Good morning, Springfield.

Fiona is a calm blue cat who arrived on September 22 at the Sangamon County Animal Control and Adoption Center and is estimated to be 9 years old.

She is spayed, microchipped, and vaccinated—tested negative for FIV and FeLV—and she may do well with another cat if introduced carefully.

Chris is a five-year-old Chow Chow mix at Sangamon County Animal Control and Adoption Center who arrived with other dogs after a confiscation and is now ready for a new home.

The shelter is offering discounted adoption fees for a limited time and welcomes visitors to foster or adopt him (Monday-Friday 10:30-4:15, Saturday 9:00-1:00).

Investigators looked into a house explosion on East Morton Avenue in Jacksonville on Friday after two residents were rescued and moved to a hospital in Springfield—volunteers worked over the weekend to clean up and save pets.

Gas prices have dropped in Springfield over the past week compared to the state average.

Data from GasBuddy and AAA show prices in Sangamon County ranged from $2.96 to $3.31 per gallon—with higher costs on the southeast side—and the Illinois average fell to $3.18 a gallon.

Springfield city council voted against creating an Indigenous Peoples Day during Tuesday’s meeting—officials noted repeated attempts to remove an indigenous speaker from the agenda.

They confirmed that the second Monday in October remains a regular workday.

Today, the Illinois Department of Transportation begins beam repair at the I-72 and 6th Street interchange, leading to closures on the southbound ramp to eastbound I-72 and the eastbound ramp to northbound 6th Street, with detours via I-55/Toronto Road and I-55/Stevenson Drive for two weeks—an overnight closure on northbound 6th Street is set for 7 p.m. on Oct. 23.

Springfield Fire Chief Zummo visited several firehouses last Monday to present Life Saving Awards to firefighters whose quick actions saved lives.

The awards recognize professional training and dedication that protects the community every day—neighbors are encouraged to congratulate these local heroes.

The 'No Kings' protests are set for Oct.

18 with Springfield hosting a rally at the Illinois State Capitol from noon—2 p.m. Protesters are advised to follow Illinois law on free speech and public order as outlined by the ACLU.

Parents at JFL of Central Illinois voiced concerns over the tie-breaker process in recent competitions—many believe the system may not fairly decide outcomes.

At the IHSA state golf meets held on Friday and Saturday, Sacred Heart-Griffin senior Natalie Zak finished her final meet—tying for 24th in the girls Class 2A event at Hickory Point Golf Course while Pana sophomore Dallas Hubbartt and Litchfield senior Sam Schwab tied for 11th in the boys Class 1A event—marking top-25 finishes for area golfers.

2025 GSDCA National Specialty Show

Event duration: Oct 17-25 — Illinois State Fairground — Entry fees vary — Celebrate the love of German Shepherds with competitions and exhibitions.

Dads to Doulas Workshop

3-8 p.m. — 3000 S Dirksen Pkwy, Springfield, IL — Free entry — Empower fathers with vital knowledge for maternal health and infant advocacy.

Wicked Which? Paint Night with Ashley Blake

1-3 p.m. — Harvest Market — All ages welcome — Unleash your creativity at a Halloween-themed paint night with Ashley Blake.

Flight Instructor Refresher Course

10:00 AM – 7:30 PM — Northfield Inn Suites and Conference Center — $65 — Enhance your aviation skills with this comprehensive refresher course for flight instructors.

Ansar Shrine Circus

7-8:30 p.m. — Bank of Springfield Center — Tickets required — Prepare to be amazed by death-defying acrobats, amazing animal performances, and hilarious clowns.

Springfield Marathon, Harvest Wind Half Marathon & 10K

8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. — Danenberger Family Vineyards — Check website for registration — Experience a thrilling day of running with a Boston Marathon qualifying course amidst beautiful vineyards.