The Illinois General Assembly is set to gather at the Bank of Springfield Center to allow social distancing amid pandemic. Brian Oaks, general manager of the downtown convention center, said that he’s been talking with House Speaker Michael Madigan’s office. “We don’t have anything final,” Oaks said this morning. Within hours confirmation came via a […]
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Club Station House hit by fire
Club Station House, the city’s oldest and best-known gay bar, was damaged by fire this morning. The alarm came in about 6 a.m., according to Springfield Fire Chief Allen Reyne. When fire crews arrived, people were exiting the downtown building, which has apartments above the bar, and a second-story hallway was filled with smoke. “One […]
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Governor announces regional plan
Barbershops, hair salons, manufacturing centers and offices may reopen in Sangamon County and other central Illinois counties sooner than other parts of the state under a regional approach to the pandemic announced today by Gov. JB Pritzker. The governor today announced a regional approach that divides the state into 11 sectors, with five phases used […]
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Restrictions relaxed in new stay-at-home order
A new stay-at-home order issued by Gov. JB Prizker that takes effect today is looser than the one that expired at the end of April. Boating, so long as no more than two people are afloat together, is allowed. Nurseries and garden centers can open, as can pet grooming establishments. Some state parks will reopen. […]
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Gov. extends stay-at-home rules
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker announced an extension of the stay-at-home mandate, with some changes. Many of the same rules will remain in place through the end of May, though some businesses such as greenhouses will be allowed to open. Other retailers are allowed to re-open so that staff can work on online orders and answering phones. […]
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In-person school’s out
Gov. JB Pritzker announced all k-12 schools, public, private and parochial, throughout the state will remain closed to in-person classes through the end of the 2019-2020 school year. “I’ve said time and time again, our decisions must follow the science and the science says our students can’t go back to their normal routine this school […]
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Sangamon County officials announce fourth coronavirus death
A fourth person in Sangamon County has died after being infected with the new coronavirus, according to a release sent on behalf of the county health department and area hospitals. The HSHS St. John’s Hospital inpatient who died was a male in his 90s who tested positive for COVID-19 on April 16. Of the three […]
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Sangamon County officials announce third coronavirus death
A third person in Sangamon County has died after being infected with the new coronavirus. The news came in a release sent on behalf of the county health department and area hospitals on Saturday afternoon. The patient was a female in her 70s who tested positive on April 4. She was an inpatient at Memorial […]
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Mayor authorizes fines for businesses
Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder has issued an order requiring businesses to take steps to ensure patrons follow social-distancing protocols or face fines up to $500. Under the order, businesses must establish written policies aimed at ensuring that six-foot distancing guidelines are followed and enforced by employees. Businesses must also post signs at entrances recommending face […]
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Mayor authorizes fines for violating social distance protocols
Scofflaws who violate social distancing rules may be fined up to $500 under an emergency directive issued by Mayor Jim Langfelder. Langfelder telegraphed the move at Tuesday’s city council meeting, when he said that the corporation counsel’s office was working on a measure that would be announced today. Under the measure, police can pursue criminal […]
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Human error suspected in CWLP mishap
Human error may have contributed to a malfunction at a City Water, Light and Power generator in November that resulted in a fire and stands to cost the city at least $1 million. The failure was the subject of discussion during a recent city council executive session. “We were definitely told that there were some […]
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Warming center closed
The city’s winter warming center has closed, with homeless people sent to the Salvation Army community center on Clearlake Avenue. It’s not clear how many people are staying at the Salvation Army, nor is it clear how long they might stay there. Mayor Jim Langfelder said he didn’t know how many homeless people were sent […]
