Good morning, Springfield.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will host a one-hour volunteer orientation session on Wednesday, Sept.

9 at 5:30 p.m. at 112 N. Sixth St. in Springfield, and the session will cover volunteer roles while inviting attendees to join three additional two-hour training sessions on Sept. 23, Oct. 7 & Oct. 14.

APL is planning to demolish its damaged Taintor Road headquarters soon and operate out of a portable building while hosting adoption events across Springfield; the shelter also aided a Georgia partner by sending staff through a Best Friends Animal Society program and relies on donations for ongoing care.

Gov. Pritzker said at the State Fair that extra funding has boosted school performance, citing higher graduation rates — while rival Bailey called for local control and less state oversight.

Their contrasting views emerged during campaign events last week.

At the state fair, Gov. JB Pritzker highlighted increased funding and improved test scores in public schools while challenger Darren Bailey urged less state oversight so that local communities decide education.

Their events this week revealed sharply different visions for Illinois schools.

Lincoln Homestead State Park staff repaired buildings, roads and trails after summer storms felled more than 40 trees, but they need funds to plant 50 young trees.

The park’s friends group is raising donations to restore Abraham Lincoln’s first Illinois home for future generations.

SMTD has revamped its website to improve its Trip Planner + public bus location data and deliver smoother schedule information via a GTFS feed.

The site now includes a 'Report a Bus Stop Issue' option so riders can easily report problems.

Local leaders announced that Sangamon County will propose a three percent hotel-motel tax to fund a $60M expansion of the BOS Center after plans stalled in the legislature — groundbreaking is scheduled for fall 2027.

The Springfield Mile will be held at the Illinois State Fairgrounds on Labor Day weekend (Sept.

5 and Sept. 6) featuring professional flat-track motorcycle racing with practice sessions, ceremonies and main events scheduled. Advance tickets are on sale with prices rising from Sept. 2.