Barton Lorimor
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bartonlorimor.bsky.social
Barton Lorimor
@bartonlorimor.bsky.social
770 followers 1.2K following 1.5K posts
A wonky hack taking politics too seriously.

I consult on media, public policy, and corporate affairs. Former journalist + state gov staff. Always Robin's and Myra's Dad.

📍 Springfield, Illinois USA

BTL (at) FullStackStrats (dot) com

he/him/his
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bartonlorimor.bsky.social
This past weekend featured a milestone anniversary: It was the 17th anniversary of Illinois lawmakers booting then-Gov. Blagojevich from office. Less than two months earlier, the FBI revealed what was already known: The Governor was a shakedown artist openly abusing his office.

Where is he now? 🤔
A print newspaper from January 30, 2009, announcing the conviction of Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich at his State Senate impeachment trial and that Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn had been sworn in to office.
February 2, 2026 at 8:30 PM
bartonlorimor.bsky.social
"Can't be held responsible for doing shitty and illegal things?! What are you, four?"
January 28, 2026 at 3:15 AM
bartonlorimor.bsky.social
Current conditions at Springfield - Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (KSPI) Lat: 39.85°NLon: 89.68°WElev: 587ft. Fair -11°F -24°C Humidity 86% Wind Speed W 8 mph Barometer 30.39 in (1030.6 mb) Dewpoint -14°F (-26°C) Visibility 10.00 mi Wind Chill -28°F (-33°C) Last update 26 Jan 5:52 am CST More Local Wx3 Day HistoryHourly Forecast
January 26, 2026 at 12:40 PM
bartonlorimor.bsky.social
#SpringfieldIL Public Schools District 186 announces E-Learning Day for Monday, January 26.

apptegy.me/alerts/sms_m...
Winter weather continues with bitter temperatures and accumulated precipitation from the weekend. For the safety of our students and staff, we will utilize another E-Learning day on Monday, January 26, 2026. The safety of students who stand at bus stops or walk to school remains our top priority. This decision was made with student safety at the forefront, especially for those who wait at bus stops or walk to school. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility as we navigate these weather conditions together. Stay warm and stay safe.
January 25, 2026 at 8:53 PM
bartonlorimor.bsky.social
#SpringfieldIL Public Schools, District 186, will have an e-learning Friday (January 23) due to extreme cold temperatures >>
apptegy.me/alerts/sms_m...
Thu, Jan 22, 2026 at 11:04 AM Due to extreme temperatures, Springfield Public Schools District 186 will hold an e-learning day on Friday, January 23, 2026. Temperatures are expected to be in the negative numbers for real temperatures and below -20 degrees wind chill. Please check your e-mail for more details.
January 22, 2026 at 7:46 PM
bartonlorimor.bsky.social
For no particular reason, this frame has been in my Downloads folder for the past year.
A costumed human facing numerous screens says, "Clever. A quadrillion crises across as many galaxies. An endless string of "events" meant to overwhelm and fatigue us. And ALMOST all of them are smokescreens."
January 17, 2026 at 1:15 AM
bartonlorimor.bsky.social
The Missouri SFY2027 operating budget cuts by agency the Governor also proposed today along with replacing the state income tax with new sales taxes.

Chart by @willbauer.bsky.social for @stlpublicradio.bsky.social >>
Table with 2 columns and 24 rows. Currently displaying rows 1 to 5. 1 . Department of Social Services $270M 2. Department of Health & Senior Services $52.3M 3. Department of Mental Health $42.8M 4. Office of Adminstration $42.3M 5. Department of Economic Development $32.3M
January 14, 2026 at 6:33 AM
bartonlorimor.bsky.social
THERE IS AN IMPORTANT CITIZENS CLUB OF #SPRINGFIELDIL POLICY FORUM NEXT WEEK about the referendum to establish a 708 Mental Health Board and countywide sales tax to fund its services. Doors open at 7:30 a.m., January 23 at the Hoogland Center for the Arts. Please join us!
Citizens Club of Springfield Public Policy Forums Policy Forum Friday, January 23, 2026 7:30 a.m. Coffee Reception 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Program Hoogland Center for the Arts Club Room, 3rd Floor The Sangamon County Mental Health Commission Recommended Formation of a Countywide 708 Mental Health Board
January 13, 2026 at 11:05 PM
bartonlorimor.bsky.social
Judy Baar Topinka refusing to take Rod R. Blagojevich-grade bullshit during a 2006 meeting of the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board.
January 13, 2026 at 9:00 PM
bartonlorimor.bsky.social
At the annual meeting of the Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance, CEO Ryan McGrady says developers are expressing interest in the 18-acre Pillsbury site. McGrady says businesses would be wise to invest in North Grand Ave. corridor because of latest investments, increasing traffic count.
A standing speaker addresses a seated crowd in a business setting.
January 13, 2026 at 3:16 PM
bartonlorimor.bsky.social
@archive.org is offline.

