Good morning, Springfield.

CEO David Simon of Simon Property Group died at 64 on March 22 after battling cancer — a longtime leader — and his son, Eli, has been named new CEO to manage operations at White Oaks Mall.

Owner Jung Kim and his wife Julie are set to open Pop in Seoul, Springfield’s first Korean convenience store with a self-serve ramen station, on April 2.

The store will offer Korean and Japanese snacks, K-beauty products, fresh kimbap, and stationery to serve the community.

A regional developer from Springfield, Mo. bought the MacArthur Blvd. strip mall and will start $5 million in renovations on Town and County Shopping Center within 30 days.

Meanwhile, Burger Week ends Wednesday with local eateries showcasing special burgers (including a cowboy candy angus burger).

The city’s first Korean convenience store, Pop In Seoul, will open on April 2 — offering a self-serve ramen bar, fresh kimbap, and a range of Korean and Japanese snacks designed for community enjoyment.

University of Illinois Springfield will offer a bachelor of applied sciences in engineering technology starting in fall, 2027 to address a 4-to-1 job gap in the field.

The program requires Illinois Board of Higher Education approval and builds industry partnerships to meet workforce needs.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul warns Springfield residents to check tax preparers’ credentials before sharing personal details to avoid scams using electronic signatures.

The advisory urges verifying IRS contact information and obtaining an Identity Protection PIN to safeguard against identity theft.

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias warns residents that scam texts falsely threaten vehicle registration suspensions and license penalties to trick them into clicking links or paying fines – the office reminded that it never sends such messages and urged recipients to report any suspicious texts.

Farmers sell raw milk only at state-approved farms with permits+regular testing, and the health department warns that unpasteurized milk can pose serious risks.

State Sen. Tracy has proposed a bill to ease restrictions, but the measure remains unlikely to pass without stronger support.

UIS softball swept Southwest Baptist on Sunday, winning games 8-0 and 5-0 as pitchers Bartletti and Stahlhut led their team with two shutouts amid strong offense.

The team will travel to Missouri next weekend — they will play Drury in Springfield and Missouri S&T in Rolla.

The No. 25-ranked UIS baseball team clinched the conference series with a 23-1 win over Drury on Sunday at the UIS Baseball Field and will host Quincy for its annual Alumni Weekend from March 27-29.

The Illinois Springfield women's tennis team won a 5-2 road match against Truman State on Sunday afternoon with a mix of doubles & singles wins.

UIS will host Rockhurst University at home on Sunday, March 29 at 10 a.m.

Toddler Time Storytime

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