COVER STORY
Creating a recovery movement
Carrie Farley was released from prison March 4 with a history of addiction and hopes for a better life. But soon, Farley met discouragement. “I have quite a bit of a background, due to my addiction. When I got out of…
LATEST NEWS
Exonoree restitution law expanded
Advocates for increasing the compensation for people wrongfully convicted celebrated a major victory on July 14, the day Gov. JB…
Redeveloping the Y Block
A Springfield City Council member questioned why the city would consider giving away the Y block without more than a…
Illinois Sports Hall of Fame slated for Legacy Pointe
Chicago Bulls fans who want to see authentic Michael Jordan memorabilia in a hall of fame can do that, provided…
Residents sue Sangamon County, CyrusOne
Several Waverly residents who live approximately a mile or less from the site recently approved for the CyrusOne data center…
An unlikely alliance
Democrat candidate Marc Bell, who dropped out of the Sangamon County sheriff’s race prior to the March primary and rejoined…
Data centers have moved into rural America. So have the concerns.
Data center construction is shifting toward rural America. At the same time, rural residents report greater concern than urban and…
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NEWSLETTER
News
Tiny house owner has his day in court
The fight between the city of Springfield and Chase Hadez, aka Colton Lexus, is going to the next round. The…
Developers pitch solar farm to Divernon residents
A Dallas-based company hopes to build a 1,100-acre solar project between Divernon Township and Pawnee Township by 2029. Leeward Renewable…
Residents sue to stop Sangamon County data center
This is a developing story, check back for updates. Several Waverly residents who live approximately a mile or less from…
Leadership change for Lucky Horseshoes
When their announcement went live on their social media platforms the morning of July 9, it would have been understandable…
opinion
Letters to the Editor
HE’S TRYING Someone trying their best to take care of themselves should be allowed by law (“Man fights city hall,” June 25). He owns…
Politicians and due process
Rep. Luis Arroyo (D-Chicago) was arrested by the FBI on Oct. 28, 2019, for attempting to bribe a state senator. House Speaker Michael Madigan,…
As good as not there
The country roads around Springfield are lined with solar energy collectors in the form of cornfields. Here and there are newer and more efficient…
Letters to the editor 7/9/26
We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. THANKS FOR PUBLICIZING Thank…
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Food and drink
Mmmm, green beans
I do not enjoy picking green beans. Or rather, my back doesn’t like picking beans. However, I couldn’t imagine a…
A short history of cooking on a stick
Roasting food on a skewer is a universal tradition with cultural significance dating back to the dawn of human culinary…
Magical marinades
A well-made marinade makes all the difference when grilling and can transform an otherwise lackluster meal into a stellar spread.…
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Music
July music sizzles
We’re turning up the heat as we hit mid-July with the summer time going full on with…
July flying by
With summertime in full swing, the livin’ is, as expressed in song, easy. So let’s go have…
July music coming in hot
Welcome to July of 2026 as our national holiday weekend celebrating Independence Day in the U.S. of…
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ARTS AND CULTURE
Live from Loomis at Theatre in the Park
Theatre in the Park at New Salem announced a change to its summer lineup. Due to the production of Hands on a Hard Body being…
Shakespeare in the Park returns to Enos Park for a third year
The Springfield Area Arts Council is facilitating the return of Shakespeare in the Park on Friday, July 24, from 6-8 p.m. at Enos Park, 1000…
Moana too familiar for its own good
There was an interesting article recently in the New York Times. Apparently, much like The Lion King (1994) was the go-to movie for a previous…
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Best Of Springfield 2025
See the results Every year, we ask our opinionated readers to tell us about their favorite people, places and things in the Springfield area. Over the decades we’ve been doing this, we’ve continued to tweak both the process and the results issue to try to keep things fresh and interesting. While anything food-related typically dominates…
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