The Springfield City Council spent a long, tense night on one big question: what does it mean to keep people safe? Highlights from the debate over the new armored police vehicle: If you care about police power, community trust, and how Springfield sets its public safety priorities, this one is worth your time.
Zach Adams
Zach Adams is the digital media coordinator for Illinois Times and Springfield Business Journal, handling photography, videography and digital content. He is also the owner of 1221 Photography.
Posted inSpringfield City Council
Springfield debates police BearCat and public accountability
The Springfield City Council spent a lot of time on one question: Why this armored vehicle, and what does it say about policing in our city? Highlights from this week’s meeting: If you care about how policing tools are chosen, when they’re used, and who holds law enforcement accountable, this meeting is worth your time.
Posted inSpringfield City Council
Springfield housing safety, reentry center plan face scrutiny
The Springfield City Council meeting started with urgent questions after a fire at the CWLP plant. City staff walked alderpersons through what happened during decommissioning, why fiberglass piping caught fire, what it meant for air quality, and how the incident doubled as a real-world test of the plant’s emergency response. No injuries and no power […]
Posted inSpringfield City Council
City Council approves budget and redraws cannabis district boundaries
The Springfield City Council just approved the amended city budget on a 7–3 vote — but not before one alderperson stepped back to talk through COVID relief spending, fire station investments and why he sees the grocery tax change as a win for residents. In this meeting, you’ll also see: If you want to see […]
Posted inSangamon County Board
Sangamon County debates Cyrus One data center
The Sangamon County Board heard a full-on community showdown over a proposed $500 million Cyrus One data center in southwest Sangamon County. On one side, residents called for a 180-day moratorium on data centers, warning about higher electric rates, shaky tax promises, loss of prime farmland and low-quality jobs. They pointed to other Illinois communities […]
Posted inSpringfield City Council
Springfield cannabis grants, budget frustrations, and council decorum
The Springfield City Council just reshaped how cannabis tax dollars are spent — and the debate got personal. One alderperson laid out a major overhaul to the city’s cannabis-funded business and housing grants: bigger awards for local startups and homeowners, new eligibility rules, and even help replacing lead pipes in neighborhoods that weren’t covered before. […]
Posted inSpringfield City Council
Growth Alliance contract dispute and representation clash
The Springfield City Council’s debate over a $500,000 funding deal with the Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance went off the rails fast. One alderperson kept pressing on why a 2025 contract the council voted on was never signed, why no money was paid and whether the group essentially worked for free while a new two‑year agreement […]
Posted inSMTD
Ridership data questions and transit upgrades in Sangamon
The Sangamon Mass Transit District Board of Trustees packed a lot into this meeting, from frozen brakes to 1.4 million rides. Highlights from the clip: If you ride SMTD — or just see the buses go by — this gives a clearer picture of what’s happening behind the scenes and what might change for riders […]
Posted inSpringfield City Council
Springfield weighs funding for Black heritage tourism
The Springfield City Council spent a big chunk of this meeting wrestling with what it really means to invest in Black history — not just with words, but with dollars. Tourism staff rolled out the new History Beyond the Tracks initiative, a citywide plan to link together key African American heritage sites on the east […]
Posted inSpringfield City Council
Animal Control scrutiny and accountability demands
The Springfield City Council meeting got tense over timelines, animals and accountability. Right before a final vote, one alderperson tried to lock in a firm deadline: a major city study would have to be finished and back before the council prior to next year’s budget talks. That simple amendment triggered confusion over which budget year […]
Posted inNews
City launches Minority Business Institute
The city of Springfield is launching the Springfield Minority Business Institute, a new multi-week educational initiative that will begin in February. The program is designed to support minority-owned businesses and nonprofit organizations through targeted instruction, access to resources and meaningful networking opportunities. Classes will take place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays in February and March. […]
Posted inSpringfield City Council
Springfield rail reassessment and Animal Control concerns
The Springfield City Council spent a lot of time on two things this week: trains and tails. On the long-running 19th Street railroad project, one alderperson pressed staff on why another feasibility study is needed after 15+ years of work and millions already invested. Timelines, grant dollars and promises to actually follow through (instead of […]
