COVER STORY
Divided over data centers
“The U.S. is now spending more on data center construction than public transportation infrastructure,” Bloomberg reported earlier this month. The data center boom has upended the American political landscape, connecting people from all kinds of ballot leanings while shining a light…
LATEST NEWS
Future data center tax breaks on hold
Despite the governor mentioning a pause on data center tax breaks at his budget address in February and a massive…
Man fights city hall
He lives in an 18-square-foot home on a corner lot at 17th and Carpenter streets. He built the “pod” himself,…
Crowd reacts to Christian County data center plan
Facing strong opposition to a proposed $6 billion data center near Taylorville, a founder of Eagle Rock Partners told the…
EMT charged with murder sentenced
A former emergency medical technician accused in potentially the nation’s first murder case against a first responder received the lightest…
Lawmakers, stakeholders are ready for summer of data center negotiations
Lawmakers have a busy summer of negotiations ahead of them with pressure from both the governor’s office and their constituents…
Federal cuts are hitting Illinois food assistance recipients — and the farmers who feed them
President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” severely impacted two of Illinois’ most economically vulnerable groups: the hundreds of thousands…
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NEWSLETTER
News
New home nightmare
In a room just off the kitchen area in the Chatham home of Jaigovinda and Phalita Sharma, a wicker sofa…
Rolling out the welcome mat
Abraham Lincoln may always be Springfield’s top tourist attraction, but the capital city is expected to draw thousands of visitors…
New owners for Jubilee Farm
NextGen Communities, the new owners of Jubilee Farm Ecology & Spirituality Center west of Springfield, has pledged to continue to…
Muni president addresses controversy
It may not have been the full-throated apology critics wanted, but a top official from Springfield Municipal Opera says mistakes…
opinion
Cheering an empty stadium
The most interesting news out of Chicago about this year’s World Cup finals is that there isn’t any. We Old Ones remember that Chicago…
Letters to the editor 6/25/26
We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. GREAT ASSET Congratulations, Christian…
The future of our national parks
If recent news coverage has left you concerned about the future of our national parks, historic sites, and public lands you’re not alone. Regardless…
Letters to the editor 6/18/26
CONGRATS TO FLETCHER I was surprised to read of Fletcher “Bud” Farrar’s move from the role of editor, but pleased to know he’s still…
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Food and drink
Not your average turnip
Growing up in a home with a Teutonic heritage, I was exposed to turnips at a young age and developed…
Chilled soups
When the temperatures soar and even the weeds are wilting, chilled soups manage to exude effortless elegance despite their dead-simple…
A Juneteenth convergence of cultures
Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when enslaved Texans finally learned of their freedom – two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.…
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Music
June music jolt
Join me in enjoying a jubilant journey, as we jump into the juke joints to jam and…
Joys of June music
Bring on the sunscreen and insect repellant, stay hydrated and say when, here comes some live music…
Music is jumpin’ in June
Tree frogs croakin’, fireflies flittin’ and June bugs jivin’ are all sure signs that the natural world…
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ARTS AND CULTURE
Supergirl misses the mark for DC Studios, Strike lacks sense of urgency
Narrative inertia is Supergirl’s Kryptonite An oddly inert movie, Craig Gillespie’s Supergirl is a major misfire for James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Studios, their…
Tavern
In our move-about early marriagewe went for low- or no- rent spots.One year we lived over a tavernwhose jukebox blasted till 1am.We solved that problem…
A history of public education
Why does Illinois have an education system that relies on property taxes? Where did physical education, high schools and vocational education in Illinois schools originate?…
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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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