COVER STORY
Sending the wrong message?
A sharp cough came from the BearCat’s engine as it struggled to start. After another try, the massive bulletproof vehicle outfitted with a turret booth and remote battering ram for bashing in doors and windows came to life. The driver, who…
LATEST NEWS
DOJ seeking Illinois voter data to purge suspected noncitizens, documents suggest
The Trump administration’s lawsuits seeking access to sensitive voter registration data in Illinois and dozens of other states is one…
Developer pledges $65 million annually to Logan County
Regardless of whether estimated new property taxes are accurate, Hut 8 Corp. would guarantee Logan County schools and local governments…
Illinois State Board of Education wants to revamp how it counts low-income students
The Illinois State Board of Education is asking lawmakers this year for $200,000 to develop a new way of counting…
Chief addresses use-of-force policy
The Springfield Police Department’s chief sees calls for changes in the department’s use-of-force policy as opportunities to educate the public…
ABC loses State Fair contract
Since the first term of Dwight D. Eisenhower’s presidency, one organization – the American Business Club of Springfield – has…
If you build it, they will come
The ghosts of Shoeless Joe Jackson and Ty Cobb did not emerge from a cornfield Tuesday afternoon at Scheels Sports…
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News
EMT takes plea deal
A plea deal in the death of Earl L. Moore Jr. is drawing mixed reactions from family members and civil…
Healthcare leaders convene at Citizens Club
The Citizens Club of Springfield hosted Springfield’s healthcare leaders April 24 to discuss the industry’s future in the capital city…
Strategy, not charity
“Why Foreign Assistance Matters” was the topic of the April 14 World Affairs Council of Central Illinois program at Illini…
Tackling chronic absenteeism
A new joint initiative between the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Regional Office of Education is taking a…
opinion
Progressives push tax ideas
More than a year ago, the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget was projecting a $3.2 billion deficit for what is now the current…
Letters to the editor 4/30/26
We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. ADS AREN’T TRUE There…
Dr. Turner prescribes
Downtown Springfield has been slowly bleeding retailers, office tenants and cobblers-to-kitchen installers since 1951 when Sears, Roebuck & Co. moved its store from Adams…
Bears stadium bill advances
“We’re almost there” on a Bears stadium bill, Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) told some sports radio hosts on a Friday morning before the House…
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Food and drink
The verdant resurrection
The onset of spring brings with it a shift in what we do in restaurant kitchens. The season marks our…
Classic French toast
Brunch season is upon us! Whether you’re in the mood for laid back and lazy or showstopping and decadent –…
Ooey gooey goodness
Now in my third year at Champaign’s Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery, I stay busy working at Caprae, our farm-to-table…
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Music
ISO gets its kicks in a roadworthy finale
With renovations of Sangamon Auditorium on the University of Illinois Springfield campus nearing completion, the May 1…
Into May music
Join me in saying so long to anxious and unusual April and hello to the very, merry…
April ending music
As we wind up our last weekend in April for live music adventures, the weather looks good…
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ARTS AND CULTURE
Kena Bere interview
Kena Bere is a young attorney working in downtown Springfield who is dedicating her career to building a more just and equitable legal system. She…
Deep Water better than expected, message gets lost in Animal Farm remake
Water deeper than expected In the spirit of giving credit where it’s due, my hat’s off to director Renny Harlan and screenwriters Pete Bridges, Shayne…
Meet the Navy SEAL who killed Osama bin Laden
Meet former Navy SEAL Rob O’Neill, known for firing the shots that killed terrorist Osama bin Laden, during this inaugural Heroes at Home Plate event.…
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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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