Local News in Sangamon County
Community news from our local sources
Sangamon County 71 storiesWiden to Greater Springfield, IL
Local surgeon inspires new law
A Chatham native decided to be the change he wanted to see in the world when he reached out to his state representatives in an attempt to better healthcare in Illinois. One year later, Dr. Brandt Whitehurst’s conversation with state Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield, has brought…
County Board defends data center approval in court
The Sangamon County Board defended its April zoning approval of the county’s first hyperscale data center in court on Sept. 11, as Circuit Judge Adam Giganti set the stage for an Oct. 9 hearing about a motion to dismiss. Several Waverly residents who live approximately a mile or…
Letters to the editor 9/24/26
We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. POOR CONDITIONS The open letter in the Sept. 3 Illinois Times concerning conditions at the Lincoln Tomb followed just two weeks after…
Healthy trees enrich communities
Fall is an excellent time to assess and care for existing trees in your yard and plant new trees. Too often homeowners don’t pay enough attention to the structure and health of their trees and only discover problems after a storm when trees or limbs fall to the ground (or on the…
Fall maintenance for your yard and garden
Whether planting a vegetable garden, flower garden or pollinator garden, “site preparation is paramount,” says master gardener Susan Helm. “I can’t stress enough how important this is.” There are thriving pollinator gardens all over Springfield, thanks to Helm and a cadre of…
An autumn glow-up for your home
With the autumn season here and winter not far behind, many of us are busily preparing our homes for time indoors due to dark evenings and cooler weather. While we may feel the urge to go all-in on a renovation, budgets and time constraints are realistic impediments to going…
Fall Home & Garden Calendar 2026
Illinois Product Farmers Fall Market Sat., Oct. 10, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Features Illinois meats, produce, baked goods and wine. Includes children’s events and live music. illinoisproductsfarmersmarket.com. State Fairgrounds, The Shed, 801 Sangamon Ave., 217-524-9129. Old Capitol…
Glorious gratins
A gratin, according to the late chef Julia Child, is simply a preparation in which the top of a sauced dish is browned, usually under a hot broiler. In the first volume of her iconic cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, she describes a gratin as having “a sprinkling of…
Celebrate Route 66 anniversary at this popular event
It’s the centennial of Route 66! Once again, hundreds of street machines, muscle cars and hot rods will rumble into the heart of Springfield’s historic downtown followed by thousands of spectators for a weekend of family fun, live music and entertainment. The event begins with a…
Fall Home and Garden 2026
Fall is a great time to tackle yard projects, such as planting bulbs for a spring payoff or potting herbs and other plants you can move indoors for the winter. It’s also helpful to being making plans now for your spring home improvements, so whether you’re dreaming of an outdoor…
Pritzker establishes AI cabinet amid calls for greater regulation
Gov. JB Pritzker is setting up a new group within state government to explore more regulations for artificial intelligence as calls grow across the country for new restrictions. Pritzker signed an executive order on Tuesday to establish an AI Cabinet made up of experts and…
Downtown dilemma in Taylorville
The Taylorville City Council is pushing forward with a planned $5 million renovation project downtown despite organized opposition and fears that disruptions caused by the work could decimate many businesses on the square. The project is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of…