Good morning, Springfield.

Local officials cut a ribbon Monday on a new basketball court at the Boys and Girls Club near 15th & Monroe, funded by a grant from State Sen. Doris Turner; officials said finishing touches will be added soon to complete the safe space for community kids.

HoneyBaked Ham plans to open a locally owned franchise in Springfield and is seeking a qualified franchisee (it aims to create new jobs).

The company wants to expand its operations in Illinois and bring its beloved tradition closer to the community.

Springfield is set to celebrate Route 66’s centennial this week as the Illinois State Museum opens its 'Miles of Memories: Stories of Route 66' exhibition on May 23 + the city gears up for its annual Mother Road Festival and Miles of Possibility Conference.

The exhibit, Pillars of Democracy — featuring mixed-media portraits by Niki Johnson — opens May 15 at the Lincoln Presidential Library.

It runs through May 29 with free admission and includes an artist talk on opening day plus a workshop at the Old Capitol Art Fair on May 16.

Studio M received a donation from the Ainsley Johnson Scholarship — the contribution is expected to help enhance its arts programs for local residents.

Illinois celebrated Route 66’s centennial with a historic baseball game in Joliet on May 1 and is preparing for further celebrations — including Springfield’s Mother Road Festival and a museum exhibition opening May 23 — that honor the iconic highway’s legacy.

The Avett Brothers will perform at the State Fair Grandstand on Thursday, Aug.

20. Tickets go on sale this Saturday (May 16 at 10 a.m.).

At Tuesday's Illinois Firefighters Memorial on Capitol grounds, Fire Marshal Michele Pankow and Attorney General Kwame Raoul honored Capt. David Meyer from Chicago, saying one line-of-duty death is too many.

Fire Marshal spokesman J.C. Fultz stressed that fallen firefighters' sacrifice leaves a lasting legacy.

The Illinois Department of Transportation has launched a student loan repayment program for engineers that offers a $15,000 bonus a year after four years of service — with benefits capped at $60,000.

Eligible new hires must be from Illinois schools, and qualifying job postings will be detailed in Springfield.

Sangamon County announced nominees for its new Mental Health Board, which will oversee service funding and priorities.

The board, set to start with seven members (potentially growing to nine), will hold its first meeting within 30 days while revenue collection begins no sooner than July 1.

Illinois earned a high-performance rating for emergency preparedness from Trust for America's Health after moving upward from the middle tier in 2025 to the top tier in 2026 — one of eight states to make the jump due to investments such as hospital upgrades and modernized data systems.

Glenwood Titans overcame a six-run deficit to beat Springfield High 15-10 at Robin Roberts Stadium and earn a share of the CS8 conference title.

Grady Mueller hit a decisive RBI triple in the ninth as the team will host Belleville East on Wednesday.

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.

Paint with Ashley Blake

6:30-8:30 p.m. — The Library - Pizza and Sports Bar — Cost covers materials — Enjoy a creative night painting a whimsical library gnome with guidance from Ashley Blake.