact that most of them are hammering past and current state leaders about overspending.

In some cases, it's just wealthy candidates self-funding their campaigns and calling it a loan. But the big loans to other candidates are another story, according to Kent Redfield, professor emeritus of political science at UIS.

Redfield's comments were featured in a January 31, 2010, article in the Champaign News-Gazette.

Download a PDF of the article:
20100131-NewsGazette-campaignfunds.pdf

Global Experience Program in Japan invites public to participate

2010-02-02T09:21:00.003-06:00

UIS is inviting the public to join degree-seeking students for two study-abroad weeks in Ashikaga, Japan, in June. The global experience has been a program UIS has held in Springfield’s sister city for ten years.

UIS’s Global Experience program will offer a short course on Japanese language and culture in Ashikaga.

Details of the trip and past participants' experiences were highlighted in a January 30, 2010, article in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article:
20100130-SJR-Ashikaga.pdf

Political social media increasing

2010-01-29T09:06:00.003-06:00

If you're on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube, chances are you've seen a political candidate's message. A new study shows the number of statewide candidates in Illinois who have an Internet presence is increasing, although the most popular method is to have a campaign Web site or blog.

Institute of Government and Public Affairs senior fellow Michael Cheney, a communications professor at the University of Illinois at Springfield, found that while participation in social media is going up, some candidates have no presence whatsoever.

The study was featured in a January 28, 2010, broadcast/article by the Illinois Radio Network.

Download a PDF of the article:
20100129-IRN-Political-Social-Media-Increasing.pdf

Is taking a jab at House Speaker politically risky?

2010-01-29T08:57:00.005-06:00

As the clock runs down on the primary election season, some candidates are making bold claims or hurling accusations against opponents.

Kent Redfield, a former political science professor at the University of Illinois at Springfield, said Democrats who seriously oppose House Speaker Michael Madigan won't get far.

"For those who think they are going to be independent, criticizing the Speaker, voting against the Speaker, that would be disastrous for the representative and bad for the district," Redfield explained. "Madigan has a long memory and keeps score when members cross him. It can be isolating and ineffective if you go directly against him."

Redfield's comments were featured in a January 29, 2010, article in the Chicago Daily Herald.

Download a PDF of the article:
20100129-CDH-Is-taking-a-jab-at-House-Speaker2.pdf

UIS consultants recommend consolidation of 3 districts

2010-01-29T08:51:00.003-06:00

No action was taken as citizens from Abingdon, Avon and Bushnell-Prairie City school districts met in a packed Avon High School gym to address the feasibility of at least two districts consolidating their school systems. However, the three University of Illinois-Springfield professors who conducted the Avon-initiated study recommended the consolidation of all three school districts.

“What you have now is the information to make that decision,” said professor William H. Phillips, who lead the study. “But we think this would be the greatest opportunity to educate your students.”

The UIS consultants were featured in a January 29, 2010, article in the Galesburg Register-Mail.

Download a PDF of the article:
20100129-GRM-Consultants-recommend-consolidation.pdf

Local couple donates Lincoln artifact to UIS

2010-01-28T09:19:00.005-06:00

An area family donates a piece of history to the University of Illinois Springfield.

Rick and Dona McGraw acquired a bronze cast of Abraham Lincoln's face when they bought the McDonald's restaurant in downtown Springfield. It's one of only 15 in the world and was taken just two months before the president's assassination.

"We are fast becoming one of the countries best public liberal arts universities," said UIS Chancellor Richard Ringeisen.

The story was featured in a WICS-TV 20 report on January, 28, 2010.

Watch the report online:
http://www.wics.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wics_vid_1421.shtml

Race for lieutenant gov takes wacky, pricey turn

2010-01-28T09:13:00.005-06:00

The open office has attracted six Democrats and six Republicans and has seen a record amount of money raised and spent.

"It's a very unusual situation," said Kent Redfield, a political science professor at the University of Illinois-Springfield, who confirmed the race is the most expensive in the office's history. "If we hadn't had the impeachment [of Rod Blagojevich], it would be a lower profile sort of thing."

Redfield's comments were featured in a January 28, 2010, article in the Chicago Sun-Times.

Download a PDF of the article:
20100128-SunTimes-Race-for-lieutenant-gov.pdf

UIS' Sims getting better by the minutes

2010-01-28T09:05:00.003-06:00

The new year has been good to University of Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars junior Justin Sims.

The 6-foot-6 reserve forward has made the most of his minutes during the past few men’s basketball games after a so-so December.

Sims has been a regular contributor off a bench that’s averaging 31 points per game. He is tied with teammate Ryan Thornton for fourth on the team in scoring at 8.6 points per game, and he’s third in rebounding with 4.3 per game.

“He’s getting more playing time and scoring the basketball for us,” UIS coach Kevin Gamble said.

Sims was featured in a January 28, 2010, article in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article:
20100128-SJR-UIS-Sims-getting-better.pdf

McGraw family donates Lincoln mask to UIS

2010-01-27T09:42:00.005-06:00

A bronze cast of Abraham Lincoln — one of 15 taken from an early plaster casting of sculptor Clark Mills’ 1865 life mask of Lincoln — will have a new home among University of Illinois Springfield students.

The Rick and Dona McGraw family, owners of the local McDonald’s franchise, has donated the bronze to UIS, where it will be displayed in the information commons area adjacent to the lobby of Brookens Library.

The news was reported in a January 27, 2010, article in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article:
20100127-SJR-lincolnmask.pdf

Jeans Day program is bad publicity for Brown

2010-01-27T09:00:00.003-06:00

Dorothy Brown said Tuesday her campaign for Cook County Board president has moved past last week’s bad publicity surrounding her “Jeans Day” program, but political experts said the flap did serious damage to her candidacy.

According to Kent Redfield, professor emeritus of political science at UIS, “People are highlighting (the program) because it fits into what appears to be a larger pattern of soliciting donations from employees. There’s been a long tradition of elected officials essentially shaking down their employees for campaign contributions.”

Redfield's comments were featured in a January 27, 2010, article in the Medill Reports.

Download a PDF of the article:
20100126-MedillReport-JeansDay.pdf

Primary fight taking over Illinois Democratic Party

2010-01-27T08:48:00.003-06:00

Less than 14 months ago, Illinois Democrats were looking at a smooth road toward retaining total power in the next election.

Now, instead of entrenched incumbents in the state's two top offices, the Illinois Democratic Party goes into the campaign season with an unelected governor and an open Senate seat. The situation has spawned the rare spectacle of a sprawling primary fight within the ruling party.

"Rod Blagojevich isn't all of it by any stretch, but he's certainly some of it," Chris Mooney, professor of political science at UIS, said of the Democrats' lost cohesion.

Mooney's comments were featured in a January 27, 2010, article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Download a PDF of the article:
20100127-STLPostDispatch-Democrats.pdf