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A ribbon was cut Monday, May 18 on renovations made to the Washington Park Botanical Garden Conservatory Dome.

2 weeks ago

$1.3M botanical garden dome reopens in Springfield’s Washington Park

A $1.3 million project renovated the Conservatory Dome.

2 weeks ago

Summer travelers who relied on Spirit Airlines may struggle to find budget alternatives

Days after Spirit Airlines shut down in the middle of the night, a lawyer for the defunct budget carrier stood before a bankruptcy judge and apologized to the price-conscious customers who might struggle to find affordable flights in its absence.

Fans cheer and wave their shirts above their heads during the fourth inning of a baseball game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals Saturday, May 16, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

2 weeks ago

Cardinals manager Marmol buys tickets for fans to continue shirtless revelry at Busch Stadium

“Last night’s atmosphere was electric. Let’s run it back this weekend,” Marmol said in a social media post. “I’ll buy tickets for fans who want to sit in the right field Loge and bring the energy.”

Springfield PrideFest Parade

2 weeks ago

Downtown Springfield filled with celebration during PrideFest 2026

“It brings a gathering place to the community,” Geist said. “Sometimes in smaller areas, it can be hard to see all the pride around here, but having a festival for it, it’s just one big gathering place.”

3 weeks ago

Central Illinois shoppers feeling the pinch of rising costs

"There's no way around it, and it just seems like it's just going up and up and up," Garecht said.

Cardiff, Wales - September 3rd 2022: WWE Champion Roman Reigns holding up the championship belt in the ring at WWE Clash at the Castle

3 weeks ago

WWE pins BOS Center

Ticket sales start May 20.

STARSHIP will perform Nov. 11 in Springfield as part of the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway Statewide Conference and Centennial Celebration at Route 66 Motorheads.

3 weeks ago

STARSHIP to perform at Springfield Route 66 event

"We Built This City" for a Route 66 celebration.

3 weeks ago

Hottest Mays in Illinois since 1895

Stacker compiled a ranking of the hottest Mays in Illinois since 1895 using data from the National Centers for Environmental Information

HoneyBaked Ham says it wants to locate in Springfield.

3 weeks ago

‘One of America’s most beloved legacy brands’ is looking at locating in Springfield

HoneyBaked Ham is looking at opening more locations in a number of states, including Illinois.

A player from the Joliet Slammers gives away a foul ball to spectators at the kickoff baseball game on April 30 at the Old Joliet Prison. (Medill Illinois News Bureau photo by Julia Levy)

3 weeks ago

Big House Ballgame at Old Joliet Prison kicks off Route 66 festivities

The Joliet Slammers played the Gateway Grizzlies before fans celebrating Illinois and Hollywood history.

State of Illinois flag

3 weeks ago

Illinois earns top emergency preparedness ranking, jumping from middle to high performance tier

Illinois has earned a top-tier emergency preparedness ranking from Trust for America's Health, jumping from the middle performance category in 2025 to high performance in 2026.

Kids and others play basketball on a court newly installed at the Boys and Girls Club location at 15th and Monroe.

3 weeks ago

New basketball court at Boys and Girls Clubs location means more than just play

Local officials cut a ribbon Monday on a new basketball court at the club location near 15th and Monroe.

3 weeks ago

Pediatricians group finds kids of all ages need regular recess for physical and mental health

Recess isn't just a fun break for grade schoolers. It's crucial to good health and good grades for kids of all ages. That's the message from a leading pediatricians group, which just released the first new guidance in 13 years about this unstructured time at school and how it needs to be protected.

3 weeks ago

Olivia and Liam top the list of most popular US baby names for the seventh year running

Olivia and Liam for a seventh year in a row topped the list of names for babies born in the United States in 2025. The Social Security Administration annually tracks the names given to girls and boys in each state, with lists dating back to 1880.

(File) 38 Special will perform this year at the Illinois State Fair.

4 weeks ago

38 Special to perform free concert at Illinois State Fair Grandstand

38 Special has brought their signature blast of guitar-driven southern rock to audiences around the world for over five decades.

2026 Levitt AMP Music Series

4 weeks ago

Levitt AMP Springfield music series releases 2026 schedule. See the full lineup here

Food, live music, family fun, and more.

Concession trailer labeled 'Vose Concessions' at an outdoor event with two men near the window, one in a gray hoodie and the other in a blue jacket holding a foil tray.

4 weeks ago

100 Days Out: The Illinois State Fair countdown is on

IL State Fair food vendors give a taste of August.

This image provided by the U.S. Postal Service shows stamps featuring historic spots along Route 66 that are being released in May 2026 to mark the celebrated highway's centennial. (U.S. Postal Service via AP)

4 weeks ago

USPS unveils Route 66 centennial stamps, born from a photographer’s 42 trips

The U.S. Postal Service on Tuesday is releasing eight stamps marking significant parts of the road in each of the states it traverses, passing by vintage diners, gas stations and motels — many since preserved or restored — along with breathtaking vistas and wide horizons of the open road.

4 weeks ago

Restaurants celebrate authentic Mexican culture and history this Cinco de Mayo

Nayomie Mendoza has become accustomed to how Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in the U.S.: the platters of tacos, the pitchers of margaritas and the jubilant sounds of mariachi bands.

Official Major League Baseball with blue logo and red seams on a dark background.

4 weeks ago

See how much it costs to attend Chicago Cubs games

Way compiled a look at the affordability of attending Chicago Cubs games.

Recent Headlines

2 hours ago in Entertainment

A guide to the bookstores owned by your favorite authors

Fresh

Amazon remains the dominant force, but physical, brick-and-mortar stores have rebounded — and stores owned by authors such as Ann Patchett are now a niche unto themselves, found everywhere from Brooklyn to New Mexico.

2 hours ago in Entertainment

YouTuber box office boom: ‘Backrooms’ and ‘Obsession’ draw Gen Z to theaters

Fresh

Young audiences turned out in droves to movie theaters around the country this weekend. It wasn't for the big budget "Star Wars" movie, "The Mandalorian and Grogu, " which fell sharply in its second weekend, however, but for a small budget horror from a 20-year-old first-time filmmaker that began on the internet.

2 days ago in Entertainment, Local

Fun all around Springfield is on its way in June

Amy Beadle of Visit Springfield Stopped by The WTAX Morning NewsWatch to discuss all these amazing events.

3 days ago in Entertainment, IL State News, National

Top federal prosecutor in Chicago denies investigation into E. Jean Carroll, disputing media reports

E. Jean Carroll attends Time100 gala at Jaz at Lincoln Center in New York on April 25, 2024

Andrew Boutros, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, issued a statement roughly 24 hours after the first report was published saying that his office “has not opened — and has never opened — a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll.”

3 days ago in Business, Entertainment, IL State News, Lifestyle, National

ABC stations call FCC’s early call for license renewal ‘unconstitutional’

A small crowd gathers outside the ABC Channel 7 studio in downtown Chicago to watch a live broadcast of the 2008 presidential debates through the station’s street‑facing window. Pedestrians pause along State Street as the brightly lit newsroom displays the televised event, creating a moment of shared public viewing in the city’s nighttime streetscape. Chicago, IL, USA October 02, 2008

The FCC's move in April to begin early reviews of the broadcast licenses of ABC-owned stations in eight local markets attracted particularly close attention.