Cover Story
Spring Guide 2026
Spring Guide has information on seasonal day and weekend trips, how to bring spring into your home, an expanded three-month calendar of events and more.
Big spending doesn’t guarantee victory
One of the biggest stories to come out of election day was that several candidates with the most money came up short. The obvious example is the race for U.S. Senate, where U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi reportedly spent $29 million on TV ads and benefited from another $10 million spent by the crypto industry against…
Hail Mary good but too long, Immortal Man brings Peaky Blinders to an end
Epic Hail Mary a journey too long Having not read Andy Weir’s novel Project: Hail Mary, I came in cold to Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s big screen adaptation of the same. It didn’t take long to understand why the book was on the New York Times’ Best-Sellers List for nearly 40 weeks. Knowing that…
March to the music
As we leave behind the recent blast of uninvited, somewhat unexpected and definitely unwanted wintry weather and head into the first day of spring (March 20 at 9:46 a.m. for 2026, astronomically speaking), it won’t be long until we’re full on into our outdoor shows. As we impatiently wait for the summer season, let’s see…
Old State Capitol site of activities, presentations
Starting Saturday, history will come alive downtown at the Old State Capitol for spring break with a variety of family-friendly activities and presentations. On Saturday, participants can learn about toy making and crafts in the 19th century, hear the Gettysburg Address, enjoy live music by duo Peaches & Bacon and more. Different activities will be…
Limited environmental assessment of data center
After months of hearings and discussions, the Sangamon County Board seems poised to approve plans for the county’s first data center on March 23 despite consistent pushback from constituents. CyrusOne plans to build a data center campus on 280 acres of farmland, which would have more wattage than any other data center the company currently…
Editor’s note 3/19/26
It’s good that the community mental health board referendum won approval on its first attempt, shortening the time when public funds will help to repair a broken system. Many helped to win passage for the ballot measure, but it was the Massey Commission, formed in September 2024, in the wake of Sonya Massey’s killing in…
Psychology
My sister gave violin lessonsHer studio was her home nearour dairy. When her own daughterhad a scheduled lesson she had toput on hat, coat, and boots, go outthe back door, come around andknock on the front door, and belet in for her lesson – just like allthe other students she had! 2026 Jacqueline Jackson
Letters to the editor 3/19/26
We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. PEOPLE OVER PROFITS The proposed CyrusOne data center appears set to receive the Sangamon County Board’s blessing on March 23, as promised tax receipts and jobs seem to outweigh any concerns about energy use, pollution…
Pick of the litter
“Company’s coming!” Caseworker, health inspector, church lady – whoever is coming, it means get the pizza boxes off the coffee table and pick up your dirty socks. For the City of Springfield, the company is out-of-town visitors. Mayor Misty Buscher says that 2026 might be a record-breaking tourism year for Springfield thanks to celebrants of…
Explore Route 66 close to home
You may not be planning to join the crowd driving Route 66 as it turns 100 this year, but you can kick off your own celebration by tooling down the road to Litchfield. The town of 6,500 is less than an hour south of Springfield and chock-full of spots for a day or weekend trip.…
Enjoy spring flowers sooner
March weather is reliably unpredictable. A day of blissful sunshine can turn cold and icy overnight, quashing dreams of cheerful blooms and lazy afternoons sprawled out on a picnic blanket. No matter what the weather’s mood, hopeful gardeners can bring a bit of spring into their homes by forcing certain spring flowering shrubs and trees…
Where to find spring flowers
While April showers traditionally have been said to bring May flowers, there are plenty of spring blooms on display beginning much before May. Whether it’s wildflowers or blossoming trees your tired winter eyes crave, there are a surprising number of opportunities to take in nature’s pretty spring flowers within easy driving distance of Springfield. For…
Voices of America Festival
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, communities across the nation are reflecting on the many stories that have shaped who we are. Some of those stories are written in textbooks. Others live in monuments and historic buildings. But many of the most enduring are carried in something less tangible and more deeply human:…
Spring guide calendar 2026
ONGOING Lilacs and Letters Through April 8. The play is set at the Armory Square Military Hospital in Washington, D.C., in 1865. Poet Walt Whitman, a hospital volunteer, sits among the sleeping wounded as he reflects on national grief and puts the finishing touches on poetry eulogizing President Abraham Lincoln. Free with museum admission. Abraham…
An ancient food preservation method for today
Confit and rillettes are two traditional methods of food preservation. Dating back to ancient civilizations, these methods originated as a preservation practice before the advent of refrigeration. They both involve slowly cooking meat in its own rendered fat. By submerging the food under a layer of fat, an anaerobic environment was created, effectively preventing spoilage…
