Ever catch yourself wondering what the future holds for yourself or a loved one? Imagining the future can be a powerful drive for change. This kind of visualization can help us be positive, enhance a sense of purpose and begin to set goals. When it comes to turning these thoughts into reality, sometimes the hardest […]
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Credit card company monopolies impact small businesses
Strings are often attached in Mark Yeates’ business transactions. The owner of Dick’s Shoe Repair, 314 W. Laurel St., enjoys putting new shoestrings on pairs of Oxfords or stitching new soles onto wingtips. But one string he doesn’t like is the one credit card companies attach to every charge-card transaction that happens in his shop. […]
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Commercial real estate: the year ahead
The National Association of REALTORS® annual Real Estate Forecast Summit, The Year Ahead, predicted general contractors will continue to struggle with supply chain issues and labor shortages, while developers will be hampered by rising interest rates and insurance costs. The virtual event, held Dec. 12, 2023, highlighted aspects of the economy and how residential and […]
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Q&A With David Steckel
Where were you born and raised, and what was your first job? I was born and raised in Greenfield, which is south of Jacksonville. I grew up on a farm and did a certain amount of work there. My first actual non-farm, paying job was at a filling station in Greenfield. When did you decide […]
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Making city government more helpful to businesses
Springfield’s Office of Planning and Economic Development will focus on data and innovation to make city government more efficient, helpful to businesses and in line with Mayor Misty Buscher’s goal of creating more good-paying jobs in the city. Those are among plans for the office under Val Yazell, who was hired back to head OPED […]
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Show me the money
The Springfield Lucky Horseshoes have $10 million in ideas about how to improve Robin Roberts Stadium. But the question is: Who will pay for it? “First and foremost, it starts with the ownership group,” said Jamie Toole, an executive and an owner of the team. “Our ownership group has shown a commitment and a willingness […]
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Non-alcoholic drinks gaining in popularity
For nearly 40 years the percentage of American adults who consume alcohol has consistently remained in the low 60s. However, over the past two decades, Gallup reports that alcohol consumption has been steadily declining amongst younger adults aged 18 to 34. Indeed, specialty non-alcoholic (NA) drink offerings have become commonplace in both fine dining restaurants […]
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City pursues legal action against Olde Towne Apartments
The city of Springfield is seeking court orders to take possession of eight vacant, dilapidated apartment buildings so that they can be demolished. The structures are part of the 23-building Olde Towne apartment complex, located at the corner of Jefferson Street and Bruns Lane. City officials are also seeking to have the owner rehabilitate four […]
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Nominations open for Good as Gold awards program
Nominations are now being accepted for the Good as Gold awards program, recognizing those that make Springfield a great place to live and thrive through their spirit of service in the Springfield community. The University of Illinois Springfield, the Junior League of Springfield and United Way of Central Illinois will host the 16th Annual Springfield […]
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Trying to hire more drug counselors
Amid five straight years of record overdose deaths in Illinois, a new state program aims to alleviate a shortage of professionals who work to prevent substance use disorders. Illinois’ behavioral health counselor workforce “is aging while new entrants are declining,” according to a 2019 report to the General Assembly; 56% of certified substance use disorder […]
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City-operated ambulance service to be considered
Springfield City Council members will consider spending $280,000 in the next fiscal year on what could be the first step toward a multimillion-dollar, city-operated ambulance service to supplement privately operated ambulances and shorten response times in medical emergencies. The money to buy a single ambulance appears on page 165 of the city’s 400-page budget proposal from […]
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Springfield Clinic, Blue Cross make a deal
After two years of financial and emotional stress for thousands of central Illinois patients, those covered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois regained in-network access to Springfield Clinic medical providers on Jan. 1. Chicago-based Blue Cross and the clinic issued statements Dec. 22 that they have reached a new five-year agreement allowing the […]