What's up Springfield! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
Today's riddle: What do you call a belt made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. Sean Grayson, Sonya Massey's Killer, dies in prison at 32 (afro.com) — Residents following the killing of Sonya Massey in her Springfield home should know that former Sangamon County sheriff's deputy Sean Grayson, convicted of her second-degree murder, has died in prison at 32. He was serving a 20-year sentence, had advanced colon cancer, and was recently denied medical release, though officials have not yet confirmed his exact cause of death.
2. Sacred Heart-Griffin football laments lost chance at Joliet Catholic (sj-r.com) — Springfield's Sacred Heart-Griffin football team narrowly missed a statement win, falling 21-14 to Joliet Catholic despite a big night from quarterback Cam Brinkman. The Cyclones' penalties, turnovers, and reliance on Brinkman's legs and arm proved costly, but coaches and players say they're focused on quick improvement as 2026 Springfield-area high school football coverage ramps up.
3. Fairgoers share stories for history (agrinews-pubs.com) — At the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, visitors were invited to record personal stories for Illinois Voices 250, a statewide time‑capsule project tied to America's 250th birthday. Organizers hope to capture conversations from all 102 counties and permanently archive them at the Library of Congress, highlighting everyday Illinoisans' memories, concerns, and hopes for the future.
4. Two New Conditions Now Eligible For Treatment With Medical Cannabis (effinghamradio.com) — From Springfield, state health officials have added sickle cell disease and polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome with chronic pain to Illinois' list of conditions eligible for medical cannabis. Doctors can now immediately begin certifying patients with these diagnoses, expanding access to cannabis treatment for pain relief under the state's Medical Cannabis Patient Program.
5. Illinois closes bidding period for first energy storage procurement (whig.com) — State energy planners in Springfield have just closed bidding on Illinois' first major battery storage procurement, a key step under the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act. The move aims to bring 1 gigawatt of storage online, cut long‑term electricity costs, and support a more reliable grid for homes and businesses statewide.
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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: A waist of time (Thank you Kourtney Z. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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