🌱 Patch AM: How a 3% hotel tax could reshape downtown Springfield’s future.

Hey hey Springfield! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How a 3% hotel tax could reshape downtown Springfield's future.
• How can Springfield residents tune into Thursday's State Board of Health meeting?
• How did a Springfield anthem performance become a viral baseball moment?

Today's riddle: What did the bartender say to the jumper cables when they walked in? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Very hot, with a high of 98 and low of 76 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
• Thursday: Near-record temperatures, temps: high: 98, low: 75.
• Friday: A couple of morning t-storms, with a high of 100 and low of 73 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Sangamon County votes on 3% hotel motel tax for BOS project (newschannel20.com) — Sangamon County leaders are weighing a new 3% hotel-motel tax to keep the BOS Center expansion and attached downtown Springfield hotel project alive after state funding fell through. Supporters say larger conventions could pump millions into local businesses, while others want the tax to end once construction is fully paid off. The county board meets at 6 p.m. to vote.
   

2. State Board of Health (illinois.gov) — A State Board of Health meeting is set for Thursday, Sept. 3, with options to join online or from Illinois Department of Public Health offices in Springfield and Chicago. Springfield residents can attend virtually or note the 524 South Second Street office as a viewing location, giving locals a way to follow statewide health decisions that may affect local services.
   

3. Motown Icon's National Anthem Performance Goes Terribly Wrong (suggest.com) — A much-discussed national anthem performance unfolded right here at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, where Motown legend Martha Reeves struggled through a rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" alongside off-key backup singers. Fans, players, and online viewers reacted with disbelief and humor, while Reeves later explained sound issues and emphasized her support for the new women's pro baseball league.
   

4. Springfield's ALPLM receives letter written by Lincoln's wife regarding Tad and geography (capitolcitynow.com) — Springfield's Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum has received a newly donated 1868 letter from Mary Todd Lincoln, apologizing to son Tad's teacher for his unfinished geography homework. The intimate note offers Springfield visitors and residents a fresh glimpse into the Lincoln family's everyday struggles after the president's assassination, further enriching the city's already deep Lincoln heritage.
   

5. Glenwood's Reagan Littrell electrifies in volleyball win (sj-r.com) — Springfield-area high school athletes delivered standout performances this week, highlighted by Chatham Glenwood libero Reagan Littrell's milestone 1,000th dig and a gritty three-set volleyball win over Sacred Heart-Griffin. Springfield High's Lucy Ambrose and several soccer standouts from Jacksonville, Carlinville, Williamsville, and others also earned mentions as conference and tournament play heats up around the capital region.
   

📸 Around Springfield

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Springfield

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday September 5
• Springfield Oyster & Beer Festival →
  Inn At 835 Boutique Hotel, 835 S 2nd St, Springfield
  12:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday September 3
• Pre-K Family Night
  Ball Elementary School , 1015 New City Rd, Chatham, IL 62629, U
  6:00 pm
Monday September 7
• Labor Day - No School
  Ball-Chatham CUSD 5 201 W. Mulberry, Chatham, IL 62629

📣 Springfield Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Wednesday September 2
• Girls Freshman Volleyball @ Peoria High School
  Springfield High School 1615 N North St, Peoria Illinois 61604-4199
  4:00 pm
• Middle School Baseball Vs Plains (A-GAME)
  U S Grant Middle School 3751 Imagineer Dr, Springfield, IL 62704, USA
  4:30 pm
• Girls JV Volleyball @ Peoria High School
  Springfield High School 1615 N North St, Peoria Illinois 61604-4199
  5:00 pm
• Girls Varsity Volleyball @ Peoria Manual High School
  Springfield Southeast High Sch 811 S Griswold St, Peoria IL 61605
  5:00 pm
• Girls Varsity Volleyball @ Peoria High School
  Springfield High School 1615 N North St, Peoria Illinois 61604-4199
  6:00 pm
Thursday September 3
• Boys Varsity Golf @ Lincoln H. S.
  Springfield Southeast High Sch 1000 Primm Rd, Lincoln IL 62656-3198
  4:00 pm
• Boys JV Soccer vs Peoria Notre Dame High School
  Springfield High School 1201 Bunn St, Springfield, IL 62703, Springfield Illinois 627
  4:30 pm
• Softball SRC Tournament at Peru
  John F Kennedy Elem School Peru
  4:30 pm
• Middle School Baseball vs Glenwood
  U S Grant Middle School 3751 Imagineer Dr, Springfield, IL 62704, USA
  4:30 pm

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

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Springfield labor leader Bob Guy named Grand Marshal of historic Galesburg Labor Day Parade —Nicole Andas Read on Patch

• What a helpful person.
  Matt at the Rug Rack made up for all the negative answers to calls -including hospitals, with his upbeat advice plus having reasonable prices and… (Nextdoor Leland Grove)
• We are in need of the insulated packaging that comes with the Farmer's Dog food when delivered to a person's house.
  We want to use the insulation that comes in the container to insulate boxes for feral cats to have winter shelter. (Nextdoor Northgate)

• Beyond the Bench is a monthly feature to get to know more about judges and justices in Illinois, beyond their legal duties. This month features... (X: illinoiscourts)
• City council is set to debate a $ million renewal for police technology on Sept. 1....... (X: SJRbreaking)

• Niemann Foods, Inc. posted a job opening for County Market Bagger in Springfield. Apply here.
• Teleperformance USA posted a job opening for Payroll Tax Processor - Remote 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: Don't you 2 start anything (Thank you Mary L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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