Springfield
Sunrise
Thursday, April 9th, 2026
Good morning, Springfield. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 9th of April.
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Gallery 1624 is a tiny art exhibit drawing local attention thanks to social media buzz, and it features rotating work by local & international artists in the historic Hawthorne Place neighborhood with visits available during daylight hours. WAND-TV
- ➤ Route 66 marks its 100th anniversary this year and draws travelers to its neon motels, quirky diners, and local favorites like Cozy Dog Drive In. Historians say the historic highway remains a vital part of America's culture — inspiring community revitalization and preserving its storied past. WYMG
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ State Rep. Carol Ammons joined striking UIS faculty and support staff in Springfield today as bargaining talks continued. Union members say the proposed 1% pay raise, which adds about 16 cents per hour, falls far short of covering rising living costs. WYMG
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Environmentalists gathered at the Rotunda of the Capitol on Wednesday, Apr. 8 to support measures including a Styrofoam ban and stronger water protection. They heard from Rep. Moeller and Rep. Gong-Gershowitz while discussions also covered the POWER Act to protect consumers and local water resources. WYMG
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ The Sangamon County Board approved a conditional use zoning permit for a $500 million CyrusOne data center Tuesday at Bank of Springfield Center. Construction may begin this summer — expected to create 500 construction jobs and 100 permanent positions. WMAY
- ➤ Electrical workers met with council Tuesday night to urge improvements in wages and working conditions and to oppose using outside contractors. I.B.E.W. Local 193 (a union group) warned that low pay is driving skilled workers away despite the utility’s high safety ratings. WMAY
- ➤ The Sangamon County Mental Health Board is accepting applications from locals skilled in healthcare, social services and more for nine board seats, with submissions due by 5 p.m. on April 20. WMAY
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Illinois residents filing IL-1040 forms can enroll in health coverage with the new Tax Time Easy Enrollment program before the April 15 deadline; by checking the 'Health Insurance' box, eligibility for plans like Medicaid is confirmed and eligible individuals will have 60 days to apply + enroll. Capitol City Now
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Kaden Griffitts was named UIS Athletics Jimmy John's Athlete of the Month after a standout March that powered UIS Baseball to a 13-4 record and earned him GLVC Player of the Week plus regional honors — his recognition will be celebrated at the upcoming UIS banquet in Springfield. University of Illinois Springfield
- ➤ Springfield’s Prairie Stars defeated Missouri-St. Louis 7 to 2 on Tuesday at UMSL Baseball Field to finish their non-conference series and improve their record to 26-8; the team will travel to Rolla for a GLVC series kickoff on Friday at 3:00 p.m. University of Illinois Springfield
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
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Reveal the authorAbout Springfield Sunrise
Welcome to the Springfield Sunrise, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Springfield, Illinois community. If you like the Springfield Sunrise, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Springfield.
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