Springfield, IL

With crime emerging as a major issue in Tuesday’s Springfield mayoral election, the city’s police chief says Springfield is not a dangerous city. Police Chief Ken Scarlette spoke at a news conference Thursday announcing the arrest of a suspect in the murder of a 72-year-old woman in her home in mid-March.

As crime becomes a larger topic in Springfield’s mayoral race, SPD Chief Scarlette sets the record straight

Unemployment is down and jobs are up in Springfield compared to a year ago, in the latest data from the Illinois Department of Employment Security. It found the February jobless rate dipped to 4.6%, down from 4.9% in February of 2022. However, the local unemployment rate did climb from January,...

Springfield enjoying lower unemployment and more jobs across February

Illinois State

Sangamon County, IL

Correction: an earlier version of this storm update improperly intimated that a tornado touch down occurred by Sherman Road in Springfield – it was noted to be Sherman, Illinois. UPDATE: 20:00, Friday, March 31: Tornadoes and severe storms have left behind a trail of damage across Sangamon County and...

BREAKING: Confirmed Tornado touch down across Central Illinois

Chicago, IL

Decatur, IL

(The Center Square) – In an effort to improve the movement of freight, Illinois is spending $200 million on 22 projects around the state. Administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation using federal tax funds, the Illinois Competitive Freight Program is designed to implement the goals of the Illinois State Freight Plan.

$200 million aimed at improving the movement of freight around Illinois

Tennessee State

(The Center Square) – Hundreds of gun owners lobbied their lawmakers Wednesday in Springfield, more than two months and a slew of lawsuits since Illinois enacted a ban on certain guns and magazines. During a rally at a convention center in Springfield, Illinois State Rifle Association Executive Director Richard...

Gun owners rally in Springfield with legal battles against Illinois’ gun ban continuing

Following the arrest of a suspect in the murder of an elderly woman in Springfield in mid-March, State’s Attorney Dan Wright, Police Chief Ken Scarlette and other officials held a news conference in Springfield Thursday to discuss the case and the effort that went into identifying and locating the suspect. Here’s what they had to say:

LISTEN: State’s Attorney, Police Chief discuss homicide arrest

UPDATE: 19:10, Friday, March 31: Structural damage is being reported in Dawson; the Parks Place Childcare Center at 7075 Old Decatur Rd, Riverton, is reportedly suffering from a collapsed roof due to conditions. ORIGINAL: 18:46, Friday, March 31: Stay safe out there across Springfield, Sangamon County and the greater Central...

BREAKING: Confirmed Tornado touch down in Springfield northeast of Sherman

The Sangamon Mass Transit District will alter several routes starting Monday, a move brought about in part by the upcoming closures of Jefferson and Madison Streets. Those roads will close for 14 months, starting Wednesday, as part of the rail consolidation project. As a result, SMTD will adjust six downtown...

SMTD to alter several routes across Springfield starting Monday as part of rail consolidation project

While work continues on consolidating most rail traffic in Springfield on the 10th Street corridor, questions remain about the future of the 19th Street tracks. Hanson Engineers, which is overseeing the 10th Street project, says there is interest in constructing underpasses on some of the streets that currently have grade-level crossings at 19th Street.

Questions remain concerning future of 19th Street tracks during Springfield rail consolidation

SPRINGFIELD – The Rosenberg Moon Habitat was named 2023’s “Coolest Thing Made in Illinois” Wednesday in a contest hosted by the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. The habitat is manufactured by Ingersoll Machine Tools in Rockford, in collaboration with the Institut auf dem Rosenberg of Switzerland. At a height of 23 feet, the structure is designed to house two people at a time on the moon and is the world’s tallest single-piece 3D-printed polymer structure.

Schoonover: Moon habitat named 2023’s ‘Coolest Thing Made in Illinois’

Washington State

The closure of Jefferson and Madison Streets at the 10th Street tracks next week is just one of several road closures in the months ahead as work continues on Springfield’s rail consolidation project. The closure of Jefferson and Madison gets underway next Wednesday and will last up to 14...

Springfield rail consolidation project to last up to 14 months – numerous closures should be expected and planned for

Riverton, IL

Illinois State Police have released more details about a crash that tied up traffic on Interstate 72 east of Springfield for hours Wednesday night. The crash happened near Riverton, forcing the temporary diversion of westbound traffic at the Buffalo exit. Police say 39-year-old Jennifer Jones of Auburn was westbound at...

