Music

3 days ago in Entertainment, Music

The best new holiday music releases for 2025

'Tis the season to put on some brand-new holiday music. The best way to get festive is to sing along to Christmas classics new and old. But don't know what to press play on? We've got you covered.

4 days ago in Entertainment, Music

Jimmy Cliff, reggae giant and star of landmark film ‘The Harder They Come,’ dead at 81

Jimmy Cliff, the charismatic reggae pioneer and actor who preached joy, defiance and resilience in such classics as "Many Rivers to Cross," "You Can Get it If You Really Want" and "Vietnam" and starred in the landmark movie "The Harder They Come," has died at 81.

7 days ago in Entertainment, Music

Gary Mounfield, former Stone Roses bassist, has died at 63

Gary Mounfield, the former bass player of the Stone Roses and Primal Scream, two of the most influential British rock bands of the past four decades, has died. He was 63.

1 week ago in Entertainment, Music

The Weeknd’s ‘After Hours ‘Til Dawn’ Tour grosses over $1 billion, Live Nation says

The Weeknd's lengthy tour, which launched in Philadelphia in July 2022 and runs through September 2026, has officially grossed $1.004 billion with approximately 7.55 million tickets sold across 153 tour dates, Live Nation said Thursday.

1 week ago in Entertainment, Music

The 2025 Country Music Association Awards are almost here: How to watch

Excuse me, you look like you like... country award shows. And you're in luck: The 2025 Country Music Association Awards are here. So, what should you expect?

1 week ago in Entertainment, Music

A new Netflix doc offers an intimate portrait of Selena, straight from her family’s vault

It's been 30 years since the singer known simply as Selena was killed at 23 — and those who love her are working hard to ensure her legacy endures for decades to come.

2 weeks ago in Entertainment, Music

Bad Bunny wins album of the year at the 2025 Latin Grammys, capping an electric night

It should come as a shock to no one: The 2026 Latin Grammy Awards were all about Bad Bunny. The Puerto Rican superstar won album of the year for his landmark release "Debí Tirar Más Fotos."

2 weeks ago in Entertainment, Music

Meghan Trainor says she ‘Still Don’t Care’ — because her new album and tour are about growth

In the decade following her debut album, Meghan Trainor has lived myriad lives — but the message of her bright, cheery pop music has remained the same: Stay true to who you are and ignore the haters. That spirit endures on her lead single, the jovial "Still Don't Care," the first tease of her forthcoming seventh full-length album, "Toy with Me," out April 24.

Lifestyle

23 hours ago in History, Lifestyle, Local

Springfield Dominican Sister joins pilgrimage to support deported women

Sr. Anita Cleary

Trip deepens lifelong commitment to immigrant justice

2 days ago in Entertainment, History, Holiday Guide, Lifestyle, Local

Springfield’s holiday historic homes tour

The city’s most treasured homes dressed in their seasonal best!

2 days ago in Lifestyle, Trending

What’s open on Thanksgiving? Not much, as many stores rest — or prepare — ahead of Black Friday

With Thanksgiving and the formal launch of the holiday shopping season this week, Americans will again gather for Turkey Day meals before knocking off items on their Christmas gift lists.

3 days ago in Lifestyle, Trending

Stores keep prices down in a tough year for turkeys. Other Thanksgiving foods may cost more

The shrinking turkey population amid the ongoing bird flu outbreak is expected to cause wholesale turkey prices to rise 44% this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Despite the increase, many stores are offering discounted or even free turkeys to soften the potential blow to Thanksgiving meal budgets.

4 days ago in Agriculture, Business, Farm, IL State News, Lifestyle, Local

Thanksgiving dinner may be more affordable this year

Prices for a Thanksgiving meal for up to 10 have dropped significantly.

4 days ago in Entertainment, Holiday Guide, Lifestyle, Local

Here are holiday events around the Springfield area

A Christmas scene in Springfield.

Here are ways you can celebrate the holidays in the Springfield, IL area!

4 days ago in Lifestyle, Trending

These 6 kitchen tools can make or break your Thanksgiving dinner

It's the start of Thanksgiving week, the time when home cooks across America suddenly recognize the daunting task ahead. More than 90% of people in the U.S. celebrate the food-centric holiday and more than 1 in 4 attend meals that include more than 10 other people, according to the Pew Research Center.

4 days ago in IL State News, Lifestyle, Local

A pair of snowy owls spotted along Lake Michigan beach draws crowds in Chicago

A snowy owl rests on a pier near Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

“Their nomadic nature makes them hard to study or even figure out patterns,” Edward Warden, the society's president, said Sunday. “Where they’re going is anybody’s guess.”

Features

7 days ago in Features, Trending

Pontifical secret revealed: Pope Leo XIV changes his Wordle start word each day

Pope Leo XIV opened a virtual meeting with American Catholic young people Friday by revealing a closely held pontifical secret: He uses a different Wordle start word each day.

2 weeks ago in Features, Trending

Doritos and Cheetos dial back the bright orange in new versions without artificial ingredients

PepsiCo said Thursday it's launching toned-down versions of its bright orange snacks that won't have any artificial colors or flavors. Doritos and Cheetos Simply NKD will hit store shelves on Dec. 1.

3 weeks ago in Features, Trending

Rockefeller Christmas tree is harvested from upstate New York and begins trek to Manhattan

The towering Christmas tree that will light up Rockefeller Center this holiday season is on its way to New York City.

4 weeks ago in Features

The International Space Station marks 25 years of nonstop human presence in orbit

FILE - In this image from television, space station commander Yury Usachev, left, welcomes California millionaire Dennis Tito, center, and Russian cosmonauts Talgat Musabayev, right, to the International Space Station on Monday, April 30, 2001. (AP Photo/APTN, File)

By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — It’s an unprecedented space streak: 25 years of people…

4 weeks ago in Features, World

This orange flower cloaks Mexico during Day of the Dead. Climate change is putting it at risk

Catrina sculptures stand in a field of cempasuchil flowers in San Luis Tlaxialtemalco on the outskirts of Mexico City, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Claudia Rosel)

Mexican marigold growers say they've been left reeling by torrential rains, stretching drought and other impacts from climate change — caused by the burning of fuels like gas, oil and coal – that have grown increasingly common.

4 weeks ago in Features

How tiny drones inspired by bats could save lives in dark and stormy conditions

FILE - A vampire bat is caught in a net in Aracy, in the northeast Amazon state of Para, Brazil, on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2005. (AP Photo/Mario Quadros, File)

The robotics lab at Worcester Polytechnic Institute lab is a testing ground for tiny drones that can be deployed in search and rescue missions even in dark, smoky or stormy conditions.

Entertainment News

2 days ago in Entertainment

‘Rush Hour 4’ will be distributed by Paramount after Trump’s reported request

After President Donald Trump's reported intervention, Paramount Pictures is set to distribute Brett Ratner's "Rush Hour 4," a project that Hollywood had eschewed after earlier sexual misconduct allegations against the director.

2 days ago in Entertainment, History, Holiday Guide, Lifestyle, Local

Springfield’s holiday historic homes tour

The city’s most treasured homes dressed in their seasonal best!

2 days ago in Entertainment

How Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal found the emotional power of ‘Hamnet’

In "Hamnet," Chloé Zhao's adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's prizewinning 2020 novel, Paul Mescal plays William Shakespeare and Jessie Buckley his wife, Agnes. It's a fictional, speculative drama with basis in historical fact.

3 days ago in Entertainment, Music

The best new holiday music releases for 2025

'Tis the season to put on some brand-new holiday music. The best way to get festive is to sing along to Christmas classics new and old. But don't know what to press play on? We've got you covered.

3 days ago in Entertainment

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a rare Superman comic book! And it fetched $9.12M!

A copy of the first Superman issue, unearthed by three brothers cleaning out their late mother's attic, netted $9.12 million this month at a Texas auction house which says it is the most expensive comic book ever sold.

Local News from Capitol City Now

7 hours ago in Local

Is a better record on minorities worth an extra 40 percent?

Aldermen and low bidder ask the $300,000 question.

19 hours ago in Education, IL State News, Local

Optimism in easing state’s teacher shortage

A grant program is helping 170 districts which represent about half Illinois' public K-12 enrollment.

20 hours ago in IL State News, Local

Winter Storm Warning in effect; 6+inches of snow possible

Updated
NWS Snowfall graphic

Forecasters: Maybe 5 inches of snow forecast, and some rain.

23 hours ago in History, Lifestyle, Local

Springfield Dominican Sister joins pilgrimage to support deported women

Sr. Anita Cleary

Trip deepens lifelong commitment to immigrant justice

2 days ago in Local

Springfield woman killed in Tuesday evening crash identified

An investigation into the crash continues.

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Trending

2 days ago in National, Trending

Trump spares turkeys — but not his political opponents — at annual pardoning ceremony

President Donald Trump didn't bring much holiday cheer Tuesday when bestowing ceremonial pardons on two Thanksgiving turkeys, dispensing more insults than goodwill at the traditional White House ritual.