The Springfield District 186 Board of Education just had a meeting that hit on student safety, a looming budget crunch and how invisible our district feels at the state level. Highlights: If you live in District 186, this is the kind of meeting that shows how decisions about money, safety, and advocacy could land directly […]
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
Tenant voices and Springfield’s landlord registry debate
The Springfield City Council just got two big storylines: money and housing. First, the city’s main operating fund didn’t land where anyone expected. Instead of an $11.8 million deficit, the corporate fund finished fiscal year 2026 with an $11.4 million surplus. Stronger-than-expected revenues, conservative spending and delayed equipment purchases are already reshaping the outlook for […]
Posted inUncategorized
Today’s Times, Thurs., October 1, 2026
SUPPORT US TODAY’S TIMES NEWS YOU CAN USE FEEL GOOD NEWS IN CASE YOU MISSED “IT” YESTERDAY Radioactivity to play Dumb Records, Black Sheep turns 21 Record diesel prices continue uptrend, surpass $6 ABC announces funding recipients from State Fair proceeds More from Illinois Times PHOTO OF THE DAY CLICK HERE TO SHARE A PHOTO […]
Posted inSMTD
New transfer hub land deal and funding plan
The Sangamon Mass Transit District Board of Trustees just took a major step toward a new off-street transfer hub — and landed a big land deal to make it happen. The board heard how SMTD secured a parcel for the permanent secondary hub using a mix of state and federal grants plus a substantial in-kind […]
Posted inSpringfield City Council
Springfield debates landlord boot camp and council failures
The Springfield City Council heard two very different public challenges on housing and accountability this week. First up, Diane Shaw, a retired Navy veteran who’s also a local landlord, tenant and property manager pushed back on a blanket landlord registry and laid out a “tenant–landlord boot camp” model instead — focused on shared standards, financial […]
Posted inUncategorized
Today’s Times,Thurs., Sept 24, 2026
SUPPORT US TODAY’S TIMES NEWS YOU CAN USE FEEL GOOD NEWS IN CASE YOU MISSED “IT” YESTERDAY County Board defends data center approval in court Big Ten blood drive competition Mary Lincoln biographer to headline Conference on Illinois History More from Illinois Times Birds of a feather 2 birds in the Art Alley Photographer Full […]
Posted inUncategorized
Today’s Times, Wed. Sept 23,2026
SUPPORT US TODAY’S TIMES FEEL GOOD NEWS NEWS YOU CAN USE IN CASE YOU MISSED “IT” YESTERDAY Breathing life back into Lincoln Leaving a legacy Meet the candidates for state Senate, sheriffs More from Illinois Times Go Queens The newly crowned champs of the WPBL, the LA Queens. Zach Adams Location city, state, or general […]
Posted inSpringfield City Council
Springfield’s ISO Class 1 win and community legacy
The Springfield City Council packed a lot into a few minutes that matter for everyone living here. First up: a big win for public safety. The Springfield Fire Department just confirmed it kept its ISO Class 1 rating after a year-long review — a distinction only about 1% of departments hold. Council investments in new […]
Posted inSpringfield City Council
Water line aid debate and resident backlash
The Springfield City Council turned a routine agenda into some pointed questions this week. One workers’ compensation payout for a firefighter sparked concern about why these claims are taking years to resolve. The council advanced the ordinance, but not before raising the issue of whether the city is moving too slowly when employees get hurt […]
Posted inSpringfield City Council
Residents press council on housing and policing
The Springfield City Council quietly pulled back a motion on the city’s ShotSpotter contract— with a promise that a revised ordinance will be back on the agenda. The mayor signaled changes are coming, but details are sparse. Then a resident used public comment to lay out what he’s hearing at doors across the city: frustration […]
Posted inSangamon County Board
Sangamon County approves hotel tax for BOS expansion
The Sangamon County Board just locked in a new 3% hotel motel tax to help expand the Bank of Springfield Center — but it wasn’t a quiet decision. Local lodging representative Darren Dame warned the board the tax was moving too fast, questioned why Springfield should become one of the highest tax hotel markets in […]
Posted inWatch Public Meetings
Springfield debates ShotSpotter, racism and landlords
The Springfield City Council wrestled with a $1 million question: should the city renew its ShotSpotter gunfire detection contract, and if so, what real changes will residents see in the neighborhoods where gun violence is concentrated? You’ll hear Ward 2 Ald. Shawn Gregory push hard for tying this technology spending to concrete improvements — fixing […]
