Good morning, Springfield.

Downtown Springfield, Inc. will host a public Q&A with new executive director Jay Shanle on Thursday, April 30 at First Presbyterian Church (321 S.

7th St) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Residents will share ideas on downtown issues and learn about plans to improve the area.

Springfield’s Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum received a Ford’s Theatre chair used the night Lincoln was shot, donated by retired Wake Forest University dean Gordon McCray who bought it at a (1980s) charity auction; the piece will appear this summer in a special exhibit celebrating the Declaration’s 250th anniversary.

Curator Seth Leary opened Gallery 1624 in a Springfield neighborhood front yard as a tiny art gallery that now attracts visitors daily; exhibits feature local and international artists while solar lights extend evening visits.

Leary hopes the gallery will inspire others to explore their own creativity.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum has received a chair from Ford's Theatre donated by retired dean Gordon McCray, who bought it at a charity auction in the 1980s.

It will be featured in a summer exhibit celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in Springfield.

The UIS Visual Arts Program will open 'Up to Eleven,' an exhibition of senior visual arts majors from April 20 through May 7 with a public reception on April 23 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The show is held in two campus galleries and features a range of multimedia works.

The Abraham Lincoln Council of Scouting America hosts its annual Lincoln Pilgrimage from April 24 to 26.

Scouts and youth groups will take part in historical hikes and site visits in Springfield and nearby areas.

Faculty at University of Illinois Springfield are striking for pay raises as union members seek a 2.6% increase this fiscal year and 6% over the next two years — negotiations continued on Monday while some classes proceeded under separate agreements.

A new survey shows most Illinoisans worry about data centers, including one approved in Sangamon County on Apr.

7; lawmakers plan to pass the POWER Act before May 31 & community activists urge local benefit agreements to protect health and the environment.

Residents in Springfield face seasonal allergies as blooming flowers bring high pollen levels in April.

Local health experts advise starting medications early and checking daily pollen counts from the health department – indoor spots like the library and YMCA offer safe alternatives to enjoy spring.

Ben Kramer (15 years as assistant coach) has been named the new head for LLCC Loggers men's basketball after Chuck Shanklin left, and he vows to build on the program's competitive, student-centered foundation.