LATEST NEWS
Illinois regulators move to bring video gambling under self-exclusion program
Problem gamblers seeking to avoid the temptation to gamble can ban themselves from most of the state’s gambling offerings, from…
High school students try their hands at being lawmakers
Dozens of high school students from across central Illinois recently got the chance to find out what it’s like to…
Data centers are reshaping electricity demand
Around 150 people gathered in University of Illinois Springfield’s Brookens Auditorium Oct. 21 to learn more about the environmental impacts…
New building for Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery
The Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery sits behind a white picket fence in a quiet, historic neighborhood on North Seventh Street.…
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Local election coverage
From congressional races to contested Sangamon County Board seats and the sheriff’s race, here’s a look at who’s on the Nov. 3 ballot locally. We also have an overview of the landlord registry referendum that Springfield voters will be asked to consider. Sign up for our daily digital newsletter to get timely information about local…
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Local community news from around the country
NEWSLETTER
News
Mental Health Board to host public study session
The Sangamon County Mental Health Board is hosting its first public engagement event on Thursday, Oct. 22, from 5-8 p.m.…
An overview of contested County Board races
Despite a total of 17 seats up for reelection on the Sangamon County Board and increased eyes on county politics,…
Sheriff candidates both promise change
Sangamon County voters haven’t elected a Democrat as sheriff since 1974, but Marc Bell says the public’s longing for change…
Nikki Budzinksi, Mary Miller both face challengers
Parts of Sangamon County are included in two congressional districts – the 13th and the 15th. The nationwide outcome of…
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Previous Issues
opinion
Small town elections are important
For weeks, candidate ads have dominated television viewing. Text messages and phone calls are nonstop. Yard signs are popping up like my late season…
Observations of an immigrant court observer
I consider Chicago my hometown. My entire family was raised on Chicago’s south side and I grew up in a southeast suburb called Dolton,…
Letters to the editor 10/22/26
We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. SUPPORT SECOND AMENDMENT She…
Ethics laws and good advice
The Legislative Ethics Commission Chair said last week that the LEC will meet soon and discuss whether to recommend changes to state ethics laws…
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Food and drink
Great Halloween recipes with minimal fuss
Halloween cookery can range from playfully autumnal to murderously macabre. From festive pumpkin crostini to bloodied witches’ fingers and ghoulish…
The secret to tender meat
With soaring grocery prices, I’ve been passing up the expensive, well-marbled T-bone steaks for more affordable proteins. Top-notch ingredients will…
How to make homemade caramel
Making scratch-made caramel can be daunting. Between the intimidating prospect of boiling sugar and the risk of it seizing up…
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Music
Falling into October music
As we fly on through October like autumn leaves in a fall breeze, the festivals are finished,…
Mid-October music making
As we move away from a warm October and head into more seasonal weather, some cool events…
Hardcore sax and drums
The Get Free Music Series, presented by the Music Program of University of Illinois Springfield, continues its…
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ARTS AND CULTURE
Mayor to host veterans reception
Mayor Misty Buscher will host a special Veterans Day Reception on Monday, Nov. 9, honoring the men and women who have served in the U.S.…
UIS to present “Rabbit Hole”
The University of Illinois Springfield Theatre Program will present six performances of Rabbit Hole by David Lindsay-Abaire, winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.…
See lacks truth, Wicker is amusing from start to finish
Truth proves elusive in See “Remember, as a documentarian you are an observer, an author but not a director, a discoverer, not a controller.” –…
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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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