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 […]
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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 inSchool Board Dist. 186
Springfield 186 names new superintendent, plans bonds
The Springfield District 186 Board of Education meeting mixed big celebrations with big decisions. Highlights from the night: The biggest moment: the board announced its recommendation for the 36th superintendent of Springfield Public School District 186. The superintendent-elect spoke about faith, hard-earned life lessons, and treating the role as a responsibility to serve students, staff, […]
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 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 […]
Posted inSpringfield City Council
Springfield weighs cannabis grant barriers, Repair Commission
At the latest Springfield City Council meeting, a debate over cannabis grants turned into a much bigger conversation about fairness, barriers and the city’s history. Key moments in the video: If you care about how Springfield spends cannabis dollars, treats residents with records, or addresses historic injustice, this one is worth watching.
Posted inSchool Board Dist. 186
Basketball celebrations, e-learning changes and superintendent search updates
The Springfield District 186 Board of Education meeting started with a big win: the Lincoln Magnet and Ball Charter 8th grade girls basketball team brought home the 3A championship and will be honored at the next meeting. Right after that, the focus shifted to the citywide basketball tournament (Jan. 21–24) — not just games, but […]
Posted inSpringfield City Council
Residents grade Springfield’s 2025 on housing and safety
The Springfield City Council just got its own version of “Spotify Wrapped” for 2025. One resident laid out a year-in-review using city data: But they also called out a few wins: Then another speaker followed with a blunt reality check: families evicted on Christmas Eve, unsafe housing that keeps slipping through the cracks, lopsided traffic […]
Posted inSpringfield City Council
Audit clean; pension gap looms for Springfield
Springfield City Council covered a lot in one night. If you care about the budget, pensions, how meetings are run, local media or police transparency, this one’s worth a watch.
