Primary voters approved a referendum March 17 that will levy a 0.5% limited sales tax for a mental health board to distribute an estimated $14.7 million annually to service providers and programs. Nearly 53% of Sangamon County primary voters supported the referendum, which received 17,300 votes. Only about 24% of registered voters, roughly 33,500 people, […]
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Voting information for March 17 primary
Primary election voters will decide key Democrat and Republican nominees for a number of local, statewide and federal government offices up for grabs in November. And for those who only want to vote on the referendum to create a mental health board, nonpartisan ballots are available. Early voting at the Sangamon County Municipal Building, 200 […]
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Using her own words against her
A video shot by the family of former Sangamon County deputy David Timm shows the 25-year veteran of the sheriff’s office being honored by his boss and future political opponent at a retirement ceremony. The grainy video from the January 2025 ceremony shows Sheriff Paula Crouch getting choked up as she stands next to Timm […]
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BUNN bought by Chicago-based conglomerate
Sangamon County’s largest manufacturer was sold today to an out-of-town conglomerate, marking the end of five generations of control by the Bunn family. Bunn is now in the hands of the Ali Group, a Chicago-based foodservice international company that “designs, manufactures, markets and services a broad line of commercial and institutional foodservice equipment used by […]
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New owner and plans for Town & Country Shopping Center
Town & Country Shopping Center has a new owner, who says he plans to make about $5 million in renovations at the site on South MacArthur Boulevard and begin the work in the next 30 days. “I think it has a lot of potential,” Trent Overhue of Springfield, Missouri, told Illinois Times on March 9. […]
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A desert for mental health care
Long waitlists to obtain mental health care may shorten if supporters of a mental health board are successful during the March 17 primary election. A wide range of community leaders, along with every hospital and health care organization in Sangamon County, have voiced support for the referendum that would use revenue from a limited sales […]
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The end of an era
For 116 years, St. Patrick Catholic School has been an educational cornerstone on Springfield’s east side – a small school with big ambitions for the children it has served. At the end of this school year, its classrooms will fall silent. School leaders announced this month that St. Patrick Catholic School, founded in 1910, will […]
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Primaries for contested County Board seats
There are two contested races for the Sangamon County Board in the March 17 primary election, one each on the Republican and Democratic ballots. Incumbent Republican David Mendenhall faces challenger Samantha Auby in District 3, while Democratic incumbent Sam Cahnman is opposed by Miguel Valente in District 18. Mendenhall vs. Auby Both Republican candidates for […]
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A heated race for Sangamon County sheriff
A retired Sangamon County deputy challenging incumbent Paula Crouch to become the Republican candidate in this year’s race for sheriff says Crouch and her allies are using lies and distortions to sway voters as the March 17 primary approaches. David Timm is pushing back against an onslaught of radio, print and video advertisements paid for […]
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Illinois mayors call on Pritzker to rethink flat local government funding
Local government leaders in Illinois are once again calling on state lawmakers to increase funding for their communities after Gov. JB Pritzker called for reducing the share of income taxes disbursed to municipalities. Pritzker’s budget, introduced last month, calls for reducing the share of income tax revenues that is divided among counties and other municipalities […]
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Data center project moves forward
Opponents of a proposed $500 million data center in southwestern Sangamon County went away disappointed and angry but unbowed, while officials from a Dallas-based company left smiling, after a pair of nonbinding votes by county officials Feb. 19. “This is a long-term catalyst for the labor and construction industry,” Bradd Hout, location and power strategy […]
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Urban League has ambitious development plans
“At a time when it’s easy to take a step back, the Urban League is stepping up.” Those were the words of Springfield Urban League President and CEO Dr. Marcus Johnson during a Dec. 2 Springfield City Council meeting. Johnson was trying to convince the alderpersons to sell eight city-owned parcels of land on Springfield’s […]
