Cover Story
Losing health care coverage
Dr. Janet Albers is sad that thousands of Springfield-area patients could lose Medicaid coverage and delay care because of Republican President Donald Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill.” Albers, a family physician, told Illinois Times that she saw many previously uninsured patients get screened for cancer and chronic health conditions, then obtain lifesaving treatment, after the…
Building permits – Oct. 13 to Oct. 19
Be Neighbors Affordable Housing For Veterans Inc. received a commercial permit for 2835 Stanton St. Contractor is R.D. Lawrence Construction Co. Ltd. and the project is valued at $4.26 million. Illinois Prairie Properties LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 2475 W. Monroe St. Contractor is Illinois Prairie Properties LLC and the project is valued…
Building permits – Oct. 6 to Oct. 12
Dirksen Parkway Ventures LLC received a commercial permit for 3118 S. Dirksen Parkway. Contractor is Velocity LLC and the project is valued at $1.5 million. Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois received a commercial remodel permit for 927 S. Second St. Contractor is Evans Construction Co. and the project is valued at $850,000. Moffat Street Property…
Building permits – Sept. 29 to Oct. 5
Bayside Properties II LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 1224 Centre West Drive. Contractor is RKS Construction and the project is valued at $40,000. TL Holdings Group LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 1425 E. Cook St. Contractor is Terrance Lawson and the project is valued at $54,600. Mary Lu Taylor received a…
New tenants for former County Market
New tenants are in the works for the former County Market space on South Sixth Street, which has been vacant since the grocery store chain moved out at the end of last year. A “coming soon” banner with logos for Ollie’s Bargain Outlet and O’Reilly Auto Parts is now displayed on the front of the…
Beatrice Bonner joins TRS
Beatrice Bonner is known throughout the community as the host of NPR Illinois’ “Community Voices” show, but she has now taken on a new role with Teachers’ Retirement System. As of Oct. 1, she is the internal communications specialist for the state agency. “I wasn’t really looking, but the job popped up, and I decided…
American Business Club presents $128K to local charities
The American Business Club of Springfield presented more than $128,000 to Springfield-area charities during a Sept. 30 ceremony held on the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The funds were raised through ABC’s volunteer efforts at the 2025 Illinois State Fair managing gate admissions for the 11 days of the Fair. This year, ABC made donations to 63…
The Levee to open downtown
The Gin Mill has closed, but owner Jason McKemie already has a new downtown venture in the works. McKemie opened Bar None in 2008 at the corner of Fifth and Monroe streets in downtown Springfield. That space later became part of Gin Mill, which opened in 2014 at 235 S. Fifth St. “We closed Gin…
JAPAN HOUSE
Located near Sam’s Club in the former Empire Korean Steakhouse space, Japan House is yet another on Springfield’s growing list of all-you-can-eat Asian restaurants. Japan House, however, is not a buffet; instead, diners order from a menu. Open for lunch and dinner, the restaurant charges $16.99 for lunch and $27.99 for dinner. By my recollection,…
Making an impact today and empowering the next generation
Since 1991 the local nonprofit Asian Indian Women’s Organization has been assisting with raising funds for other nonprofit organizations. Current AIWO president Dr. Richa Pandey said she has been involved with the organization since 2016 and became a member in 2018. She served as secretary from 2021 to 2023 and then stepped into the role…
Leadership: A journey of transformation
Leader shifts: Evolving your skills for greater impactIf you’re a leader who is overwhelmed solving everyone’s problems – congratulations, you might be the bottleneck in your own organization. I recently worked with a director of operations who couldn’t resist the temptation to roll up his sleeves and “get out on the floor” to help his…
Dr. Jerry Kruse announces retirement from SIU School of Medicine
Dr. Jerry Kruse, dean and provost of Springfield-based Southern Illinois University School of Medicine for the past nine years, plans to retire in summer 2026. Kruse, 72, a family physician and member of the medical school’s faculty for more than 40 years, announced his retirement to the SIU Board of Trustees at its meeting Sept.…
A 120-year history of serving seniors
Nestled in a lush, park-like setting in Girard, 30 miles south of Springfield, sits Courtyard Estates, a senior living facility that offers both independent and assisted living and boasts a story that spans 120 years. The origin of Courtyard Estates goes back to 1900, when the Church of the Brethren of Southern Illinois appointed a…
