Local News in Sangamon County
Community news from our local sources
Sangamon County 17 storiesWiden to Greater Springfield, IL
Early voting opens: View the 2026 Capitol News Illinois Election Guide
Early voting is open in Illinois and election authorities can begin mailing ballots to voters. Capitol News Illinois is once again launching its Election Guide that includes resources to help Illinoisans learn how, when and where to vote, how to register and what statewide races…
Candidates face off at forum
The Committee of Springfield Illinois, a nonpartisan group, held two debates on Sunday, Sept. 27, bringing together candidates for the 48th Senate district and Sangamon County sheriff races. Bernard Schoenburg, a former political journalist at The State Journal-Register,…
Welch should apologize to Benton’s former staffer
Last month, House Speaker Chris Welch told WGN political editor Tahman Bradley during an interview, “I’m going to apologize for making her feel uncomfortable.” The woman he was referring to was former Rep. Harry Benton’s district office worker who quit after she said she was…
Local officials tackle election misinformation
Election officials sought to address election myths and disinformation during the Citizens Club of Springfield forum held at the Hoogland Center for the Arts on Friday. Kent Redfield, a retired professor of political science at University of Illinois Springfield, moderated the…
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…
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…
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…
Meet the candidates for state Senate, sheriff
Voters are invited to a meet the candidates forum from 3-5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27, at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Springfield to hear from the candidates for the Illinois State Senate 48th District and Sangamon County sheriff. State Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield,…
Democrats differ over campaign funding flap
My associate Isabel Miller and I told subscribers earlier this month that Democrats for the Illinois House had been suddenly cut off from the Democratic Party of Illinois’ lucrative postage discount program, which can save as much as a third to a half of campaign postage costs.…
Local surgeon inspires prescription accessibility 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…
Prevention is a shared responsibility
As a practicing pediatrician and president of the Sangamon County Medical Society, I have serious concern about the Aug. 10 executive order targeting routine childhood vaccinations. I addressed vaccine policy in March 2025, and the evidence remains unchanged: vaccines are among…
Ethics commission names acting inspector general
The Legislative Ethics Commission has appointed David Risley acting legislative inspector general effective the day following the Sept. 30 resignation of his predecessor. Risley is a former federal prosecutor who briefly served as Gov. Bruce Rauner’s director of public safety…