Good morning, Springfield.

Ghost is a 10-month-old Labrador mix who was abandoned in Cicero and is now serving as a therapy K9 for law enforcement in Central Illinois.

He works with Mobile Training Unit 7 and will soon train at Illinois Central College to help officers with his comforting presence—meeting certifications from the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and American Kennel Club.

On Tuesday, September 9 the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight will carry 95 veterans—7 Korean Era and 88 Vietnam Era—from 65 local hometowns plus groups from Florence and Mercedes to Washington, D.C.

Veterans and their guardians will report at 4 a.m. at Abraham Lincoln Capitol Airport, with a return scheduled for 9:30 p.m. and the public invited to welcome them home.

On Tuesday at approximately 4:40 p.m., the Springfield Fire Department responded to a kitchen fire in the 2000 block of E.

Laurel that displaced a family of five and rescued a cat—no injuries were reported as the Red Cross assisted the family.

Superintendent Jennifer Gill said during a special meeting on Tuesday that the tentative Springfield Public School District 186 budget projected a nearly $18 million deficit (unknown state and federal funding contributed), but fund balances will cover this year's shortfall.

Director Steve Miller outlined a three-year plan to reduce the deficit and a public hearing is scheduled for September 15.

Springfield City Council approved the transfer of Robin Roberts Stadium from the Springfield Park District to the city for a planned sale to a private entity— the park district will continue to maintain the stadium until the city issues a request for bids within the next 30 days, with Friends of Robin Roberts Stadium as the only known interested party.

At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, former Mayor Jim Langfelder criticized the city’s past decision to stop converting Wyndham Hotel rooms into apartments after vandalism closed the hotel in March.

He proposed selling the hotel to the owners of the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel to better support downtown recovery.

Former mayor Jim Langfelder said the council should have listened to his suggestion to add apartments to the boarded-up Wyndham hotel and Starbucks—plans that were approved in March for a Delta by Marriott conversion—in arguing that inaction harmed downtown.

The troubled hotel closed indefinitely after a fire and flood that an insurance company alleged were caused by sabotage.

The Sangamon County Mental Health Commission held its sixth meeting Wednesday night at the Sangamon County building where chairman Mike Murphy discussed funding options for a new mental health board — he explained that county tax revenues from sales and property taxes would support mental health services. The commission heard input from the Farm Bureau and Helping Hands and will present its findings to the County Board by December 1.

Tour de Heartland

8 AM – 1 PM — Historic Marbold Farmstead — Registration fee applies — Enjoy a bike ride fundraiser supporting the Historic Marbold Farmstead Association.

Illinois Senior Games

9 AM – 6 PM — Iles Park — Registration open — Compete in various sports including pickleball during this exciting senior Olympics event.

Art Spectacular

10 a.m.–5 p.m. — Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon — Free admission — Celebrate 20 years of art and music at Central Illinois' premier fine art fair featuring local and regional artists.

Book Discussion: Thinking Fast and Slow

10 AM – 12 PM — Lincoln Library — Free entry — Engage in a thought-provoking discussion on behavioral finance inspired by Daniel Kahneman's insights.

Pumpkin Spice Gnome Paint Night with Ashley Blake

1-3 p.m. — Harvest Market — Cost includes materials — Paint a cozy Pumpkin Spice Gnome and enjoy fall vibes with fellow art lovers.

Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show

10 AM – 6 PM — Illinois State Fair Campground — Free Parking — Explore a dazzling array of gems, minerals, and fossils with activities for all ages.