Boutique Drive to showcase women-owned businesses
Meghan Ramirez, owner of Elodie Grace Boutique, is organizing an event meant to showcase other women-owned businesses. Abe’s Babes Boutique Drive will take place from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday, April 27, with nearly two dozen businesses participating in Springfield, Chatham, Rochester, Waverly and Farmersville. “I wanted…
Westside Market to launch in June
A group of five women who are all small business owners with interests on the west side of Springfield are launching a Westside Market that will take place the first Sunday of each month, starting in June. Celeste Malham, who owns FED Kitchen, which recently merged with Papo’s Café, said she had a vision for…
Loukinens’ on 4th closing permanently
Loukinens’ on 4th is closing again, this time for good. Co-owner and chef Keith Loukinen has announced Saturday, May 3, will be the last day of operations. “With the changes that have occurred in the dynamic of downtown Springfield these past few years, coupled with the skyrocketing cost of doing business, he has deemed it no…
Illinois scrambles to boost locally produced farm products after Trump’s funding freeze
When Illinois named small farmer Nathan Ryder a finalist for a federal $100,000 Local Food Infrastructure Grant, he made big plans for his farm in the southeastern tip of the state. Then the U.S. Department of Agriculture cut his funding. The Ryder family farm, a 10-acre operation in Pope County that produces chicken eggs, sheep…
Building permits – April 14 to April 20
1200 Centre West LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 1200 Centre West Drive. Contractor is Joyner Construction Services Inc. and the project is valued at $350,000. White Oaks Plaza LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 2691 S. Veterans Parkway. Contractor is Loberg Construction and the project is valued at $70,000. Café Moxo received…
Pro Com Services sold to St. Louis-area company
Pro Com Services of Illinois, a Springfield-based debt collection company, has been acquired by CACi of St. Ann, Missouri. “We do still have a local workforce; however, the local office (on Constitution Drive) has closed,” said Connie Matrisch, the former Pro Com owner who is now vice president of client relations for CACi. “There were…
Will Stevenson returns to WTAX
Will Stevenson is returning to Springfield and will once again be working for radio station WTAX. Stevenson will start his new role as editor-in-chief of CapitolCityNow.com on May 5. He will also have some anchoring and reporting duties and be the fill-in host for WTAX Morning Newswatch. Stevenson was previously employed at WTAX from 2015-2017,…
Insurance agency opens Springfield office
Globe Life Liberty National Division has opened an office in Springfield. The company, which provides life and supplemental health insurance, is based in Texas. The business traces its roots back to 1900 and was previously knowns as Liberty National Life Insurance. “I was tasked with helping open an office in Springfield,” said Dolan Barnes, general…
Bringing office workers back to downtown
A Springfield company is asking the city for $2.6 million in TIF revenue to help renovate the long-vacant former AT&T building downtown so the 128,000-square-foot structure can be rented as office space to house more than 300 government employees. Christopher Stone, part-owner and managing member of Springfield Partners IV LLC, the company making the TIF…
Wienerschnitzel seeks expansion to Springfield
Wienerschnitzel, a fast-food chain that specializes in hot dogs, is hoping to find a franchisee that will allow the company to expand into Springfield and throughout central Illinois. The only Wienerschnitzel restaurant in the state is in Champaign, so Ted Milburn, director of U.S. franchise development for the company, said there is plenty of room…
Hope Springs eternal for Enos Park housing project
The Springfield City Council unanimously approved a zoning change April 15 that would allow for construction of a housing complex to serve residents with physical and/or mental disabilities. The new facility, slated to be built at 849 N. Ninth St. on the eastern edge of the Enos Park neighborhood, would be an expansion of ongoing…
Firefighting helicopter refill pump awarded “Coolest Thing Made in Illinois” in 2025
Gov. JB Pritzker announced the sixth annual winner of the “Makers Madness” contest Wednesday in Springfield. Chosen in a bracket-style competition from a field of more than 250 products, MTH Pumps’ aerial firefighting helicopter refill pump is the 2025 “Coolest Thing Made in Illinois.” This specific pump was designed to cut the refill time of…
From bedsides to the boardroom
