Politicians have some significant differences, but they all seem to have one thing in common – most of what they say isn’t true, or isn’t quite true. What you think “no taxes on tips,” “no taxes on Social Security benefits” and “no taxes on overtime” mean might not be what those things mean in the […]
Columns
Star 66 Cafe
Springfield drivers have a growing tendency to crash into buildings, which has been well-documented on social media. One of the more recent incidents involved Star 66 Café, where a driver crashed into the seating area, pushing booths into the counter. Thankfully the injuries were only superficial, but the physical damage is still evident. Since it […]
Finding fulfillment through service
David Hilst’s family struggled when he was a child. His father had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, and died when Hilst was only 8 years old. In spite of medical bills making finances tight and having a brother with Down syndrome, Hilst said, “My mom raised three boys with grit and grace. So things were […]
Q&A with Mandy Eaton
Dr. Mandy Eaton became president and chief executive officer of Memorial Health on April 1, succeeding Ed Curtis following his retirement. She previously served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Cone Health, a nonprofit health care organization that includes five hospitals and numerous outpatient locations serving a five-county area in North Carolina. […]
Sick of absenteeism?
Absenteeism isn’t just a human resources headache. It’s often a larger symptom of an unhealthy organization. When it gets out of hand it can become a business problem: chronic, unplanned or prolonged absences hurt morale, slow productivity, damage customer relationships and can hurt your bottom line. But how can you address it without making problems […]
Jeremy Bivens joins LifeMap Wealth Management
Jeremy Bivens has joined LifeMap Wealth Management as a licensed wealth adviser. Bivens began his career in financial services in 2017, starting in banking before transitioning to financial advisory services in 2020. “Jeremy embodies what LifeMap is all about,” said Kip Reiss, wealth adviser. “He brings both technical expertise and real-life relatability to the table. […]
Changes at Sixth Street Mel-O-Cream store
Mel-O-Cream Donuts, 3010 S. Sixth St., held a ribbon cutting Aug. 20 celebrating its new Route 66 shield-shaped doughnut sign and an extended menu and hours. Sangamon Donuts, the owner and operator of five Mel-O-Cream stores in Springfield, applied for a grant in December 2024 to create a large Route 66 shield-shaped doughnut sign in […]
National furniture retailer coming to Springfield
The former Bed Bath & Beyond property in Springfield has been vacant for more than two years, but now another national retailer is preparing to move in. The Bed Bath & Beyond location at 3251 S. Veterans Parkway closed in early 2023, one of hundreds of stores shuttered nationwide as part of the retailer’s attempt […]
Pet store to open in downtown Springfield
It’s been many years since downtown Springfield had a pet store, but Robert and Sonya Andrew want to change that. The couple plans to open Happy Scalez, an exotic pet store, at the corner of Fourth and Adams streets. The space at 122 S. Fourth St. was most recently occupied by Creative Reuse Marketplace, which […]
Red Robin in Springfield to close Aug. 22
The Springfield Red Robin restaurant will close Aug. 22, part of the first round of 10-15 closures nationwide expected to take place this year for the casual dining chain. In February, Red Robin announced plans to close 70 underperforming locations over the next five years. The casual dining chain known for its gourmet burgers and […]
LLCC offering Essential Workplace Skills series
Lincoln Land Community College is offering its popular Essential Workplace Skills training series this fall at its LLCC-Medical District location at 130 W. Mason St. The series is designed for individuals seeking to upskill or boost their marketability – including job seekers, current employees and anyone wanting to sharpen critical soft skills. For a limited […]
Building permits – Aug.11 to Aug. 17
ARG SPSRIL001 LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 3211 S. Veterans Parkway. Contractor is Joshua McRoberts and the project is valued at $700,000. Salt & Light Rejuvenation Inc. received a commercial fence permit for 3471 Freedom Drive. Conractor is Peerless Enterprise Inc. and the project is valued at $32,984. Great Clips received a commercial […]

