Springfield
Sunrise
Thursday, April 30th, 2026
Good morning, Springfield. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 30th of April.
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Smokey Bones’ Springfield restaurant closed on April 28, leaving Illinois without any outlets as FAT Brands shifts its focus to converting locations into Twin Peaks. A sign at the former site confirmed the permanent shutdown. The State Journal-Register
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ On Tuesday in the Capitol Rotunda, attendees at the fourth annual Native American Summit celebrated traditional dances and discussed key concerns — including affordable housing and language requirements — while connecting with lawmakers to strengthen their community voice. Capitol City Now
- ➤ At the fourth annual Native American Summit in the Capitol Rotunda on Tuesday, April 28, Native leaders and community members celebrated traditions — including the Jingle Dress Dance — and advocated for improvements to education, housing, and healthcare while meeting with lawmakers. WYMG
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Lincoln Community High School celebrated its thirteen seniors on signing day — students signed commitments to college sports or military service ahead of graduation. The event marked a key milestone for these young achievers. WMAY
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ LifeStar Ambulance Service may cease operations by May 25 if it fails to secure approval through St. John's Hospital — a decision that could shift ambulance coverage in Springfield. Springfield Fire Chief Nick Zummo said remaining providers will maintain current response times of 10 to 12 minutes. WAND-TV
- ➤ Sangamon Mass Transit District unveiled a Route 66-themed bus, Buddy, that will tour local events this summer and fall in celebration of the route’s 100th anniversary — a second themed bus will run on regular routes. WYMG
- ➤ Springfield's dangerous MacArthur Boulevard and Lawrence Avenue intersection will become safer in 2027 as the city widens Lawrence Avenue from MacArthur to Walnut to ease speeding and left turns, and officials are acquiring land for the project & preserving local trees. WYMG
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ On April 29, the CDC reported that a salmonella strain linked to backyard poultry sickened 34 people across 13 states, including one case in Springfield (local matter), and resulted in 13 hospitalizations. Residents are urged to wash hands after handling poultry and keep bird supplies outside. The State Journal-Register
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ State and local officials celebrated the opening of Scheels Sports Park at Legacy Pointe on April 28 at 3801 MacArthur Blvd; the $65 million project features the Springfield Clinic Dome spanning 190,000 sqft and is expected to draw 250,000 visitors + boost local business by $25 million each year. The Sangamon Reporter
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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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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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