Edgar Curtis was 17 and a junior at Lanphier High School when an aunt he was particularly close to died from cancer at 47 after a 100-day stay at Springfield Memorial Hospital. During the many visits he made during her decline, Curtis said he noticed “the kind heart and compassionate care” that his aunt received…
Reinvesting in downtown Springfield
“It’s in transition.” That description of the city’s central business district was often repeated during the first of a series of public meetings held by Downtown Springfield, Inc. The downtown’s current challenges are well-known: the departure of state office jobs, a devastating fire last June, vacant business fronts and the recent closure of the Wyndham…
Amid global tariff war, Pritzker vows to be ‘stable’ trading partner with United Kingdom
Gov. JB Pritzker vowed Tuesday that Illinois will remain a “stable” trading partner with nations around the world, despite President Donald Trump’s imposition of tariffs that have disrupted global markets. “Look, there are a lot of uncertainties at the moment, a lot of instability. There’s no doubt,” Pritzker said. “But this is a stable state.…
Ryan Caldwell named CFO of Springfield Clinic
Springfield native Ryan Caldwell has joined Springfield Clinic as its chief financial officer following what the organization described as a nationwide search. Caldwell has nearly two decades of public accounting experience and has spent most of his career working in the health care industry. Prior to joining Springfield Clinic, he served as an audit partner at…
Illinois nursing homes seek Medicaid rate hike
Nursing home industry officials are urging Illinois lawmakers to increase the rates they receive from the state’s Medicaid system, arguing the current rates are outdated and are forcing many facilities around the state out of business. “We’ve expressed our concerns that closures will happen. We’ve been saying that for years, and it’s actually happening now,…
Tom Lex to retire from Heartland Credit Union
Tom Lex, president and CEO of Heartland Credit Union, has announced he plans to retire in February 2026 after a 45-year career with the organization. “Throughout this journey, I have been fortunate to work alongside an outstanding board and dedicated staff, whose commitment and teamwork have made our success possible,” Lex said. Lex joined HCU…
Building permits – March 31 to April 6
Wilmarth Renewals LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 1818 S. MacArthur Blvd. Contractor is J.R. Hinchey and the project is valued at $10,000. Kumler United Methodist Church received a commercial accessory structure permit for 1022 N. Fifth St. Contractor is Stephen Barbie and the project is valued at $3,950. Amazon.com Services LLC % Amazon…
Springfield airport waiting on payment from state
Imagine being owed $1 million and going years without collecting. Emails are sent, with no response. Phone calls aren’t returned. Knocking on the door doesn’t do any good because no one seems to ever be in the office. As a last resort, a note demanding payment is slipped under the deadbeat’s door. But still, no…
Woodward Communications acquires Mid-West Family radio stations
Woodward Communications, Inc. has completed the acquisition of four radio stations serving the Springfield marketplace from Mid-West Family: WNNS-FM, WQLZ-FM, WMAY-FM, and WMAY-AM. This acquisition follows WCI’s October 2024 purchase of four other Springfield radio stations from Neuhoff Media: WXAJ-FM, WFMB-FM, WCVS-FM, and WFMB-AM) Kevin O’Dea, market manager for Woodward’s Springfield marketplace, will continue his role and…
Springfield Lice Clinic opens
After a “mortifying” experience with her own daughter, Megan Stoller decided to open Springfield Lice Clinic to help other parents in a similar situation. “Last summer, I was checking my then-3-year-old’s hair for ticks, but what I found wasn’t a tick,” said Stoller. “I kind of freaked out. We were traveling and I didn’t want…
New CEO for Memorial Health
Dr. Mandy C. Eaton has joined Memorial Health as the organization’s president and CEO. She succeeds Ed Curtis, who retired on March 31 after a 50-year career with Memorial. “It was evident to me that Memorial Health is here to serve its community, and the mission of this health system aligns so well with my…
New downtown bar, Fluid, to open in May
Downtown Springfield will get a new addition to the bar scene when Duane Williams and Jaime Estell open Fluid next month. “I’ve been a hairdresser for 26 years and owned a couple of salons,” said Williams. “I turned 50 this year, and I decided instead of buying a sports car for a midlife crisis, I’d…
Former funeral director launches Memorial Tributes by Cory Brown
Cory Brown hopes to use his years of experience in the funeral business to simplify the planning process for grieving families with the launch of his new business, Memorial Tributes by Cory Brown. Brown spent 13 years working at area funeral homes before taking a job in 2022 as director of music for the Dominican…
