A Springfield man owned or rented six “houses of prostitution” in Springfield in which Asian women – some traveling from other countries – provided sexual services in exchange for free food, lodging and incomes of up to $30,000 per month. Those were some of the allegations aimed at Gregory L. Fraase, 60, in legal documents […]
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Revitalizing Route 66
Tourism attractions that commemorate Springfield’s links to Historic Route 66 and Black history, as well as a mix of new residential sites, all accessible by improved sidewalks and some areas closed off to traffic, are part of a master plan for a three-mile section of Ninth Street and Peoria Road. “This provides a structure and […]
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Gabatoni’s listed for sale
An iconic Springfield restaurant is for sale, but the owner says she has no plans to close before a new owner takes over. Gabatoni’s was founded by Johnny and Rosemary Lynn in 1951 and originally operated out of a building at Third and Washington streets. In 1959, the family-owned business moved to its current location […]
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Register by March 8 for the Urban Tech & Construction Jobs Program
The Springfield Urban League has announced the launch of the Urban Tech & Construction Jobs Program (UTCJP), an initiative designed to introduce underrepresented populations and at-risk individuals to the burgeoning drone industry and the construction sector. This program will empower communities by providing them with valuable skills and opportunities in these rapidly growing fields. UTCJP […]
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FBI targets area Asian massage parlors
A 60-year-old Springfield man faces one or more federal felony charges resulting from an FBI investigation of Asian massage parlors and related allegations of human trafficking, prostitution and schemes to gain citizenship benefits for immigrants through sham marriages to Americans. Gregory L. Fraase was arraigned March 6 in Springfield’s U.S. District Court after a federal […]
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The mystery and romance of the rice cooker
The late Roger Ebert was an unlikely enthusiast of the electric rice cooker. A Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times (and Urbana native), Ebert had a true passion for food and cooking. My wife’s cousin, Carolyn, who knew Ebert well, shares fond memories of how he loved going to restaurants with a big group […]
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A Q&A with Rev. Silas Johnson
Silas Johnson was born and raised in Mississippi but has lived in Springfield for the past 50 years. He had a dual career for many years, working as a journeyman electrician in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 193 while also pastoring Community Baptist Church for a decade and then Calvary Baptist Church for […]
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To move or remodel?
To say the last three years have been interesting for the real estate market, including home builders, is an understatement. The pandemic changed how people go to work and how they spend time at home. Remote work prompted some to buy larger homes with more outdoor space, and some people remodeled existing homes to include […]
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City of Springfield penalized for violating Fair Housing Act
The 7-year-old federal court case that determined Springfield illegally discriminated against people with disabilities through residential zoning is approaching a conclusion. The late U.S District Court judge Richard Mills ruled in March 2020 that the city violated the federal Fair Housing Act through a spacing ordinance prohibiting two homes for people with disabilities from operating […]
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Homes are selling quickly and cash is king
Whether you’re the homebuyer or the seller, the current housing market requires you to be prepared, decisive and ready to move forward swiftly. That was the message emphasized at the Chatham Area Chamber of Commerce’s February luncheon, held at Illinois Realtors, which focused on the area housing market. The panel discussion included Jane Hay of […]
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That empty feeling: Can vacant office space downtown be transformed into residential dwellings?
The paradox of America’s deserted downtowns and the affordable housing crisis has been reported on by well-known media outlets such as PBS, CNN, The New York Times and Slate magazine. One potential solution to this problem is to convert vacant commercial space into residential housing. Although this potential solution comes with many barriers, it’s not […]
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Make a nomination for the 2024 Women of Influence
Do you know an outstanding woman who deserves recognition? Security Bank is proud to partner with Springfield Business Journal for the annual Women of Influence recognition program, honoring local women for their contributions to the Springfield area community. Selected by their peers through submitted nominations, all have made important contributions to the community at large. […]