Lifestyle

23 hours ago

Route 66 exhibit opens at Illinois State Museum

Museum officials said the collection includes a variety of Route 66 memorabilia, such as vintage souvenirs, neon signs, fiberglass advertising figures and Burma-Shave signs.

2 days ago

In farm country, an old American pickup truck becomes more than a workhorse

Effingham, IL (AP) – In Illinois farm country, there’s a 70-year-old pickup truck waiting on a fresh coat of canary…

2 days ago

In a city with an iconic skyline, the Obama presidential museum aims to reshape Chicago architecture

Residents have compared it to a grain elevator, ship from “Star Wars” and a mausoleum.

2 days ago

ABC stations call FCC’s early call for license renewal ‘unconstitutional’

The FCC's move in April to begin early reviews of the broadcast licenses of ABC-owned stations in eight local markets attracted particularly close attention.

2 days ago

Are home prices going up in Springfield, Illinois in 2026?

Redfin Real Estate compiled data on how home prices are changing in 2026 in Springfield, IL.

2 days ago

Long before McDonald’s, Maid Rite pioneered the American drive-thru

"The original way — mustard, chopped onion, chopped pickles, scoop of ground beef ... 1-2-3-4 this is what the Maid-Rite is. You made that in all of 15 seconds — I do 15 in a minute," said Owner Sam Quasi.

3 days ago

Lawmakers approve bill to regulate e-bikes, scooters

Speed limits and age restrictions part of new limits.

3 days ago

Why your co-worker might be listening to music tuned to 432 hertz

Music recorded in 432 hertz (cycles per second) is taking off on social media platforms and music streaming services, where users can find an increasing number of tracks and playlists employing the alternate tuning, everything from meditation soundscapes to reggae songs recorded by Ziggy Marley.

3 days ago

Summer Baseball is back

Summertime Baseball is back! Jamie Toole Chief Storyteller of The Springfield Lucky Horseshoes stopped by The WTAX Morning NewsWatch

4 days ago

Independent bookstores are multiplying, although many people still think they’re dying out

Allison Hill, CEO of the American Booksellers Association, is used to strangers expressing sympathy when they learn what she does for a living. "It's all so funny," she says. "When I tell them I run the trade association for independent stores, they'll say, 'It's just so sad that they're disappearing.'

4 days ago

Thank you for being a friend: ‘Golden Girls’ to perform in Springfield

The Springfield show is, so far, the only Illinois stop as part of a fall tour starting September 30 and continuing through November 28.

4 days ago

Bipartisan AI safety, privacy bills await action in Illinois House

While some people hate the idea of AI, lawmakers know the technology is here to stay and Illinois must regulate it.

5 days ago

You should be dancing, yeah. Moving to music offers all kinds of benefits as you age

Moving to music is one of the best ways to stay healthy. Medical professionals say it doesn't matter if it's Western line dancing, ballroom steps, salsa, tap, Zumba at the gym, or with a group

1 week ago

Abortion advocates urge additional reproductive health support from Illinois

The call comes amid a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing access to telehealth medication abortions.

1 week ago

Illinois launches online directory of breweries, distilleries, and wineries across the state

The Illinois Liquor Control Commission has launched an online directory and interactive map of breweries, brew pubs, distilleries, and wineries across the state at ilcc.illinois.gov.

1 week ago

A perfect getaway from Springfield: Dive into family fun at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies

A great deal on a great getaway from Springfield Real Deals!

2 weeks ago

Plastic bags don’t go in the recycling bin. What should you do instead?

Soft, stretchy plastics can make up grocery bags, bubble wrap and more. They're impossible to avoid and harder still to properly dispose of. If thrown in the trash, they can take up to hundreds of years to degrade in landfills and release harmful microplastics into the environment.

2 weeks ago

County Board Chair says City Council is wasting time debating how much say they have on proposed BOS Center expansion

Van Meter says there have been too many negative commenters on the project, and not enough positive ones.

2 weeks ago

Ziggy Marley to headline Illinois State Fair Grandstand August 18

Grammy-winning reggae artist brings decades of music, positivity, and humanitarian work to Springfield.

2 weeks ago

$1.3M botanical garden dome reopens in Springfield’s Washington Park

A $1.3 million project renovated the Conservatory Dome.

Recent Headlines

2 days ago in National

Pam Bondi faces a closed-door questioning from House lawmakers over the Epstein files

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi is testifying before House lawmakers investigating Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse cases, a long-awaited appearance that brings fresh scrutiny of the Trump administration's botched release of the Epstein case files.

3 days ago in National

A large fire has erupted at an apartment complex in Dallas

Firefighters battled a large fire that erupted Thursday at an apartment complex in Dallas, where debris from one collapsed building lay heaped on the ground while flames and black smoke billowed into the sky. Neighbors reported hearing a loud boom like an explosion.

3 days ago in Sports

Chiefs WR Rashee Rice continues serving jail sentence as team begins voluntary offseason workouts

While most of the Kansas City Chiefs participated in voluntary workouts this week, wide receiver Rashee Rice was back in Texas, serving his 30-day jail sentence after violating the terms of his probation for his role in a car crash that left multiple people injured.