Around 150 people gathered in University of Illinois Springfield’s Brookens Auditorium Oct. 21 to learn more about the environmental impacts of data centers. Mary Willis, assistant professor of epidemiology at Boston University School of Public Health, discussed federal policies that sped up development and various environmental concerns stemming from the gigantic buildouts that typically require […]
Dilpreet Raju
Dilpreet Raju is a staff writer for Illinois Times and a Report for America corps member. He has a bachelor's degree in biochemistry from American University, a master's degree from Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and was previously a reporting fellow at Capitol News Illinois.
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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. at Sangamon South Auditorium, 300 S. Ninth Street. 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 and […]
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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, only four of those races are contested. With 29 board members, Sangamon is one of only three counties (the other two being LaSalle and St. Clair) to have the maximum number of county board seats […]
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UIS to host talk on environmental impact of data centers
The University of Illinois Springfield is hosting a presentation on Wednesday, Oct. 21, focused on the environmental impacts of artificial intelligence and data center development. The talk is free and open to the public. Mary Willis, assistant professor of epidemiology at the Boston University School of Public Health, “will investigate the local effects of data […]
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Former Massey Commission members ask police commission to expand its call
It’s been more than three years since Springfield’s Police Community Review Commission reviewed a complaint, and it won’t review any this year after the PCRC met for the second, and final, time this year on Oct. 14. The Massey Community Action Network, a group of former Massey Commission members and staff, organized a group of […]
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County approves contract with Mental Health Board
The Sangamon County Board approved an intergovernmental agreement Oct. 13 to provide administrative support for the newly formed Sangamon County Mental Health Board. The Mental Health Board, which is funded by a limited 0.5% sales tax levy (groceries, medication and services are excluded) approved by primary voters in March, will pay the county just more […]
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County punts on “complicated issue” of whether to change monthly meeting time
The Sangamon County Board decided to punt at its Oct. 13 meeting on the idea of moving the board’s monthly meeting from Tuesday to Wednesday so as not to conflict with Springfield City Council. A trio of Democrats proposed the move: recently appointed District 12 board member Sheila Feipel, outgoing District 18 board member Sam […]
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Intricate Minds has new downtown location
Last year, overdose deaths in Sangamon County decreased for the first time since 2019. So far, 2026 is on pace for another decrease – but fatal overdoses are still expected to outpace other unexpected deaths such as suicide and homicide. Tiara Standage, founder of harm reduction nonprofit Intricate Minds, thinks her organization’s efforts over the […]
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Family raises ALS research funds in honor of former Rochester teacher
Elizabeth Kennedy still remembers when her mother, Stephanie, first started experiencing neurological hurdles stemming from ALS. “My mom started experiencing symptoms of ALS in 2019, but we did not know that it was ALS at the time, obviously. Her first symptom was that she went out to start the car and was unable to turn […]
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Data center lawsuit could be tossed out
Circuit Judge Adam Giganti could soon decide whether a lawsuit regarding the Sangamon County Board’s approval for the county’s first hyperscale data center goes forward or is dismissed. The July 6 lawsuit was originally filed against Sangamon County and the County Board by residents who live approximately a mile or less from the site seeking […]
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Candidates face off at forum
The Committee of Springfield Illinois, a nonpartisan group, held two debates on Sunday, Sept. 27, bringing together candidates for the 48th Senate district and Sangamon County sheriff races. Bernard Schoenburg, a former political journalist at The State Journal-Register, moderated the debates held at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Springfield. Schoenburg now serves on the board […]
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Springfield researcher awarded SIU’s 2026 Inventor of the Year
Springfield-based microbiology researcher Andrew Wilber, a director of cell biology and hematology at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, was recently named SIU’s 2026 Inventor of the Year for his work on developing gene therapies for rare blood disorders such as sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia. Wilber, who has a doctorate in molecular genetics, […]
