After graduating from University of Illinois-Champaign, Sheila Feipel moved to France for two years and later worked as a French teacher. She switched to the technology industry in 2000 and has been the Springfield branch manager for Heart Technologies since 2015. Feipel is extensively involved in the Springfield community and has been a mentor with […]
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All signs point to the future
Ace Sign Co.’s history reaches all the way back to hand-painting carriages in the 1860s and moves forward to its official launch under the Ace Sign Co. name in Springfield in 1940. The company’s pride in its heritage, and respect for the evolution of the sign industry overall, can be seen in the sign museum […]
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How AI is shaping the cybersecurity industry
Artificial intelligence is more accessible than ever before. The global AI market was valued at around $189 billion in 2023 and is currently on track to hit a mammoth $4.8 trillion by the next decade. What used to be an experiment has now become a $1 billion industry and a daily habit or necessity for […]
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Using generative AI as a collaborator
“There’s so much information about artificial intelligence and how it can change the way people work – from writers to photographers to designers to information officers to those in health care – this is why we chose to offer the AI for Communicators workshop,” said Christy Broccardo-Grove, communications director for Safe Electricity, and webmaster, past […]
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High school student teaches free technology classes for kids
The Cambridge Dictionary defines a prodigy as “someone with a very great ability that usually shows itself when that person is a young child.” Whether Chatham resident Navtej Bhatti is one might be open to interpretation, but let’s do a brief roll call of what Bhatti has accomplished to this point as a 16-year-old preparing […]
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Federal housing credit expansion could increase affordable rental units in Illinois
Expansion of the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit could allow construction of tens of thousands more affordable housing units in Illinois. The latest domestic policy plan signed by President Donald Trump on July 4 will increase available funding by 12% for a key tax credit used by developers to offset a portion of construction costs. It […]
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Budzinski hosts Springfield forum on postal service problems
Local mail service is in crisis, and it will likely get worse if the federal government follows through with a proposal to move a Springfield letter distribution center to St. Louis, contended a group that gathered Monday in a public forum at Lincoln Land Community College. The meeting, led by U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Springfield, […]
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Illinois bet on solar to meet its climate goals. Trump has the industry in his crosshairs.
President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans earlier this month curtailed federal tax incentives for the solar energy industry and for individuals and companies that purchase solar panels. The move sent shockwaves through the industry nationwide, pulling key incentives for major projects and residential rooftop solar alike. But in Illinois, members of the industry say state […]
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Higher hotel taxes won’t bring more visitors
From Route 66 nostalgia and Abraham Lincoln sites to a vibrant dining scene and a new sports park that is poised to make our city a regional destination, Springfield has a lot to offer visitors. Yet, what should be our crown jewel – our beautiful and historic downtown – has become stagnant in recent years […]
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Minority Business Institute coming soon
The city of Springfield is developing a new program to provide training and resource education to minority business owners and nonprofit leaders. Plans for the new Springfield Minority Business Institute were recently announced by Office of Community Relations Director Ethan Posey. The institute intends to serve Black and other racial or ethnic minority, female and […]
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Friday Night Live in downtown Springfield
Downtown Springfield is the place to go on four Friday nights this summer to enjoy food, drinks, entertainment, shopping and family fun at local businesses. Friday Night Live is a collaboration among downtown businesses and community supporters to bring people downtown and experience all those local businesses have to offer. It was born from a grassroots […]
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Springfield City Council passes amended TIF ordinances
The Springfield City Council passed two ordinances amending existing Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts last night, putting an end to a weeklong debate. The ordinances each passed 9-1, with Ward 7 Ald. Brad Carlson as the dissenting vote in both cases. The two TIFs, which have existed for years in the Madison Park Place and […]