Question of the day
Thursday, Mar 31, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Yesterday…
* SJ-R…
WCIA-TV reporter and anchor Mark Maxwell, who won a regional Emmy for his investigative piece on a methane leak in Livingston and LaSalle counties, is going to a St. Louis TV station as a political reporter.
Maxwell has been the Illinois Capitol bureau chief in Springfield since 2017. He hosts and moderates a statewide political talk show, Capitol Connection. […]
Former State Journal-Register political affairs reporter and columnist Bernie Schoenburg said he counted himself as a fan of Maxwell’s work.
“Mark has done an amazing job in his time in Springfield,” said Schoenburg, who retired from the SJ-R in 2020. “He has a great eye for stories that matter, and he gets deep into the details. He’s also a very good interviewer and has used his weekend show to help let viewers know what people of various political stripes are thinking and doing.
* High praise from Hannah…
* Maxwell’s latest…
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) President Steve Hamman is out, according to an internal memo Target 3 investigators obtained Thursday. Sources told reporters he was fired following our reporting that exposed the company is overcharging consumers while cutting down — sometimes cutting out — their provider options.
The screenshot of an email to Blue Cross staff says Hamman “left HCSC to pursue new endeavors.” […]
Hamman was directly involved in negotiations with Springfield Clinic. When Blue Cross dropped all 650 of the clinic’s providers out of its network in November, customers were left with a dead-end directory of providers, several of whom did not exist. Hamman drove to Springfield from his office in Chicago within the last month following our first report.
Hamman was named president in 2019. He joined Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) — BCBSIL’s parent company in 1991, according to the company’s website.
* The Question: Any message for Mark as he prepares to move on?
- Arsenal - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 1:31 pm:
Mark: Don’t trust them when they tell you about “St. Louis Style Pizza” and provel cheese.
- Anyone Remember - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 1:34 pm:
Here’s to hoping this fall you cover both Pritzker v. Bailey and Greitens v. Trudy Busch Valentine.
- Nick Name - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 1:35 pm:
Your Sunday morning show was a staple of our Sunday morning’s Mark. Good luck and God bless.
- Nick Name - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 1:35 pm:
*mornings,
Sheesh
- Norseman - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 1:37 pm:
You grew into being a good State politics reporter. You’ll be missed up there. You can take the Illinoisan out of the State, but you’ll appreciate it all the more once you see the craziness that goes on in Missouri.
- Stix Hix - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 1:39 pm:
Dang.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 1:42 pm:
When you are recognized for the outstanding work you’ve done, the best part is taking all that good with you and head for new adventures.
Hope your time covering, arguably, one of the best beats in politics, leaves you with good memories and you realize how respected you are as you go.
Be well.
OW
- The Real Downstate - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 1:46 pm:
I wish Mark well and hope he continues to cover some IL politics, particularly the IL13 race and the 56th Senate race. And I’m sure if anyone can finally fully uncover the patronage and corruption in East STL, it would be Mark.
- Anyone Remember - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 1:50 pm:
===I’m sure if anyone can finally fully uncover the patronage and corruption in East STL, it would be Mark.===
Madison County has become “interesting” with the Kurt Prenzler era.
- MisterJayEm - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 1:52 pm:
Well, rats.
– MrJM
- Mister Ed - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 1:54 pm:
I wish Mark well and hate to see him go. He will be an asset to KSDK. Glad he is still going to cover Illinois. Will be sure to look for his new address and email at KSDK. Good Luck.
- The Real Downstate - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 1:56 pm:
==Madison County has become “interesting” with the Kurt Prenzler era.==
Absolutely. Definitely a lot to be looked into, especially the Madison County Board and the State’s Attorney’s office. Throughout the Metro East and in STL, Mark will have no shortage of worthy targets for in-depth investigations.
