Good morning, Springfield.

The Illinois State Fair will offer free accessible tram rides Aug.

13-23 to help visitors move among stops, with rides from noon to 8 p.m. on some days and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on others. Two trams, supported by the Illinois Corn Growers Association, will serve key locations.

The Illinois State Fairgrounds demolished Building 29 this summer and introduced a clear bag policy for Grandstand events + officials said the upgrades improve safety and modernize the venue.

Attendees should plan ahead for extra time as security checks are added.

Food companies are removing synthetic dyes from popular items, leading to labels stating 'No Artificial Colors' and sometimes less vibrant appearances + a possible price increase.

Shoppers in Springfield may see both new and original versions on shelves during the transition.

This weekend in Central Illinois, sports, live music, theater, and county fair events will engage residents.

Highlights include women’s pro baseball at Robin Roberts Stadium (games Friday, Saturday and Sunday), Everclear at Danenberger Family Vineyards, and Lauren Alaina with Josh Ross at Logan County Fair.

Route 66 is named the honorary grand marshal of the Illinois State Fair Twilight Parade as it marks its 100th anniversary with classic cars leading from Lincoln Park to the fairgrounds on Aug.

13. Visitors can also explore the Route 66 Experience at Gate 2 during the fair.

State education officials announced on Friday that Illinois school funding increased by $350 million, but rising costs and lower CPPRT revenue mean fewer districts are meeting target funding levels.

The report said only 292 of 850 districts will reach 90% of their adequacy target for fiscal year 2027.

Dr. Terrance Jordan begins his role as superintendent of District 186 on Monday, Aug.

24—bringing over 20 years of experience from multiple district roles—he plans to enhance school safety and community engagement as classes start.

Illinois law (prize over $250,000) requires lottery winners to reveal their names; with tonight’s Powerball drawing at 10:59 p.m. ET and a jackpot now at $856 million, local players should know big wins will not stay anonymous.

Senior Financial Officer

The Senior Financial Officer is a responsible senior management position that will support the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in overseeing all financial functions of the housing authority, including budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, MIS, procurement oversight, and audits.  This is a strategic succession planning role, with the selected candidate expected to transition into the Chief Financial Officer position within 2-3 years, depending on performance and organizational readiness.