Trent R. Nelson speaks with Michelle Ownbey, publisher of the Springfield Business Journal and Illinois Times, about the latest happenings in the Springfield business community and all of the relevant bits fit for the greater community to learn about.

Topics Discussed In This Interview:

• A commercial eviction case against the parent company for Sweet Basil Cafe was filed on Nov. 8. The Springfield location closed over the weekend, and the landlord was awarded a default judgment of $116,230. Meanwhile, a class-action lawsuit filed by a former employee of another location for failure to pay overtime is still pending.

   

• Southern Illinois University has committed to expanding its pilot training program to Springfield and is still exploring opening a branch of its law school here, according to SIU System President Daniel Mahony.

   

• Katrina Bollard says her new business, New You Body & Soul, was originally launched because of her own desire for self-improvement.

   

• Josh Roughley, who currently works for the city of Springfield’s Building & Zoning department, is opening his own architecture firm.

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