- Steve Rogers - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 1:57 pm:
Go to Blues, Cardinals, and Billikens games (soccer and basketball). All four are fun to watch.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 2:02 pm:
A small part of Sangamon County might still get to see Mark Maxwell’s reports from St. Louis. The Sparklight system in Auburn still gets KSDK. That’s the only St. Louis station still on that system, but as recently as the late 2000s Auburn still got a few other STL channels on cable (IIRC KMOV and KPLR for sure)
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 2:08 pm:
In Missouri, Darren Bailey would be a lefty progressive.
Also, turn signals are optional, at best. And no one knows the left lane is supposed to be the passing lane.
Have fun.
- Dotnonymous - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 2:27 pm:
Mark Maxwell will be missed…for sure…best wishes to him.
- SAP - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 2:28 pm:
Best of luck. Your tattered shoes will be tough to fill.
- JoanP - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 2:30 pm:
You can always come back.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 2:32 pm:
I don’t think I can name anyone offhand in Illinois television who has left more of a mark on Illinois politics and governance than Mark Maxwell over the last 25 years.
You sir, gave new meaning to “That’s gonna leave a Mark.”
I hope your fellow journalists in Missouri appreciate what a treasure we are sending their way.
I know you’ll wanna keep talking about Illinois….and I am pretty sure they won’t want you to. Fret not, St Louis city, county and Jeff City will keep you busy.
PS: make sure all the lobbyists who cover IL and MO have your number!
- Flexible One - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 2:35 pm:
All the best for the future Mark. But darn, I switched to WCIA when I’m in Springfield do to your excellent reporting. Now what?
- Kevin Lampe - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 2:44 pm:
Mark has upheld the legacy of so many great journalists who covered the state. A great reporter who was fair but tough. He held many in the government’s feet to the fire. I suspect we will see him a national beat in the future.
- Fayette County - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 2:46 pm:
Best wishes to Mark on his new endeavor. Luckily, I will get to see him on KSDK. He is an excellent reporter that will be missed in Springfield.
- Vote Quimby - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 3:00 pm:
Best of luck in the STL… some good things going on there such as the MSL team starting next year. I thought Illinois politics took the cake, but after I moved to Missouri over a decade ago I saw it is interesting as well. Sadly, plenty of corruption to go around both sides of the river. I look forward to seeing your reports on the KSDK website (banned punctuation).
- Sensitive Nancy - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 3:01 pm:
Who can forget the Stratton tunnel map room story? Best of luck to Maxwell in excavating the catacombs under St. Louis and Jefferson City.
- Vote Quimby - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 3:06 pm:
Oh and I did move back to Illinois last year.. so I am qualified to comment again /s
- lake county democrat - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 3:21 pm:
It’s an “L” for the “W” side of the river, K? Thanks to Mark for all the great work to-date.
- Club J - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 3:24 pm:
Congratulations Mark!!! My stomping ground’s is ready for a reporter with your experience. I noticed Prenzler was already brought up, Collinsville Township, CARD, there’s acres of stories just on the east side. I can’t wait to follow you in your next chapter. Nobody deserves it more.
- Heck Yes - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 3:36 pm:
Mark did an outstanding job in Springfield. He was knowledgeable, prepared and asked tough, but fair, follow up questions.
His reporting on the Blue Cross Blue Shield debacle in Springfield has been stellar and is a shiny moment for all at WCIA. It has to be gratifying when a huge player is caught lying red handed, and becomes exiting A for cheating the public. Nice work!
- Maybe Next Time - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 3:39 pm:
I wish Mark would have ambushed and exposed the IML like he did with IPPFA.
- Pundent - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 3:58 pm:
A lot of politicians on both sides of the aisle will rest easier now that Mark has crossed the border. And that’s unfortunate. One of a kind.
- up2now - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 4:56 pm:
Didn’t we lose Kurt Erickson to Missouri media, too?
- Marine Life - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 5:39 pm:
Two words Mark: Pappy’s Smokehouse
- Cosgrove - Thursday, Mar 31, 22 @ 10:55 pm:
Hey Mark,
Check back on us little people from time to time.
Our loss is their gain! Best of luck.
- Root - Friday, Apr 1, 22 @ 4:39 am:
Mark will be sorely missed. There is a paucity of muckrakers with his tenacity.