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:

• Party City, the largest party supply store in the U.S., has announced that it will close all of its 800 locations nationwide by Feb. 28.

   

   

• The two Springfield Big Lots stores were spared from a round of nationwide closures that took place earlier this year, but now the company has announced plans to close all of its remaining locations.

   

• With new cath labs and the launch of Urgent Care Plus, Springfield Clinic could end up diverting some patients away from Springfield's two acute-care hospitals. But clinic officials say the new ventures will make medical services more convenient and timely for patients.

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