Good morning, Springfield.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is showing Unsinkable Freedom, an 11-minute film that uses animation and special effects to tell how Robert Smalls escaped from slavery in 1862.

The film began Feb. 27 and plays every 15 minutes at Mr. Lincoln Theater for three months.

Mary Lincoln’s fragile strawberry dress is on display for the first time in 15 years at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (Lincoln: A Life and Legacy that Defined a Nation) and will be shown through April 26 after being preserved by her relatives and donated in 1963.

A bill to protect clinics from drug makers limiting access to discounted 340B medications is under review and will be discussed on Mar.

18. The measure would let clinics serving low-income and uninsured patients contract with outside pharmacies.

A recent Illinois Department of Public Health report finds that carbon monoxide exposures have led to about 57 deaths, 126 hospital admissions and 940 emergency visits annually from 2019 to 2023.

The report shows most cases occur in homes during cold months & urges better CO detector maintenance and public safety education.

The Animal Protective League — located at 1001 Taintor Road — is spotlighting Ash, a 3 month old male kitten available for visits today from noon to 5 p.m. in Springfield.

Two standout players from Illinois Springfield Men's Basketball earned postseason honors after Jordan Rice was named First Team All-GLVC and freshman Alex Stell joined the All-Freshman Team.

The Prairie Stars will face McKendree in the GLVC tournament quarterfinal Friday at 7:45 p.m. in St. Louis.

Local girls basketball teams played a state semifinal game at ISU on Thursday at 2:30pm and are set for another today at 10am while boys team Rochester advanced and will face Quincy Notre Dame for its sectional championship at 7pm — the IHSA tournament, known as America's Original March Madness, continues.

Local high school girls teams are competing in state semifinals on Thursday and Friday—Chatham Glenwood faces Trinity Friday at 10:00 a.m. and Pleasant Plains plays Breese Central on Thursday at 2:30 p.m., while Rochester's boys team will play Quincy Notre Dame Friday at 7:00 p.m. at Pleasant Plains.

Illinois Product Expo 2026

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. — Orr Building — $10 for wine tasting — Explore local flavors and indulge in wine from 14 Illinois wineries.

Toddler Time at Lincoln Library

10:30-11:00 a.m. — Lincoln Library — Free entry — Move, learn, and play with stories, songs, and activities tailored for toddlers and their caregivers.

Candlebox in Concert

7-11 p.m. — Boondocks — Ticket prices vary — Experience the legendary Seattle rockers Candlebox live during their Can't Quit You Tour.

Chunky Blanket Making Class with Jayme

2:30-5:30 p.m. — B's Creative Studio — $75.00 — Learn the art of hand knitting as you create your own cozy chunky blanket while making new friends.