News

As the U.S. sheds manufacturing jobs, Illinois is accepting applications for $24 million in grant funding to establish training facilities at community colleges aimed at bolstering the state’s manufacturing labor pool. The funding is for six “manufacturing training academies” at downstate community colleges that will add to two existing academies that opened in 2024. The […]

Kroger and SSI Services, an Indianapolis-based contractor, agreed to pay the state of Illinois $108,000 over unsafe renovations to the Kroger grocery store in Taylorville, 201 E. Bidwell St., in order to settle a suit filed by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul in 2022. The suit, which was filed in Christian County court, alleged five […]

Rideshare drivers rallied at the Illinois State Capitol Wednesday to ask legislators to support their effort to unionize. The legislation, which had not been filed as of Wednesday afternoon, would grant rideshare drivers the right to unionize and to collectively bargain with transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft through that union. Rideshare drivers in […]

If you’ve ever tried to make a left-hand turn out of the parking lot of the West White Oaks shopping center that includes Harvest Market, then onto Wabash Avenue, you know the pulse-pounding, head-swiveling moments of trepidation as the turn begins. With often heavy traffic moving in both directions on West White Oaks Avenue and […]

The city of Springfield is launching the Springfield Minority Business Institute, a new multi-week educational initiative that will begin in February. The program is designed to support minority-owned businesses and nonprofit organizations through targeted instruction, access to resources and meaningful networking opportunities. Classes will take place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays in February and March. […]

A $7.6 million court settlement stemming from a data breach that affected almost 869,000 Hospital Sisters Health System patients will result in average payments of $40 to $50 for 80,000 people. That estimate – representing patients who responded by mail to become part of the class-action settlement – came from Nickolas Hagman of the Chicago […]

Criminal charges have been dropped against Nicolas Paz, a Springfield restauranter who had been accused of defrauding the state of more than $100,000 in sales tax revenue. But his wife, Amanda Paz, has pleaded guilty to sales tax evasion.  According to court records, Amanda Paz has already paid the state the money it was owed […]

Prairie Eye Center Ltd., a Springfield-based eye-care provider that operates centers in several local communities, has filed for bankruptcy reorganization. Prairie Eye listed assets of $5.3 million and liabilities of $10.6 million in its Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, which it filed Dec. 29 in the Central District of Illinois bankruptcy court. The company operates the Prairie […]

The Springfield City Council unanimously approved a new liquor license classification Jan. 6 that is designed to allow businesses to sell alcohol at the new SCHEELS Sports Park at Legacy Pointe. The ordinance allows “restaurant licensees to sell alcoholic liquor at retail for consumption on the premises and will also allow the sale of” packaged […]

An international crane manufacturing firm is opening a plant in Springfield that will likely employ more than 100 people on the city’s west side. In addition to the blue-collar jobs assembling cranes, the firm will employ a host of professional positions as it plans to make Springfield its first manufacturing site in the U.S., Dominic […]