Category Archives: Local News

Springfield Fire Department Respond to Fire at Curve Inn
Fire heavily damaged a popular bar and grill in Southern View on Friday morning. Springfield Assistant Fire Chief Julie Plunk said crews responded to several calls of smoke at about 9 am at the Curve ...
Greg Halbleib Feb 20, 2026

Jacksonville Center for the Arts Will Not Purchase Illinois Theater
The Jacksonville Center for the Arts announced this week that it will not exercise its option to purchase the historic Illinois Theater after falling short of its fundraising goal. The organization sa...
Greg Halbleib Feb 20, 2026 Pictures of Money / CC

Two High School Students Help Draft Vaping Device Disposal Bill
A bill drafted by two Illinois high school students would require producers of electronic smoking devices like vapes to manage the disposal of the devices through stewardship programs. The programs wo...
Greg Halbleib Feb 20, 2026 Thidada6242@gmail.com / Depositphotos.com

Com-Ed's Marquez Sentenced for Role in Bribery Scheme
Former Commonwealth Edison executive Fidel Marquez, whose role as an FBI mole furthered the feds' investigation into then-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, was sentenced to two years of probatio...
Greg Halbleib Feb 20, 2026 vladek / Depositphotos.com

New Jobless Claims Drop in Illinois
Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Illinois dropped last week compared to a week earlier according to the U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday. New jobless claims last week fell to nearly 72...
Greg Halbleib Feb 20, 2026 Kevin Smith / CC

Decatur Man Arrested on Child Pornography Charges
45-year old Alan Whitcomb of Decatur has been arrested after authorities found over 300 counts of child pornography on his phone. On February 5, Decatur police searched Whitcomb's home. Police said of...
Mike Wennmacher Feb 19, 2026 Police lights (Credit: Max Fleischmann; UnSplash)
Chicago Bears Stadium Saga Takes Turn
The Chicago Bears' consideration of a move to Indiana escalated Thursday as Hoosier lawmakers advanced legislation laying the groundwork to build a new domed stadium across the state line. Meanwhile, ...
Mike Wennmacher Feb 19, 2026

Republicans Respond to Pritzker's State of the State Address
Republicans quickly responded that Pritzker is deflecting state issues onto Trump. House Republican Norine Hammond says Pritzker is more focused on running for president than focusing on the issues in...
Greg Halbleib Feb 19, 2026 Governor JB Pritzker (Credit: Governor JB Pritzker)

Rochester School Board Approves Revised Deficit Reduction Plan
The Rochester school board approved a revised deficit reduction plan on Wednesday evening. The revised plan calls for $2.2 million in cost reductions, down from the original plan of $3.1 million. Supe...
Greg Halbleib Feb 19, 2026

61-Year-Old Man Dies in Motorcycle Crash
A 61-year-old man died after the motorcycle he was driving collided with a vehicle at about noon Wednesday at Peoria Road and Sangamon Avenue in Springfield. Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon said th...
Greg Halbleib Feb 19, 2026 police tape and lights (Credit: ABC News)
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