Springfield
Sunrise
Saturday, May 16th, 2026
Good morning, Springfield. Here's your local news at a glance for Saturday, the 16th of May.
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ 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). ABC 20
- ➤ 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. The State Journal-Register
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ 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. The State Journal-Register
- ➤ 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. WYMG
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ 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. The State Journal-Register
- ➤ 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. 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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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.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
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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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