Good morning, Springfield.

Downtown Springfield welcomes families today as the Old Capitol Art Fair begins at 10 a.m. with over 120 local artists and a children’s tent, and Springfield PrideFest kicks off at 11:30 a.m. with a parade, plus updates expected (weather may affect events).

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum announced that its book received two national history awards (the Award of Achievement and the Barondess/Lincoln Award) while a related exhibit earned statewide recognition.

The honors highlight an ongoing effort to deepen local understanding of Lincoln using historic artifacts.

Illinois Department of Transportation launched a pilot program to repay student loans by paying up to $15,000 a year (with a cap of $60,000) for new civil engineers hired on or after July 1, aiming to ease financial burdens and strengthen its workforce.

IDOT announced a student loan repayment program for 50 engineers from Illinois, which will reimburse up to $60,000 after four years of service.

The program is part of Rebuild Illinois efforts to boost local infrastructure projects and alleviate the national engineering shortage.

The IHSA posted the playoff schedule for local high school baseball where Glenwood, Plains, Mt. Pulaski, Routt and Pawnee earned No. 1 seeds.

Regional semifinals begin May 27, title games are set for May 30, and sectional contests are scheduled for June 3 — matchups spread across local fields.

On Friday, the UIS Prairie Stars won 11-1 against UMSL by scoring 4 in the third inning, moving them to 2-0 in the double elimination regional (DII).

They will compete at 2 p.m. today against the winner of the UIndy/UMSL contest for a chance to advance.

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.