Reisch Beer had a long and wonderful history in Springfield. The Reisch Brewing Company was founded in 1849 by Franz Reisch, an immigrant from Germany, on the land that is now occupied by SIU School of Medicine facilities. At one point, it was the longest-running brewery in the country, and the beers brewed were uncontested […]
ReGen
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A famous photo imprinted on the photographer’s life
The haunting pictures of the deadly riot at Kent State University in 1970 are among the most famous news photographs in American history. The incident left four dead and nine wounded in the bloodiest exchange in a college protest in the era. The clash was defined by the photographic image of a young girl, screaming […]
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The heart of Springfield’s Muslim community
About the article This article is part of the Healing Illinois 2025 Reporting Project, “Healing Through Narrative Change: Untold Stories,” made possible by a grant from Healing Illinois, an initiative of the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Field Foundation of Illinois that seeks to advance racial healing through storytelling and community collaborations. After a recent […]
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Remember your inner artist
Being around kids makes you revisit your own youth and the child inside yourself. It reminds you that you were once small. The inner child never truly grows up and can serve as a beacon back to the early developmental stages of life. This was a time of innocence, creativity and freedom, but can also […]
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Explore Your Community
ONGOING “Persona” Mondays-Fridays, 9am-5pm and Saturdays, 10am-3pm. Through July 26. A national juried exhibit exploring both classical and unique approaches to portraiture in two-dimensional art. springfieldart.org. Free. Edwards Place, Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St., 217-523-2631. Moonlight Market First Wednesday of every month, 6-9pm and Third Wednesday of every month, 6-9pm. Through Sep. 18. […]
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Consider Cass County
Like many of its central Illinois neighbors, CASS County revolves around Communities, Agriculture, Scenic views and Sites of interest. Add Lincoln to the mix, and you’ve got a CLASS in history. Cass is one of the state’s smallest counties, but its Illinois River western border and fertile land ensured early settlement. Before 1823, Cass was […]
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NAACP president seeks partnerships
Austin Randolph, Jr., knows that some people may be surprised by the initiatives he is taking in his new role as president of the Springfield Branch of the NAACP. He took the top position last year when Teresa Haley stepped aside. He and other officers were formally installed Jan. 30 at a ceremony downtown. One […]
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Explore Your Community
See what’s happening near you As events may be canceled or rescheduled at the last moment, please first check with the host or venue when making plans to attend an event. MARCH Illinois Prairie Pastel Society 2025 Members Show Through March 22. The show features artwork from the society’s statewide members. Free. Edwards Place, Springfield […]
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Big-city amenities in a small Arkansas town
How likely is it you can find in one trip all things Walmart, a stunning art museum and world-class mountain biking? Pretty likely if you visit Bentonville, in the northwest corner of Arkansas. With a population of 67,000 and growing, Bentonville is definitely the town Walmart built. Its world headquarters expand into new digs this […]
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Catching up with Debbie Ross and her band
Debbie Ross has sung for three U.S. presidents, a vice president and for more brides and grooms and bar patrons than she can remember, and she plans “to do something musically” after retiring later this year from a long career in state government. By day she is still a librarian at the state prison in […]
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Camp Compass kids receive handmade quilts and blankets
Compass for Kids is well-known in the Springfield community for the many ways it serves children and families through after-school and summer programs that provide academic and social-emotional support. Their goal is to empower Springfield children and families underserved by the community. Club Compass is an after-school program for students at five elementary schools in District […]
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Sunshine
Sunshine “We’re just trying to make Springfield better” – Sunshine Clemons, co-president, Black Lives Matter SPI PROFILE | Ed Wojcicki Last summer, a group of people attempted to disrupt a popular Levitt AMP concert on the Y Block in downtown Springfield. They were angry about the recent murder of Sonya Massey, and the scene grew tense, […]
