News across Sangamon County
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…
Sonic spontaneity returns to UIS
The Get Free Music Series, presented by the music program of University of Illinois Springfield, is the city’s only officially sanctioned platform for live, fully-improvised music. The fall 2026 series will kick off this Friday with a special concert featuring California-based…
Relief, sadness accompanies gang charges
The Sangamon County State’s Attorney has announced charges against 24 alleged gang members tied to six murders, including the killing of a 9-year old boy last year. A triple homicide on Oct. 9, 2025, killed Cash Russell, 9, Mhynesha Day, 22, and Devione Brady, 21, in the 3000…
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…
5k run promotes health and Latino unity
The Illinois Migrant Council hosted a 5k event on Sunday, Sept. 20, at Washington Park to promote healthy lifestyles and demonstrate Latino unity, amid an anti-immigrant and anti-Latino political climate fueled by the Trump Administration’s policies. Esnider Rojas, a Springfield…
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,…
Kate McKenzie interview
Tony Stang sits down with Kate McKenzie, CEO of Local Journalism Matters, to talk about the behind-the-scenes world of journalism, the stories reporters carry with them, and what the future of local news might look like at Illinois Times. It is a conversation about journalism,…
Peaches, pears or apricots?
What is it about either or all, that sparks your interest or desire? What impact does each or either have upon your gustatorial delights? What impact does each or either have upon your digestive processes? In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addressed the matter of distinguishing…
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.…
“The Untold Stories of American Race Riots”
The Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum held a screening of I Bear Witness: The Untold Stories of American Race Riots on Saturday, Sept. 19. Tiffany Lee, an educator, historian, cultural preservationist and Illinois Humanities Road Scholar, is the…
The Outlet Academy launches to work with expelled students
A program that allows expelled students to continue their education is now being hosted by The Outlet after many years of being offered by the NAACP. This is the inaugural school year for The Outlet Academy, replacing NAACP’s Back-to-School/Stay-in-School Academy. There are 22…