Good morning, Springfield.

The Edwards Place Fine Art Fair runs Saturday, Sept.

19 at 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday, Sept. 20 at 10 AM to 4 PM, offering free admission and pet-friendly live music, art demonstrations, food trucks, a used book sale, self-guided tours, and kids activities at historic Edwards Place.

The Illinois State Museum is hosting its free Frank Freedom Day event today in Springfield (with rain predicted in the morning and thunderstorms later).

Farmers in central Illinois plan a fall harvest of corn, soybeans and pumpkins from September to November—Peoria County Farm Bureau Manager Charlie Hensley said drivers should expect more farm vehicles on rural roads during the busy season.

Cyrus One is approved to build a new data center in Sangamon County as CEO Ryan McCrady explained on WTAX Morning Newswatch that the facility’s closed loop cooling system reuses water for up to 10 years.

The project will support growing digital transactions + online services in our community.

The University of Illinois Springfield will host five free fall events at Brookens Auditorium.

Starting Sept. 23 with a writing workshop, the series will include talks on political violence, AI, art and community activism on Oct. 7, Oct. 21, Nov. 4 and a sustainability lecture on Nov. 18.

University of Illinois Springfield enrolled 353 freshmen this fall, making it the second largest class in school history.

Undergraduate enrollment increased to 2,359 even as total enrollment dropped to 4,008 due to challenges with international student recruitment & enrollment.

Three seniors from Springfield High School were named semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program on Sept.

9 — placing them among over 16,000 students nationwide. They will now meet extra academic requirements and submit applications as they vie for scholarships next spring.

Springfield District 186 shows a nearly $8 million deficit, but district leaders expect it to drop to zero by the end of the school year.

The board will vote on the budget and hold a public hearing on Sept. 21 + discussions on cost-cutting measures are ongoing.

Illinois will use $768 million from a Meta settlement to fund youth mental health services like expanded crisis lifelines & digital wellness education, despite calls from the Illinois Federation of Teachers to fill school funding gaps.

Leaders say the funds target social media related challenges affecting children.

The BEACON mental health ambulance responded to six crises on its first day in Springfield.

The service is staffed by health professionals 24/7 (funded by opioid settlement funds) and may expand if demand remains high.