Scheels Sports Park at Legacy Pointe remains on track to be fully operational by spring 2025 on Springfield’s south side despite recent questions from City Council members about the way public money will flow to the project and the viability of private financing scheduled that will cover half of the total $67 million in costs. […]
Dean Olsen
Dean Olsen is a senior staff writer for Illinois Times. He can be reached at:
dolsen@illinoistimes.com, 217-679-7810 or @DeanOlsenIT.
Posted inArticles
Sangamon County could see first wind farm soon
A German renewable energy company plans to file applications with Montgomery and Macoupin county officials early in 2024 for approval to construct the first phase of a multi-county, $450 million wind farm development known as Grand Prairie Energy Park. UKA Group’s North American Affiliate, based in Stuart, Florida, would build about 60 wind turbines in […]
Posted inArticles
BOS Center one step closer to major expansion
A tourism improvement district that would finance a $100 million expansion of Springfield’s downtown convention center cleared a major hurdle recently, with the proposed district – and a future surcharge on room rates – receiving majority support from the city’s hotels. “It’s a big step,” said state Rep. Mike Coffey, R-Springfield, a downtown restaurant owner […]
Posted inColumns
Kayla Graven to join city of Springfield
Kayla Graven looks forward to broadening the focus of her economic development expertise to all of Springfield. Graven, 34, told Illinois Times that the “opportunity to grow as a professional” attracted her to Springfield city government after working since 2018 at Downtown Springfield Inc., where she has been the nonprofit organization’s executive director the past […]
Posted inArticles
Blue Cross fined by state for third time in two years
A third fine in fewer than two years for Illinois’ largest health insurance company proves that stronger regulations are needed to prevent insurers from promoting “ghost networks” of providers, state Rep. Sue Scherer says. “The fines are not solving the problem,” Scherer, D-Decatur, said in response to the Illinois Department of Insurance’s $231,900 fine announced […]
Posted inArticles
Cannabis business grant recipients push back on audit claims
Some recipients of business grants funded with a portion of Springfield’s share of sales taxes on adult-use cannabis are upset their businesses were mentioned in an independent audit critical of the new program. Meanwhile, city officials are considering changes to the program in coming months to create a more consistent system for disbursing and monitoring […]
Posted inArticles
Navigator CO2 cancels plans for multi-state carbon-dioxide pipeline
Citing “the unpredictable nature of the regulatory and government processes involved,” Navigator CO2 said Oct. 20 that the company will cancel its $3.4 billion, multi-state carbon-dioxide pipeline project. The Heartland Greenway project, which was supported by the Midwest ethanol industry and labor unions but opposed by environmental and landowner groups, would have transported liquified CO2 […]
Posted inArticles
Marijuana money mistakes
Industrial-grade equipment that Ernestus Drake bought with a $20,000 grant from the city of Springfield helped his small business win new contracts, more than double its revenues and add employees. Drake, 47, who was born and raised in Springfield, said the grant program for minority-owned businesses located in an impoverished area provided a needed jolt […]
Posted inColumns
Call him Judge Wright
Sangamon County’s State’s Attorney Dan Wright will become the 7th Judicial Circuit’s newest associate judge. And it appears likely that former state’s attorney John Milhiser will return to his old job in mid-November. Dan Wright, state’s attorney since 2018, has been selected to fill the vacancy created by the July 23 death of Matthew Mauer, […]
Posted inArticles
CO₂ pipeline plans paused
A Nebraska company facing widespread resistance from property owners and environmentalists wants a third opportunity to win regulatory approval in Illinois for a carbon dioxide pipeline that would cross Sangamon County and inject liquid CO₂ from five Midwestern states under farmland in Christian and Montgomery counties. Navigator Heartland Greenway LLC on Oct. 10 asked permission […]
Posted inColumns
Val Yazell returns to city government
Val Yazell says she decided to return to Springfield city government as director of the Office of Planning and Economic Development because she saw “so many things that still needed to be done.” Yazell was terminated by former mayor Jim Langfelder in March 2021, though Langfelder never said why. Misty Buscher, who defeated Langfelder and […]
Posted inColumns
State’s Attorney Dan Wright a candidate for judge
Sangamon County State’s Attorney Dan Wright is among seven candidates vying to be appointed to an associate circuit judge vacancy created by the July 23 death of Matthew Mauer. And former State’s Attorney John Milhiser, Wright’s former boss when Wright was an assistant state’s attorney, is now working for Wright as an assistant state’s attorney […]