Rock and Run For Mental Health

Illinois Route 66 Mother Road Festival

Friends and Neighbors Apply Now!

Win Tuesday Lunch Takeover with Papa John's

Central Illinois Community Calendar

Upcoming Events

Sunday, September 13th- Rock and Run For Mental Health
Saturday, October 10th-11th- Carve For the Carillon

Music

2 days ago in Entertainment, Music

MusiCares to honor U2 as 2027 Persons of the Year at a star-studded Grammy-weekend gala

MusiCares will honor Irish band U2 as its Persons of the Year at a February gala kicking off Grammy Awards weekend. Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. will be celebrated at a Feb. 5 dinner and tribute concert at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

3 days ago in Entertainment, Music

Ella Langley leads Country Music Association Awards nods, with mentor Miranda Lambert close behind

Ella Langley, riding the wave of her crossover megahit "Choosin' Texas," leads the nominations for the 2026 Country Music Association Awards with nine nods, followed by her mentor Miranda Lambert with six.

1 week ago in Entertainment, IL State News, Lifestyle, Local, Music

‘STOMP’ coming to UIS PAC to kick off 2027

"STOMP uses everything but conventional percussion instruments."

2 weeks ago in Entertainment, Music

Dolly Parton estate announces 2-day festival ‘Dollyfest’ to celebrate her legacy

Dolly Parton is not done yet. The estate behind the icon, who died of cancer last week at age 80, has announced Dollyfest, a two-day festival to be held in Nashville and London across two consecutive weekends in 2027.

3 weeks ago in Entertainment, IL State News, Illinois State Fair Guide, Local, Music

Dolly Parton’s central Illinois connections

From Petersburg to the Illinois State Fair to the former Assembly Hall in Champaign, "I don't think there will ever be another Dolly Parton."

3 weeks ago in Entertainment, Music, National

Dolly Parton, music star, actor and beloved figure who spanned generations, dies at 80

PITTSBURGH, PA - June 28, 2016 Dolly Parton performs in Pittsburgh Tuesday, June 28 at Consol Energy Center. Parton is currently, supporting the release of 'Pure & Simple with Dolly's Biggest Hits.'

Parton died peacefully Tuesday in Nashville, Tennessee, her publicist said in a statement.

3 weeks ago in Entertainment, Music

Australia’s music industry bans AI-generated tracks from official charts

Australia's recorded music industry will bar tracks wholly generated by artificial intelligence from official charts as burgeoning generative technologies threaten artists' livelihoods, a representative said on Tuesday.

3 weeks ago in Entertainment, Music

After losing a friend and writing ‘Say So,’ Dan + Shay are back with the autobiographical ‘Young’

The lead single from Grammy Award-winning duo Dan + Shay's forthcoming album "Young" is a hard pivot from the wedding songs that make up so much of the country pair's discography.

Lifestyle

6 hours ago in Automotive Repair Expert, Business, IL State News, Lifestyle, Local

See how Illinois ranks for the most auto repair shops

Way.com reports on auto repair shops per capita in Illinois and across the country.

2 days ago in Lifestyle

In an age of instant answers, educators say there’s a case for letting kids struggle a little

When children forget their lunch, can't solve a math problem or don't know how to get somewhere, the instinct for parents can be to step in immediately. But sometimes, the problem is an opportunity.

3 days ago in Lifestyle, Trending

Girl Scouts’ first cookies for dogs will go on sale in January

Man's best friend is getting some love from the Girl Scouts. Girl Scouts of the USA said Tuesday its first cookies for dogs will go on sale in January.

3 days ago in Lifestyle, Trending

New Apple CEO unveils latest iPhone lineup, including a foldable model called Duo

Apple on Wednesday unveiled its latest generation of iPhones, including a widely anticipated foldable version called Duo.

3 days ago in Lifestyle, Local, Pet of the Week

Meet Charlette — Friends of Sangamon County Animal Control Dog of the Week

Charlette "is as sweet as can be."

4 days ago in Lifestyle

Families’ interest in their kids’ education is falling around the globe as scores drop, test shows

Families' interest in their kids' education is falling in many high-income countries as school systems struggle with plunging test scores, according to newly released results from a standardized test taken by 15-year-olds around the world.

4 days ago in IL State News, Lifestyle, Local, National, Sports

Best Chicago Bears fantasy performances of the last decade

Stacker compiled a list of the best Chicago Bears fantasy performances from 2016 to 2025

4 days ago in IL State News, Lifestyle

For scuba diving enthusiasts, Mermet Springs is ‘the best place in the Midwest’

Divers from Great American Divers in St. Charles, Missouri, practice at Mermet Springs on July 17, 2026, in Belknap, Illinois. (Peyton Cook for the Saluki Local Reporting Lab)

Thirty years ago, an Illinois Secretary of State Police DiveTeam investigator set out to turn an abandoned rock quarry into a first-class dive destination. Today, it draws hundreds to southern Illinois each year to explore what’s submerged in its crystal-clear waters.

Features

2 weeks ago in Features

At 91, Dale ‘Grey Beard’ Sanders reclaims record as oldest hiker to complete the Appalachian Trail

Dale Sanders, whose trail name is Grey Beard, first set the Appalachian Trail record in 2017 at age 82. Four years later, his 83-year-old friend M.J. Eberhart, aka Nimblewill Nomad, took the title. But within months, Sanders announced his plan for a comeback.

Entertainment News

1 day ago in Entertainment, IL State News, Local, National

Jerry Seinfeld to perform at UIS PAC in December

Tickets go on sale Sept. 18.

2 days ago in Entertainment, Music

MusiCares to honor U2 as 2027 Persons of the Year at a star-studded Grammy-weekend gala

2 days ago in Entertainment

Snoop Dogg brings the VMAs back to Los Angeles as host for Sept. 27 show

The MTV Video Music Awards are returning to the West Coast this month and they've got a very West Coast host — Snoop Dogg.

3 days ago in Entertainment, Music

Ella Langley leads Country Music Association Awards nods, with mentor Miranda Lambert close behind

4 days ago in Entertainment

It’s ‘Pitt’ vs ‘Pluribus’ in drama and ‘Hacks’ vs ‘Widow’s Bay’ in comedy at the upcoming Emmys

It's "The Pitt" versus "Pluribus" and "Hacks" against "Widow's Bay" at the 78th Emmy Awards on Monday night. The stars of all four shows — Noah Wyle in "The Pitt," Rhea Seehorn in "Pluribus," Jean Smart in "Hacks" and Matthew Rhys in "Widow's Bay" — look to be runaway favorites for the top acting awards.

Local News from Capitol City Now

6 hours ago in Agriculture, Business, Farm, IL State News, Local, National

Diesel prices are hitting record highs at a bad time for many US farmers

FILE - Diesel prices are displayed at a gas station as prices hit a record high in the U.S., Friday, Sept. 4, 2026 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt, File)

The spike adds to an already tough year for these farmers, who also faced higher costs for fertilizer, seeds and equipment.

6 hours ago in Crime, IL State News, Local, National

DOJ went after protesters for felony assault, but juries, judges were unconvinced, AP analysis finds

Michael Rabbitt poses for a photo at his home in Chicago, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

The Associated Press' analysis focused on arrests made during protests last summer and fall in LA, Chicago, Portland, Oregon, and Washington, D.C. — cities with significant protests where President Donald Trump sought to or successfully deployed the National Guard.

6 hours ago in Automotive Repair Expert, Business, IL State News, Lifestyle, Local