New medical facility could be coming to Springfield’s west side

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) - A new medical facility is in the works for the west side of Springfield. Memorial Health and Encompass Health are starting a new partnership for a rehabilitation facility. The 60-bed hospital will focus on helping patients after strokes, brain injuries, and other medical issues. Officials said...

New hospital planned on west side

A freestanding, 60-bed hospital costing $66.3 million and focused on rehabilitation for people after strokes, brain injuries, fractures and a range of other medical problems would be built on Springfield’s far west side if state regulators approve the plan in the next month or two. The for-profit Rehabilitation Institute...

The Springfield Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission working to reduce traffic in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. (WICS/WRSP)- The Springfield Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission held an open house today and people were able to learn about projected regional growth, traffic, and infrastructure improvements. Residents were able to speak with the project team and ask any questions and also leave comments. One of the purposes...

The Secret Illinois Buffet That Locals Try To Hide From Outsiders

A truck stop restaurant that started in 1928 as a garage selling sandwiches is still serving an all-you-can-eat buffet today. That alone deserves a second look. The buffet starts at 6 AM. Breakfast favorites, comfort-food classics, and rotating dishes fill the line, with a soup and salad station waiting nearby.

Sangamon Co judge tosses data center lawsuit

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – A judge has found Sangamon County had an open process in determining whether a zoning change to allow CyrusOne to build a data center near Waverly. People who live near the proposed site sued both the company and the county. “It was very...

Hotel files petition to convert to apartments

The owners of MainStay Suites on South Dirksen Parkway have filed a zoning petition with the city of Springfield for a permit to convert the extended-stay hotel into apartments. Hazur Hospitality is seeking to turn the 109 hotel units in the property at 3185 S. Dirksen Parkway into 109 apartments,...

Illinois Rings In 2027 With New Rules On Rent, Groceries And Medical Bills

New year, new rules: Illinois renters get fee transparency, grocery shoppers get coupon alternatives, and families get a break on medical liens.

Springfield could have a place for you to rehab

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – You don’t need to be in the hospital anymore, but you are not ready to go home. That is where the Rehabilitation Institute of Springfield would come in, if it’s built on the city’s west side. “They are seeking (state)...

Only One Illinois City Lands In The Top 25 Of Safest Cities List

One Illinois city cracked the nation's top 25 for safety, beating out bigger counterparts with a solid ranking.

Illinois Roofing Company to Pay $700K in Workplace Harassment Settlement

Monday, November 9th, 2026 — An Illinois roofing contractor has agreed to pay $700,000 to resolve a federal lawsuit involving allegations of racial and sexual harassment, including repeated misconduct by a company vice president and management's failure to address employee complaints. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced...

New Chain of Rocks Bridge opens to four lanes on I-270

New Chain of Rocks Bridge opens after years of work, with another lane still to come

THC Drinks Are Set to Be Removed From Illinois Liquor Stores This Week

Hemp-derived THC beverages containing more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container will be pulled from liquor stores and other traditional retail outlets in Illinois beginning Nov. 12, following the passage of a new state law that places tighter restrictions on intoxicating hemp products. The Illinois Hemp Act, signed by Gov. JB Pritzker in […]

Annual pumpkin smash returns to Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) - The city of Springfield and Evans Recycling held the sixth annual pumpkin smash in downtown Springfield Saturday. The event occurs the first Saturday of every November. The event is hosted to teach people that pumpkins can be composted instead of thrown in the trash. "It's better...

Walk Beneath Historic Air Force Planes For Free At This Illinois Aviation Museum

A Boeing 367-80 tanker, a relative of the famous 707 prototype, sits on a grassy lawn in Illinois, and you can walk right under it. No ticket booth. No turnstile. No base badge required. The neighbors are just as impressive. A C-141 Starlifter and a C-130 share the same neat...

Illinois renters signing leases from Jan. 1, 2027 cannot be charged more than $50 to apply for an apartment unless a third-party background check actually costs more

Illinois landlords cannot charge more than $50 for a rental application on leases signed from Jan. 1, 2027, unless a third-party background check costs more than that and the landlord can show the actual bill. The cap covers background-check charges bundled into the application. Gov. JB Pritzker signed House Bill 3564 at the end of […] The post Illinois renters signing leases from Jan. 1, 2027 cannot be charged more than $50 to apply for an apartment unless a third-party background check actually costs more appeared first on The Money Overview .

Illinois voters pass proposals objecting to state anti-BDS law

Voters in eight municipalities in Illinois approved ballot measures last week registering formal objections to the state’s law barring state pension investments in companies that boycott Israel. The ballot measures will have no effect on state policy. But pro-Palestinian groups are celebrating the wins as demonstrations of shifting public...

Illinois court cases under scrutiny after investigation into police misconduct disclosures

An investigation by the Invisible Institute raises questions about whether Illinois prosecutors are violating defendants' constitutional rights by failing to disclose misconduct histories of officers called to testify.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker pausing public events for medical procedure

Black People Magic: Juliana Stratton & Election Day Firsts

Celebrating a magical, history-making Election Day with many firsts making history this week. Our nation got its first Muslim senator, first Latina governor, first Native-American woman governor and senators, several states got their first black governors including our neighbors in Wisconsin and (my Soror!) Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first black woman governor in the nation.