🌱 Patch AM: Grab dinner at the fairgrounds and help APL rebuild its shelter

Good morning Springfield! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Grab dinner at the fairgrounds and help APL rebuild its shelter
• How Springfield schools plan to let students use AI this year
• What Springfield residents should know before Waste Management starts pickups September 1

Also on today's calendar: Springfield Oyster & Beer Festival and 3 more events.

Today's riddle: What do evil hens lay? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
Today's Springfield Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's Best Mobile Network in the US according to Ookla Speedtest®. Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 1H 2026. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Springfield Patch AM possible.
Find a T-Mobile store near Springfield.

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Humid with a stray t-storm, with a high of 78 and low of 64 degrees.
• Thursday: Clouds and sun; less humid, temps: high: 82, low: 61.
• Friday: A t-storm around in the p.m., with a high of 83 and low of 63 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. APL Holding a Chicken & Vegetarian Dinner Fundraiser to Support Tornado Recovery Efforts (newschannel20.com) — Springfield's Animal Protective League is selling $15 chicken and vegetarian dinners to raise money after a June tornado destroyed its shelter and clinic. You can pre-order meals through September 3 and pick them up curbside on September 10 at the Commodities Pavilion on the Illinois State Fairgrounds, with all proceeds supporting APL's rebuilding efforts.
   

2. Springfield school district introduces AI guidelines (wcia.com) — Springfield School District leaders have rolled out new guidelines on how students and teachers can use artificial intelligence in classrooms for the 2026-27 school year. The plan emphasizes keeping humans in control, teaching responsible AI use, and gradually expanding allowed AI tools as students get older, with clear rules and consequences for misuse.
   

3. Waste Management to take over landscape waste collection in Springfield (wandtv.com) — Landscape waste pickup in Springfield is shifting to Waste Management under a new three-year, $4 million city contract starting September 1. Residents will see every-other-week collection March through December, plus limited winter pickups, with the company promising to address past issues like heavy, wet bags more consistently.
   

4. Historic tree removed outside of Springfield restaurant (sj-r.com) — A beloved centuries-old cucumber magnolia tree at Chesapeake Seafood House on Clear Lake Avenue in Springfield was removed after repeated structural failures and storm damage made it unsafe. Longtime owner Daniel Whitmore says customers are saddened but understand, and he's considering turning the remaining trunk into a bench while planning new trees for the property.
   

5. Meet the 'DOGtors' bringing comfort to Springfield Memorial Hospital (wandtv.com) — Springfield Memorial Hospital is expanding its "DOGtors on Call" therapy dog program, bringing more four-legged comfort to local patients, families, and staff. Funded by a Springfield Memorial Foundation grant, five certified therapy dogs now make regular visits, offering stress relief and emotional support that hospital leaders say meaningfully improves the healing experience in Springfield.
   

📸 Around Springfield

Subscribe

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Springfield

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Friday August 21
• Ella Langley →
  Illinois State Fairground, 801 E Sangamon Ave, Springfield
  8:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday August 20
• Pre-K First Day
  Ball-Chatham CUSD 5 201 W. Mulberry, Chatham, IL 62629
• GMS Meet the Staff
  Glenwood Middle School Chatham, IL 62629
  6:00 pm
Wednesday August 26
• GMS Band Community Service Performance
  Glenwood Middle School Villas
  5:30 pm
• Board of Education Meeting
  Ball-Chatham CUSD 5 201 W. Mulberry, Chatham, IL 62629
  6:45 pm
Saturday September 5
• Springfield Oyster & Beer Festival →
  Inn At 835 Boutique Hotel, 835 S 2nd St, Springfield
  12:00 pm

📣 Springfield Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Wednesday August 19
• Boys Middle School Baseball @ Blessed Sacrament-Springfield
  Lincoln Magnet School 1100 Avon Dr., Springfield IL 62704
  4:30 pm
• Middle School Baseball vs Christ The King
  U S Grant Middle School 2415 Sharon Dr, Springfield, IL 62704, USA
  4:30 pm
Thursday August 20
• Teacher Inservice - No Student Attendance
  U S Grant Middle School Springfield, IL 62704
  8:00 am
• Softball at Bureau Valley
  John F Kennedy Elem School Bureau Valley Elementary
  4:30 pm
• Baseball vs. Peru
  John F Kennedy Elem School JFK
  4:30 pm
• Meet your Teacher, Unpack your Bag, Ice Cream Social
  Owen Marsh Elem School 1100 Avon Dr, Springfield, IL 62704, USA
  5:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Illinois farmers recognized statewide for conservation and local food leadership —Nicole Andas Read on Patch
• State Rep. Mike Coffey Delivers School Supplies to Springfield Public Schools District 186 —IL House Reps Read on Patch

• Would like to say thank you to whomever cleared our sidewalk last night after that storm.
  Thank you very much. Your kindness is much appreciated. (Nextdoor Country Club Association)
• Is there anyone in the neighborhood that is a notary and has 2 other people/.
  neighbors who could be witness to a document signing? I have been ill and recently changed my name and updated my will and POAs and need things… (Nextdoor Westwood Forum)

• TIBCO Software, Inc. posted a job opening for Claims Rep II (Hlth & Dntl) in Springfield. Apply here.
• BoxLunch / Hot Topic posted a job opening for Part-Time Assistant Manager - Level 2 in Springfield. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Springfield here.

Ok Springfield! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Deviled eggs (Thank you Karla H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook