Central Illinois Community Calendar

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Upcoming Events

Friday, February 20th- Nate Bargatze
Saturday, March 14th- St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Lifestyle

24 hours ago in Lifestyle

Renters use ‘rent now, pay later’ services to manage monthly payments, but fees raise concerns

Rent can eat up an entire paycheck at the start of the month, so a growing number of renters are turning to a financial product that promises relief by letting them split the bill — for a price.

2 days ago in Lifestyle

Backyard vegetable gardens are healthy for people and the planet. Here’s how to start yours

If you want healthy food, experts say to eat what's local, organic and in-season. Those foods benefit the planet too, because they are less taxing on the soil and they don't travel as far. It doesn't get more local, organic and in-season than a backyard vegetable garden.

3 days ago in Lifestyle, Trending

With caviar McNuggets and heart-shaped pizza, fast food chains hope to win Valentine’s diners

It's a tale as old as time, or at least as old as TikTok: chicken nuggets lovingly topped with a dab of caviar. McDonald's is embracing the trend this Valentine's Day with a limited-time McNugget Caviar kit. The free kit, which will be available on McNuggetCaviar.com on Feb. 10, pairs a one-ounce tin of Paramount's Siberian sturgeon caviar with a $25 McDonald's gift card to buy McNuggets.

1 week ago in Lifestyle

Where are those darn keys? Tricks for remembering where you put things

With a scarf dangling from your coat pocket and those gloves left behind at the coffee shop, there are simply more things to lose in winter. That's not counting your misplaced keys at home or those exasperated moments looking for your phone when you say, "I just had it!"

1 week ago in Lifestyle

Being a night owl may not be great for your heart but you can do something about it

Being a night owl can be bad for your heart. That may sound surprising but a large study found people who are more active late at night — when most of the population is winding down or already asleep — have poorer overall heart health than the average person.

1 week ago in Lifestyle, Trending

Eating snow cones or snow cream can be a winter delight, if done safely

As the recent winter storm recedes, residents of lesser-affected areas might be tempted to whip up bowls of "snow cream" — snow combined with milk, sugar and vanilla — after seeing techniques demonstrated on TikTok. Others might want to try "sugar on snow," a taffy-like confection made by pouring hot maple syrup onto a plate of snow.

Sports

6 hours ago in Sports

Lindor, Correa off Puerto Rico’s WBC roster over insurance coverage, Báez for marijuana test

Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa were left off Puerto Rico's roster for the World Baseball Classic over insurance coverage and Javy Báez for a positive 2023 marijuana test, while defending champion Japan entered a top group Thursday led by World Series champions Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

6 hours ago in Sports

Matthew Stafford edges Drake Maye for the AP NFL Most Valuable Player award

Matthew Stafford walked away with the AP NFL Most Valuable Player award and a declaration that he's returning to the Los Angeles Rams for another season.

6 hours ago in Olympics, Sports, Trending

The Milan Cortina Olympics will start with a four-site and two-cauldron opening ceremony

An unprecedented four-site, dual-cauldron Winter Olympics opening ceremony replete with references to Italian icons and culture — plus American pop diva Mariah Carey — was scheduled to officially start the Milan Cortina Games on Friday as the sports spectacle returns to a nation that last hosted the event 20 years ago.

6 hours ago in Olympics, Sports

Lindsey Vonn tests injured left knee in Olympic downhill training, pumps fist after successful run

A week after rupturing the ACL in her left knee, Lindsey Vonn opened her chase for Olympic gold at the age of 41 with an aggressive and successful downhill training run on Friday — two days before the race.

24 hours ago in Sports

Tarik Skubal wins salary arbitration case, will be paid record $32 million

Tarik Skubal won his salary arbitration hearing with the Detroit Tigers on Thursday, and the two-time Cy Young Award winner will be paid a record $32 million this year instead of the team's $19 million offer.

1 day ago in Sports, Trending

Antetokounmpo remains with Bucks as NBA trade deadline passes

Giannis Antetokounmpo had been the center of attention heading into the trade deadline amid reports that the Milwaukee Bucks started listening to offers for the two-time MVP and nine-time all-NBA selection. But when the deadline arrived at 3 p.m. ET, Antetokounmpo remained in Milwaukee.

