Springfield
Sunrise
Saturday, December 20th, 2025
Good morning, Springfield. Here's your local news at a glance for Saturday, the 20th of December.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Central Illinois offers holiday festivities this weekend with a downtown food and drink crawl, Light Up the Park at (Chatham Community Park), a winter farmers market, and a Santa House at Washington Park Pavilion while officials work to repair Henson Robinson Zoo’s waterline for reopening zoo lights. FOX Illinois
- ➤ Williamsville Junior High & the Family Guidance Center received the 2026 IPA Reaching Out & Building Bridges Award for their Too Good for Drugs prevention program that teaches healthy decision-making. The awards ceremony is scheduled for Oct. 18-20. The State Journal-Register
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Growth Corp, a local small business lender, will change leadership on Jan. 1 as president Doug Kinley becomes CEO and veteran Sara Vanhala takes over as president, shifting roles to boost financing for local companies. WYMG
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ State regulators warn Illinois may face energy shortfalls by 2029 in the north & 2031 downstate if retiring fossil fuel plants and rising demand from industry and data centers are not met with new generation; grid planning will begin next year to address potential price hikes. Capitol News Illinois
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ District 186 provided funding for three after-school program sites to reopen at Blackhawk, DuBois and Ridgely Elementary Schools on Jan. 12. The new funding removes a weekly fee for the Boys and Girls Club of Central Illinois and supports programs until the end of the school year. WYMG
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ The Illinois Commerce Commission reduced Ameren’s and ComEd’s proposed electric rate hikes by $11.2M and $25.4M on Thursday, limiting ComEd customers to a $3.10 monthly increase while Ameren’s rates remain steady. New rates take effect in January. Capitol News Illinois
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Illinois law mandates public schools start offering confidential mental health screenings for students in grades 3-12, linking them to needed support; screenings will be provided starting in the 2027-2028 school year (with age-appropriate evaluations) and parents may opt out. The law takes effect Jan. 1. WAND-TV
- ➤ St. John’s Hospital celebrated 150 years in Springfield, having opened on Nov. 11, 1875 when Hospital Sisters brought essential care to the area, and delivered over $64 million in community benefits last fiscal year. The hospital continues to expand local services — a legacy of enduring health support. The State Journal-Register
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ On Friday, Dec. 19, Tolono Unity clinched a 50-39 win over Pleasant Plains after outscoring them 19-6 in the final quarter — Dane Eisenmenger led with 17 while Owen Johnson scored 15. Pleasant Plains will play next on Dec. 29 at the Effingham-Teutopolis Christmas tournament. WMAY
- ➤ The Mt Pulaski Hilltoppers beat Athens 52-49 Friday night—Franklin Wade scored 17 and Sawyer Hill scored 20. They will travel to LeRoy on Tuesday while Athens starts the Waverly Holiday Tournament on Dec. 26th. WMAY
- ➤ Alexis Neumann posted a double double to lead Glenwood to a 58–36 win over MacArthur in the Foot and Ankle Center of Illinois Game of the Week last Friday in Chatham — with Hope Gilmore and Ava Bobb supporting the undefeated CS8 teams. WNNS
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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.
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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.
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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.
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TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
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Reveal the authorAbout Springfield Sunrise
Welcome to the Springfield Sunrise, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Springfield, Illinois community. If you like the Springfield Sunrise, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Springfield.
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