Good morning, Springfield.

On Thursday, March 12, Springfield marked the 20th anniversary of the dual tornadoes that damaged nearly 2,000 buildings and caused long power outages.

Residents recall neighbors organizing meal trains that helped the community rebuild.

The St. Patrick’s Day parade will begin at noon Saturday in Springfield.

A Civil War re-enactment group fires a mortar cannon and grand marshals Court and Karen Conn will choose a charity as proceeds benefit the new My Heart’s Downtown organization.

The Springfield Community Connections event will be held at the Springfield Clinic Dome at Scheels Sports Park on Thursday, March 19 from 5:30 to 7 pm and will let residents meet city leaders and review Ward 6 programs.

The Illinois Innocence Project has freed 33 innocent people and trained over 6,500 police officers during 25 years of work.

The group will hold its 25th anniversary celebration Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Springfield Crowne Plaza — an event supported by the local community.

BUNN, a 180 year old Springfield company, was sold to Chicago based Ali Group on Thursday.

The deal ends its era as a family owned business and may affect operations at its local plant on Stevenson Drive.

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced a new Route 66 map to celebrate the highway's 100th birthday, offering road trippers a detailed guide to historic stops across the state.

Free copies are available at rest areas plus online request, printed on recycled paper with vegetable-based inks.

An online lottery player won a $536 million Mega Millions jackpot on Tuesday after matching all five numbers plus the Mega Ball, while another scored $5 million using a multiplier.

Ticket sales of $34 million returned over $13 million to the Common School Fund for K-12 education.

Congresswoman Budzinski and Deputy Governor Manar held a fireside chat at Parkland College today to highlight biomanufacturing opportunities for local farmers amid trade challenges.

They celebrated the iFAB Tech Hub (which secured $41 million in federal funding) as a boost for job creation and research in Central Illinois.

UIS senior track runner Madelyn Miller-Ross earned All-Region honors in the 5,000 and 3,000 meter races by posting a program record of 16:28.26 and ranking fourth in the 3,000; she will run in the national championships today at 5:40 p.m. CT in Virginia Beach.

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.

Toddler Time Storytime

10:30-11:00 a.m. — Lincoln Library — Free entry — Enjoy songs, stories, and activities that foster language skills for toddlers.