Surplus to success
It’s said one person’s junk is another’s treasure. In that vein, a budget proposal before Illinois lawmakers would use $500 million to turn some of Illinois’ biggest state-owned eyesores into economic development opportunities. Abandoned, dilapidated facilities in Lincoln and Jacksonville are among five across Illinois that are targeted in the “Surplus to Success” program being…
Building permits – March 24 to March 30
RR Family LLC % Raymond E. Roland received a commercial remodel permit for 816 N. Dirksen Parkway. Contractor is Illinois Valley Construction and the project is valued at $1.2 million. Friedman Real Estate received a commercial remodel permit for 3267 Ginger Creek Drive. Contractor is Joyner Construction Services Inc. and the project is valued at…
Occupancy prohibited at downtown Wyndham
The city of Springfield has placarded the Wyndham City Centre, saying the downtown hotel does not meet life safety code standards due to nonworking elevators and out of service fire alarms and fire sprinkler systems. The Springfield Police Department is investigating the damage to the hotel as intentional vandalism, according to a statement issued by…
Nonprofits struggle to serve Springfield students
Fundraising efforts have provided a reprieve to two Springfield nonprofit organizations that operate after-school and summer-learning programs in the community. But those programs will serve fewer children this year, and there’s no guarantee that the same level of after-school and summer-learning services will be available once the donated money runs out. The Boys and Girls…
Illinois schools struggle with prolonged teacher shortage
From hiring retired educators to adjusting class offerings, Illinois schools are relying on a variety of short-term, innovative measures to cope with a prolonged and critical statewide teacher shortage. The most recent survey of education leaders from the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools, or IARSS, shows overall shortage percentages similar to pre-pandemic levels,…
Helping kids who struggle with reading
An estimated one in five children in Illinois struggle to read due to the learning disorder dyslexia. Forty to 60% of children with dyslexia have a parent with the same disorder. Two local sisters are dedicated to supporting children with dyslexia by offering diagnostic testing and one-on-one instruction, then training and hiring teachers to do…
PNC invests in children
PNC staff believe it’s never too early to invest in a child’s future. In 2004, PNC employees launched Grow Up Great, a $500 million initiative that prepares children from birth through age 5 in underserved communities for success in school and life. It has supported more than 10 million children across 22 states and Washington,…
Be aware of these legal developments
Here are a few things happening in the legal world. Corporate Transparency Act The Corporate Transparency Act was enacted in 2021 with the stated purpose of helping to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, corruption and tax fraud. The original effective date was Jan. 1, 2023. The Corporate Transparency Act required small business entities to disclose…
HSHS names System Vice President Chief Nursing Executive
Kelley Kostich has been named System Vice President, Chief Nursing Executive for Hospital Sisters Health System. She will join HSHS on March 31. In this role, Kostich will oversee system nursing practice, nursing standardization, clinical education and St. John’s College of Nursing in Springfield. Kostich is a nursing executive with experience on the clinical and…
Feast Buffet
Located near the intersection of Wabash Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard, Feast Buffet offers an expansive, all-you-can-eat dining experience featuring a mix of Asian and American cuisines. Open for lunch and dinner, the restaurant appears to be a popular destination for those looking for variety at an affordable price. The entrance fee is $11.99 for lunch…
Hire for merit with equal employment opportunity
I was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin. If you’ve been to Lambeau Field, you know that the energy of the crowd and the overall aura is unparalleled. If you sit down next to me at a Packers’ game wearing green and gold or with a big block of foam cheese on your head, it doesn’t…
Q&A with Robert Fair
Robert Fair is a Decatur native who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science from University of Illinois Springfield. He originally envisioned having a career in government and worked on Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign and for the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus before joining Habitat for Humanity – Sangamon County in 2023 as the community…
