Good morning, Springfield.

On Friday, Dec. 19, the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office held its second-year gift drop at Laketown School where about 30 children received Christmas presents.

Local businesses and school staff helped collect donations to build positive ties between law enforcement + community.

Buzz Bomb Brewing Co. ended business as pandemic losses and remote work shifts plus a local fire reduced downtown foot traffic.

The closure also forced A Taste of Seoul, which occupies the building's upper story, to suspend its operations.

Illinois restaurants have announced their Christmas hours.

While chains like McDonald’s, Wendy’s, IHOP, Red Lobster, and Fogo de Chão will be open on Dec. 25, others such as Chipotle, Taco Bell, Cracker Barrel, Texas Roadhouse, Outback, and Carrabba’s will be closed—customers should check local listings for details.

Superintendent Tony Sanders told the State Board on Dec.

17 that K-12 funding will likely see only a modest increase due to flat state revenues & rising fiscal demands, with the official budget proposal set for Jan. 14 before review by Gov. Pritzker.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Illinois will reopen three after-school sites on Jan.

12 at Black Hawk, Dubois, and Ridgely Elementary Schools, supported by Springfield Public School District 186. Families can obtain registration forms from their school office.

District 186 now uses standards-based grading in its elementary schools, with scores of 1 (beginner), 2 (progress), or 3 (mastery) instead of letter grades, the district said.

Committees are working on plans to help students transition to the traditional letter grading system in middle school.

The Sangamon County Board approved a binding referendum for the March 2026 primary election that will ask voters to fund a countywide Mental Health Board with a one-half-percent sales tax increase to address urgent service needs in the county.

The Illinois Commerce Commission trimmed Ameren Illinois' $59.6 million electric rate hike request by $11.2 million on Dec.

18 after an eight-month review of its grid spending and planning. This action aims to keep customer costs lower than a potential 39-cent increase originally slated.

A new Illinois law expands opportunities for craft distillers and brewers by allowing distilleries to produce up to 100,000 gallons annually and by making the cocktails-to-go program permanent.

Lawmakers clarified that using third-party platforms to deliver liquor is allowed and that craft brewers can offer loyalty programs.

Attorneys general reached a settlement with Menards over deceptive rebate ads that misled customers by showing future store credit as an immediate discount; the deal required the home improvement store to pay $4.25 million (including $946,000 for Illinois) and update its rebate program within 90 days.

Katie Hendricks was named the lead provider of digital care for OSF OnCall to improve patient access and support; the update was released on Dec.

18, 2025 (underscoring OSF's focus on digital health).

Illinois Springfield women's basketball team returned from a Wisconsin road trip for Education Day at TRAC on Thursday at 11:30 a.m.—students and teachers attended autographs and activities while the Prairie Stars fell 81-72 at Wisconsin-Parkside on Tuesday.

Town Snowman Paint Night With Ashley Blake

1-3 p.m. — Harvest Market — Supplies included — Unleash your creativity while painting a winter wonderland masterpiece inspired by Snowman Town.

New Year’s Eve Celebration with Lick Creek

7-8:30 p.m. — Boondocks — Ticket required — Celebrate New Year’s Eve with live country rock music from Lick Creek in Springfield.

Kindergarten Open House at Our Savior's Lutheran School

6-7 p.m. — Our Savior's Lutheran School — Free entry — Discover how your child will thrive in a faith-centered educational community.