Dilpreet Raju

Some participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program can now use their benefits to purchase prepared food from participating restaurants, including Head West Sub Shop. The Illinois Department of Human Services has expanded its restaurant meals program and now has 55 businesses participating statewide. Head West is the only one in central Illinois currently taking […]

Following committee sign off last week, the Sangamon County Board approved its 2027 fiscal year budget at its monthly meeting on Nov. 10. County Administrator Brian McFadden gave the board’s Finance Committee a rundown of the upcoming budget’s major revenues and expenses during its Nov. 5 meeting, in addition to informing committee members of other […]

Circuit Judge Adam Giganti tossed the county’s first data center lawsuit Nov. 6 before the trial stage, writing that the Sangamon County Board “is responsible for the management of County funds, along with the authority to regulate issues including zoning, public health and building safety, among others.” The July 6 lawsuit sought a judicial review […]

Prairie State Hemp is set to close this week as the state’s crackdown on hemp products will effectively kill the business, a store manager told Illinois Times. The final day of business for the retail store in downtown Springfield will be Nov. 11, as the state’s new regulations for all kinds of consumable hemp-derived products […]

Circuit Judge Adam Giganti dismissed a lawsuit Nov. 6 seeking a judicial review of the Sangamon County Board’s April approval of zoning to allow for construction of a hyperscale data center in Talkington Township. The July 6 lawsuit was originally filed against Sangamon County and the County Board by residents who live approximately a mile […]

The state’s health insurance marketplace, Get Covered Illinois, opened enrollment for 2027 plans on Nov. 1. Sangamon County will continue to have just two insurance providers through the marketplace after Aetna and Health Alliance’s exit last year halved the number of insurers for area plans. Visit GetCoveredIllinois.gov to explore plans, cost estimates and enroll. Individuals […]

Despite a total of 17 seats up for reelection on the Sangamon County Board and increased eyes on county politics, only four of those races were contested. Here’s a rundown of those contested races: District 7, southwest Sangamon County Republican Richard King, chair of the West Sangamon Republican Club political action committee, comfortably won the […]

A lawsuit seeking to reverse the Sangamon County Board’s April 7 approval of zoning to allow for construction of a data center could hinge on the court’s interpretation of the word “shall” within the county’s data center code. Circuit Judge Adam Giganti, at the conclusion of an Oct. 30 hearing on motions to dismiss the […]

NOV. 5 UPDATE: Sangamon County extended its deadline to apply for a vacancy on the county’s Mental Health Board until Nov. 30 at 5 p.m.; applications were previously due Nov. 5 with the board expecting to appoint an applicant by Nov. 10. The updated timeline lists a “potential appointment” during the Dec. 8 Sangamon County […]

The Sangamon County Mental Health Board met for the sixth time in an official capacity Oct. 28, setting dates for upcoming public “study sessions” where no official action will be taken but board members can discuss issues and ideas. The Mental Health Board is responsible for disbursing tax revenue to mental health programs in the […]

The Sangamon County Mental Health Board made progress at its first public engagement session by beginning to hash out priorities to be included in the board’s upcoming one-year plan. The Mental Health Board is responsible for disbursing tax revenue to mental health programs in the county through a limited 0.5% sales tax levy (groceries, medication […]