Good morning, Springfield.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.