Good morning, Springfield.

Local youth hunters set a record by taking 4,852 deer from Oct.

10 through 12, breaking last year's count of over 4,700 with Sangamon County at 40 and Macoupin at 101. Hunters with unfilled permits may use them in the upcoming firearm deer seasons (Nov. 20 through 22 and Dec. 3 through 6).

On Wednesday, Massey Community Action Network held its first community meeting at First Presbyterian Church where founding member Joann Johnson detailed the group’s 26 calls to action + local leaders welcomed the chance to share ideas for a more vibrant Springfield.

Washington Park Botanical Garden will host the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular Friday and Saturday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. with over 2,000 illuminated pumpkins, spooky music, bonfires and food vendors, benefitting the Thomas Rees Carillon Society and including a free shuttle from Springfield Clinic parking (behind PNC near Wabash Avenue) with presale tickets available until Thursday.

Forbes released its annual list ranking Illinois' richest people, featuring 10 billionaires with growing fortunes; Gov. JB Pritzker, with a net worth of $4.2 billion as of Oct.

12, did not appear among the top 10.

The University of Illinois Springfield partnered with the Springfield Fire Department yesterday to hold live-fire training at the former Sunflower Court apartments— firefighters practiced rescue techniques by locating dummies and extinguishing controlled fires.

Additional burns will occur on Oct. 21 and Oct. 28 at 4950 University Drive to build emergency skills.

Springfield voters will cast their ballots on a nonbinding-advisory question about a proposed landlord registry program set to appear on upcoming ballots.

The vote offers local input ahead of the election.

Residents in Sangamon and Menard counties are invited to complete a Community Health Survey by Springfield Memorial Hospital, HSHS St. John’s Hospital & the Sangamon County Health Department to guide new health programs and improve care; the online survey is open through Oct.

31.

New photos from The State Journal-Register reveal that the Wyndham Hotel (closed since March 2025) shows signs of life, hinting that the building is not completely empty.

Maroa-Forsyth, holding an 8-0 record, will visit 7-1 Williamsville on Friday at 7 pm at Paul Jenkins Field to close out the regular season.

Williamsville is the defending series winner.

Sacred Heart Griffin trailed Columbia in the final seven minutes of their regular season finale on Wednesday, but Kellan Beveridge scored a long-range free kick to tie the game and secure a 12-7-3 record.

They will face Pleasant Plains next Tuesday in the 1A Regional.