National

24 hours ago in National

A timeline of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and the fight to make the government’s files public

For much of two decades, police, FBI agents and prosecutors investigated allegations that Jeffrey Epstein sexually abused underage girls. Now, the Justice Department has released much of what they found to the public.

1 day ago in National

No public sign of a response to Savannah Guthrie’s message to her mother’s kidnapper

There was no public sign early Thursday of a response to NBC "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie's message to her 84-year-old mother's kidnapper.

2 days ago in National, Trending

Man who tried to shoot Trump at a Florida golf course gets life in prison

A man convicted of trying to assassinate President Donald Trump on a Florida golf course in 2024 was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison after a federal prosecutor said his crime was unacceptable "in this country or anywhere."

2 days ago in National

Trump’s border czar announces 700 immigration officers to immediately leave Minnesota

The Trump administration is reducing the number of immigration enforcement officers in Minnesota after state and local officials agreed to cooperate by turning over arrested immigrants, border czar Tom Homan said Wednesday.

Local News from Capitol City Now

3 hours ago in Business, IL State News, Local

Gas price spike possible

The state opted out of a waiver in hopes of approval for E-15.

4 hours ago in Education, Health & Wellness, IL State News, Local

IL bill could create IDPH health misinformation response unit, offer public health literacy grants

The proposal also calls on the Illinois State Board of Education to work with the Department of Public Health to create guidance for schools to teach health literacy in comprehensive health courses.

4 hours ago in Education, Local, Sports

Before sunrise, Springfield Figure Skating Club chases big dreams on the ice

A Springfield Figure Skating Club member takes to the ice at the Nelson Center.

The Springfield Figure Skating Club is hosting its showcase, "Spotlight On Ice: Hits and Heroes," next month.

4 hours ago in IL State News, Local, National, Sports

Former Prairie Star Esteban Hernandez signs Minor League contract with Atlanta Braves

Hernandez was signed as a free agent on Feb. 3, 2026, and was assigned to the Florida Complex League (FCL) Braves on Feb. 4.

4 hours ago in IL State News, Local

Proposal: No ICE in IL police forces

Sen Johnson: "We cannot afford to have ICE agents infiltrate our outstanding law enforcement departments."

Entertainment

24 hours ago in Entertainment

Not just pups this time: ‘Puppy Bowl’ embraces older dogs

This year, the Puppy Bowl isn't just about puppies. Older dogs are getting some attention, too. There will be a halftime showdown between Team Oldies and Team Goldies, offering a showcase for senior dogs as a reminder that they also need adoption and love.

24 hours ago in Entertainment, Music

Fans race to learn Spanish before Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show

Bad Bunny is expected to perform the Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday entirely in Spanish — which has inspired fans to quickly learn the language.

1 day ago in Entertainment

Jon Hamm on hosting NFL Honors and ‘fellow Pisces’ Bad Bunny’s moment: ‘I applaud him as an artist’

When Jon Hamm first attended the NFL Honors, the league's annual awards show was still finding its footing. It was a relatively new addition to Super Bowl week that had yet to fully define what it would become.

2 days ago in Entertainment

Penny the Doberman pinscher wins the 150th Westminster dog show

A Doberman pinscher named Penny won best in show Tuesday night at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, netting U.S. show dogs' most coveted prize — and giving veteran handler Andy Linton another win after nearly four decades.

2 days ago in Entertainment

Super Bowl LX ads feature AI, weight-loss drugs and celebs from George Clooney to Kendall Jenner

As Super Bowl Sunday approaches, the battle off the field for advertisers to win over 120 million-plus viewers will be just as heated as the rivalry between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks.

What's Happening

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Central Illinois Community Calendar

Check out all the fun events happening in Springfield, IL! Check out our CapitolCityNow.com community calendar

It just wouldn't feel like the Super Bowl for them if they weren't all there. And this might be the last time they all do it. That's what three old friends were coming to grips with just before this year's Super Bowl. The trio of octogenarians are the only fans left in the exclusive "never missed a Super Bowl" club.