News across Sangamon County
Sheriff’s office releases video of officer striking pedestrian with his vehicle
The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department released dashcam footage Friday evening of a lieutenant striking a pedestrian with his vehicle as the man crossed the street in downtown Springfield. The man was walking in the crosswalk heading northbound on Ninth Street at the Monroe…
Springfield Memorial Hospital to offer free mammograms during October
Free breast cancer screenings will be available at Springfield Memorial Hospital during October for women age 40 and older who are uninsured or underinsured. The free screenings are part of Memorial Health’s annual Mammogram Mondays program, held during Breast Cancer Awareness…
No degree? High-income career changes to make right now
Starting a new career without a college degree isn’t only possible, it’s becoming increasingly common. The job market is changing rapidly, and employers across various industries are prioritizing practical skills, certifications and real-world experience over traditional…
Report: New data centers could create more than 120K Illinois jobs, though mostly temporary
A new study predicts data centers expected to be built in Illinois over the next decade would create thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in new property tax revenue. But many are skeptical the touted benefits will live up to their promises or outweigh the environmental and…
183rd Wing seeks new mission
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth says she is prepared to hold up legislation and slow the Senate appropriations process to pressure the U.S. Air Force into delaying the elimination of 192 positions at Springfield’s 183rd Wing. Duckworth also contends partisan politics may be behind the…
Super Cows
In the 1980s a Super Cow was bought for a million dollars. Her superness was the amount of milk she produced each year. Now there is word of a second Super Cow, which was bought for four million dollars. It looks like my family was in the right business at the wrong time or just…
“Housing is a human right”
Teshia Spencer’s 14-year-old daughter was experiencing shortness of breath. Spencer assumed allergies were the cause until a doctor diagnosed her daughter with asthma. The trigger, according to Spencer, was months of mold exposure in a house they rented in Springfield from…
Sweet starch science
In 2022, I worked in the research and development lab at Audrey Restaurant in Nashville. Our owner-chef, Sean Brock, and his culinary team were deeply committed to supporting local farmers. When one of our farmers asked if we could find a use for 900 pounds of sweet potatoes he…
North end memories
The neighborhood on Springfield’s northeast side, just north of the one where African Americans lived before it was destroyed in the infamous Race Riot of 1908, was at its peak during the 1950s and early 1960s. It consisted mostly of Italian-Americans who owned businesses there,…
Wings and Wheels Fly-In and Cruise-In
Awesome aircraft and cars on display in one place Like to check out cool cars and planes? See both in one place this weekend as EAA Chapter 770 of Springfield hosts this fourth annual event. More than 200 cars and more than 20 planes are expected. Converge on the Stellar Aviation…
“We cannot build fast enough”
Memories of his childhood in foster care homes on Springfield’s east side and his more recent behind-the-scenes struggles on the Springfield City Council to improve the substandard living conditions faced by many constituents brought Ward 2 Ald. Shawn Gregory to tears. “For me,…
New transfer hub land deal and funding plan
The Sangamon Mass Transit District Board of Trustees just took a major step toward a new off-street transfer hub — and landed a big land deal to make it happen. The board heard how SMTD secured a parcel for the permanent secondary hub using a mix of state and federal grants plus…