Good morning, Springfield.

Readers voted for Sapori Pizzeria & Italian Market as the best new restaurant in the 2025 Community Choice Awards, with Fairground Cafe and Izumi Rotary and Bar as finalists.

Voting for the 2026 awards runs through Aug. 21.

The Illinois State Fair will host a naturalization ceremony on Wednesday, Aug.

19 at 11 a.m. at the Orr building where District Judge Colleen R. Lawless & Associate Judge Tawnya L. Frioli will confer citizenship on 309 new entrants from around the world.

ALPLM honored two Black victims of the 1908 Springfield Race Riots on Friday by collecting soil from the sites where barber Scott Burton & resident William Donegan were killed.

The soil jars were first shown at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum before moving to a national memorial in Alabama.

Special Olympics athletes will join with livestock exhibitors in the Sunflower Showmanship Competition today at 10:00 a.m. in the Coliseum.

Organized with Illinois 4H, the event aims to build confidence and offer an inclusive exhibition experience at the state fair.

Steve Koch, a Chatham car collector, led a procession with a 1960 Chrysler 300F + a 1956 Packard from Lincoln Park to the fairgrounds on Wednesday evening at the Twilight Parade.

The event honored Route 66 as grand marshal while the fair runs until Sunday, Aug. 23.

At the Illinois State Fair on Friday, Aug.

14, Golden Abe’s Food Contest named Backdraft BBQ and Tikka Street as the overall tie winners while awarding prizes for Sweet, Savory, and Non-Alcoholic Drink entries. Local judges including Springfield’s mayor and the State Fair Queen helped decide the winning dishes.

Draft horse fans can enjoy special events at the fair as the Draft Horse and Pony Show runs Aug.

16–18 at the Coliseum and the Draft Horse Pull takes place on Sunday, Aug. 23.

Springfield’s Lasnoski family took part in America 250 competitions when Faustina became one of two winners in a student art contest shown at the Capitol and Maksymilian competed in the Patriot Games over the past weekend.

The 25-foot Cozy Dog installation was unveiled Aug.

13 at the Illinois Route 66 Experience at the state fairgrounds & celebrates Springfield's Route 66 history with neon mustard and ketchup detailing. Community partners, including DCEO and Visit Springfield, support the display to boost tourism and honor local heritage.

State Rep. Charlie Meier (fourth-generation farmer) took part in Ag Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Aug.

14, stressing market growth and fewer regulations for farmers. The fair continues through Sunday, Aug. 23.

Illinois has launched a 24/7 hotline and email address for communities to request certified therapy dog teams for events like wellness outreach, public safety, community healing, and school support.

The hotline is 773-67-43647 and the email is [email protected].

Gov. Pritzker signed two laws protecting the 340B program for community health centers such as Heartland Health Services, ensuring they can continue connecting patients to affordable medications — the measures safeguard pharmacy partnerships and require an insurance study on the program’s impact.