Illinois State Police release further details concerning Wednesday evening crash on I-72 near Riverton

Illinois State Police are investigating a traffic crash west of Springfield Tuesday morning that killed a 19-year-old Pike County woman. Authorities say a car driven by a 47-year-old man from Wheaton was westbound on Route 106 near Winchester in Scott County when for an unknown reason, the car crossed the center line and struck an oncoming car.

Illinois State Police investigating deadly crash west of Springfield Tuesday morning

A reminder that several streets in and near downtown Springfield will be closed Saturday morning for the Lincoln Half Marathon. Road closures begin around 6:30 am for the race, which steps off at 7:30 near 6th and Washington. All roads should be reopened by 11 am; you’ll find a full...

Several Downtown Springfield streets to be closed on Saturday morning for Lincoln Half Marathon

Work begins Thursday to rebuild or replace two bridges over Interstate 55 in Montgomery County, south of Springfield. The entire bridge deck for the Morrisonville Avenue bridge just south of Farmersville will be removed and replaced. Morrisonville Avenue over I-55 will be closed for the duration of the project, which will be completed in July.

Road work to repair and replace two bridges south of Springfield to start Thursday

New Berlin, IL

The Sangamon County Fair has announced one of its Grandstand headline acts for 2023. Country-folk group Blackberry Smoke will appear at the fair in New Berlin on Thursday, June 15. Blackberry Smoke has had two number-one country albums and its most recent effort debuted at number one on the Billboard...

Sangamon County Fair announces that Blackberry Smoke will be among its headlining acts this June

A Springfield man is being held without bond in the brutal killing of a woman in her home earlier this month. 54-year-old Fredrick DeGraffenreid is facing four counts of first-degree murder and numerous other charges, including home invasion, residential burglary, robbery, and theft. He’s accused of beating and stabbing 72-year-old...

Springfield man being held without bond in connection with murder of woman in mid-March

Today is National Vietnam War Veterans Day. I come from a very military family. In fact, out of all the men in my recent family, I am the only one who never enlisted or went to a military academy. However, growing up in the middle of everything gave me an intense respect for those who have served, are serving or will serve.

The Morning Routine Discuss Honor Flights With Steve Wheeler [AUDIO]

You could someday own a piece of the old Pillsbury Mills in Springfield. Moving Pillsbury Forward recently struck a deal with a salvage company, which purchased a supply of wood from a recently-demolished warehouse on the site. The reclaimed wood will soon be made available to anyone with an interest...

Want to own a part of the old Pillsbury Mills building? All American Reclaim has you covered!

Springfield fire investigators are looking into a blaze that heavily damaged a vacant home on the city’s east side. Firefighters arrived in the 16-hundred block of East Moffat just after 11:30 Wednesday night to find flames throughout the second floor of the structure. Crews attempted to enter the house...

Springfield fire investigators appraising fire that occurred in vacant house on East side

A big – and potentially loud – police presence at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School this week is no cause for alarm; it’s just a drill. The Springfield Police Emergency Response and Crisis Response Teams will be training at Siena Hall on the SH-G campus on West Monroe Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.

Springfield emergency response team to train at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School on this Wednesday evening – Thursday morning

Springfield’s public library will launch a new service this summer that will give patrons hands-on experience working with everything from sewing and quilting to using high-tech equipment like virtual reality goggles and 3-D printers. Lincoln Library director Summer Griffith announced the new project in an exclusive live interview on...

Springfield public library announces that it’s launching first-of-its-kind “tech and textile lab this summer

A Springfield restaurant will close at the end of the week – but the owners say it’s not going away entirely. Conn’s Hospitality Group says it will close Li’l Willy’s BBQ on South Grand Avenue West on Friday, after two and a half years in business.

Springfield’s Li’l Willy’s BBQ to close on Friday – will be reinvented as full service spot in Vinegar Hill Mall

Saturday marks opening day of the 2023 season at Henson Robinson Zoo in Springfield. Opening Day will include special presentations by zookeepers, a look at new animals on display at the zoo this year, and some animal encounters are planned. There will also be a visit from the “spring bunny”...

Henson Robinson Zoo opens for 2023 season this Saturday

NewsBreak

Permanent Mail-In Voting finally coming to Sangamon County voters

Registered Sangamon County voters will soon be receiving a form to request to be permanently placed on the Mail-In Voter list. A 2021 state law gives...

Permanent Mail-In Voting finally coming to Sangamon County voters

Comments / 0