Springfield
Sunrise
Saturday, April 18th, 2026
Good morning, Springfield. Here's your local news at a glance for Saturday, the 18th of April.
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Long John Silver's has moved down the block to a new location at 3112 S. Dirksen Parkway between an EV charging station & the Hilton Garden Inn, offering digital menu boards and self-order kiosks and operating Sunday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. WYMG
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Today at 8:00 a.m., Dumb Records kicks off Record Store Day with over 350 exclusive record titles for eager Springfield shoppers, while the Midwest Toy and Comic Fest runs Saturday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. offering family-friendly comic displays and activities. ABC 20
- ➤ The Illinois State Fair Arena will host rodeo, truck pulls, a monster truck show, and a demolition derby this August in Springfield. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, April 21 through Ticketmaster (prices vary for adults and children) as the fair brings a full day of entertainment. ABC 20
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ A new study shows Illinois community colleges had a $27.2 billion economic impact that supported over 324,000 jobs and lifted lifetime earnings. State Rep. Katz Muhl is sponsoring a bill to let them award baccalaureate degrees & boost local workforce development. Capitol City Now
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Former Illinois House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie passed away Friday morning at 85 in Springfield; she served 40 years, including 22 as majority leader, and left a lasting legacy in advancing civil rights and justice (including reproductive rights) that shaped the state’s legislative work. WYMG
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office will host a Drug and Vape Take Back Event on Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Public Health and Community Services Building (2833 South Grand Avenue East) for residents to drop off unused medications and vaping devices with batteries removed. The Sangamon Reporter
LIFESTYLE NEWS
- ➤ The Animal Protective League (APL) is showcasing Buddy, a 2-year-old friendly Lab Retriever mix who enjoys fetch and needs some training to hone his skills. He is available for adoption at 1001 Taintor Road from noon to 5 p.m. WYMG
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ On Friday, Apr. 17, Pleasant Plains beat Springfield High 5-1 as coach Dave Greer recorded his 846th win, adding to a combined 1,583 victories with coach Jim Steinwart in one of the winningest matchups in IHSA state history. WNNS
- ➤ Senior Delaney Murphy (RBI double) powered Pleasant Plains to a 3-0 softball win over Petersburg PORTA on Thursday, boosting the team to a 10-3 start this season. The State Journal-Register
- ➤ Glenwood overcame a four-run deficit to defeat Mt. Zion 9-6 Friday + secure its 11th straight win. The Titans saw key RBIs from Quinten Hale + Andrew Schwartz and will face Rochester Tuesday. WNNS
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Highland Cow Paint Night with Ashley Blake
2-4 p.m. — Harvest Market — No cost info provided — Unleash creativity as you paint a quirky Highland Cow masterpiece under expert guidance.
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TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
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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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