No announcements as of yet about the outage on official social media channels.
Temporarily Offline Internet Archive services are temporarily offline. Please check our official accounts, including Twitter/X, Bluesky or Mastodon for the latest information. We apologize for the inconvenience.
December 22, 2025 at 2:33 PM
bartonlorimor.bsky.social
"But if the while I think on thee, dear friend,
All losses are restor'd, and sorrows end."

www.chicagotribune.com/2014/12/10/j...
Judy Baar Topinka for Illinois Comptroller yard sign framed and mounted.
December 10, 2025 at 2:05 PM
bartonlorimor.bsky.social
Citizens Club of Springfield, Illinois, announces its December 2025 Policy Forum will be at 8 a.m. December 19 at the Hoogland Center for the Arts.

Join capital city leaders and community advocates in a discussion about the future of Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport!
December 9, 2025 at 4:55 PM
bartonlorimor.bsky.social
...including these columns, decorated for Christmas.
December 6, 2025 at 11:52 PM
bartonlorimor.bsky.social
"Plaster Column Capital from Trading Room."

I didn't realize the St. Louis Art Center would have so many Chicago architecture artifacts...
December 6, 2025 at 11:52 PM
bartonlorimor.bsky.social
We just found some of the Stock Exchange roofline cornice and other Sullivan #Chicago artifacts are on display at the #StLouis City Museum.

No, you cannot climb on it.
December 6, 2025 at 10:55 PM
bartonlorimor.bsky.social
In this picture, there are five children. They cannot be seen. In this film, we hope to demonstrate to you the value of not being seen.
November 27, 2025 at 7:33 PM
bartonlorimor.bsky.social
The post-acquisition #StLouis Riverfront Times is...huh.
RIVERFRONT TIMES Yes, It's Weird To Look Up Youe Cousin's OnlyFans It is not hot cousin week, and some of you are gooning too close to the sun. A very wise woman once said, per TikTok, "if they're in the famil...
November 27, 2025 at 1:35 AM
bartonlorimor.bsky.social
#ThisIsNormal

Salukis WIN!
November 22, 2025 at 9:07 PM
bartonlorimor.bsky.social
Best. Decision. Ever.
November 22, 2025 at 8:02 PM
bartonlorimor.bsky.social
I passed on my hometown ISU to meet this co-ed in Carbondale.
November 22, 2025 at 8:02 PM
bartonlorimor.bsky.social
Public Service Announcement: This account distributes pro-SIU Saluki propaganda. #GoDawgs

@funkycoldluis.bsky.social @RyanVoylesBlueSkyHandleTBNL
November 22, 2025 at 6:13 PM
bartonlorimor.bsky.social
Larry Wang, CEO of Singapore-based FoloToy, told CNN that the company had withdrawn its “Kumma” bear, as well as the rest of its range of AI-enabled toys, after researchers at the US PIRG Education Fund raised concerns around inappropriate conversation topics, including discussion of sexual fetishes, such as spanking, and how to light a match.
November 20, 2025 at 1:28 PM
bartonlorimor.bsky.social
Springfield, Illinois, USA
Seymour! The house is on fire! No, Mother, it's just the northern lights.
November 12, 2025 at 3:38 AM
bartonlorimor.bsky.social
What a horrible way for the Crew to spend their final 60 seconds of life.

@chicagotribune.com >>

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/08/u...
The UPS cargo plane, built in 1991, was nearly airborne Tuesday when a bell sounded in the cockpit, National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman said earlier Friday. For the next 25 seconds, the bell rang and the pilots tried to control the aircraft as it barely lifted off the runway, its left wing ablaze and missing an engine, and then plowed into the ground in a spectacular fireball. The cockpit voice recorder captured the bell, which sounded about 37 seconds after the crew called for takeoff thrust, Inman said. There are different types of alarms with varying meanings, he said, and investigators haven’t determined why the bell rang, though they know the left wing was burning and the engine on that side had detached.
November 8, 2025 at 3:39 PM