Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How badly did Monroe Street’s water main break hit downtown businesses?
And check out Springfield Oyster & Beer Festival on the Springfield Patch calendar

Coffee in hand, Springfield? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How badly did Monroe Street's water main break hit downtown businesses?
- Will Springfield's hotel tax jump to one of Illinois' highest?
- Springfield man charged after alleged knife threat over a $10 dispute
Today's riddle: What gets bigger the more you take away? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Sunday: Hot with partial sunshine, with a high of 90 and low of 68 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
- Monday: Partly sunny and hot, temps: high: 95, low: 71.
- Tuesday: Sunny and sweltering heat, with a high of 98 and low of 74 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Downtown Springfield businesses reel from significant water main break (sj-r.com) — A major water main break under Monroe Street has flooded parts of downtown Springfield, damaging several businesses, cutting power for dozens of customers, and threatening the future of longtime pizzeria Joe Gallina's. City crews and CWLP are working on repairs while officials emphasize aging infrastructure, and downtown leaders are urging residents to keep supporting affected shops and restaurants as they clean up and assess losses.
![]()
2. Springfield hotel group opposes new 3% tax for BOS Center project (wandtv.com) — A proposed 3% hotel-motel tax to help fund a major BOS Center expansion is headed to a Sangamon County Board vote Tuesday, and Springfield hotel owners are urging a delay. The Springfield Hotel & Lodging Association says the increase would create one of Illinois' highest hotel tax rates and wants more public review, while county leaders argue quick action is needed to control construction costs and attract larger conventions.
![]()
3. Man arrested for home invasion, criminal trespass, assault (newschannel20.com) — Springfield Police arrested 62-year-old Thomas L. Mapp after a reported disturbance at an East Washington Street apartment where witnesses say he forced his way in, argued over $10, grabbed a kitchen knife, and threatened to stab the resident. Officers recovered a knife from the couch cushions and, based on multiple statements, charged Mapp with home invasion, criminal trespass, and aggravated assault.
![]()
4. Agreed-to injunction filed in lawsuit filed by Springfield Bishop, among others, against state's new assisted suicide law (capitolcitynow.com) — A federal judge has approved a temporary restraining order in a lawsuit involving Springfield Catholic Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, several doctors, and a nursing home challenging Illinois' new assisted suicide law. For now, the order limits how medical providers can be required to share information about end-of-life procedures, reflecting concerns from local Catholic leaders and physicians about being compelled to participate against their beliefs.
![]()
5. Legislation Signed Into Law Makes It Easier To Get Prescriptions Filled (effinghamradio.com) — A new Illinois law backed by Springfield State Senator Steve McClure is designed to make it easier to get prescriptions filled when a pharmacy is out of stock. The measure lets more prescriptions be transferred electronically between pharmacies and aligns state rules with federal law, aiming to prevent residents from missing critical medications and to simplify after-hours prescribing.
![]()
📸 Around Springfield
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 ★
- Springfield Oyster & Beer Festival →
Inn At 835 Boutique Hotel, 835 S 2nd St, Springfield
12:00 pm
Saturday September 5
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Pre-K Family Night
Ball Elementary School , 1015 New City Rd, Chatham, IL 62629, U
6:00 pm - Labor Day - No School
Ball-Chatham CUSD 5 201 W. Mulberry, Chatham, IL 62629
Thursday September 3
Monday September 7
📣 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
- Open House at the Early Learning Center
Early Learning Center Springfield, IL 62704
12:15 pm - Girls JV Tennis vs Sacred Heart-griffin High School
Springfield High School 101 S Lewis St, Springfield Illinois 62704-1899
4:15 pm - Softball vs. Midland
John F Kennedy Elem School JFK
4:30 pm - Middle School Baseball Vs Lincoln Jr High
U S Grant Middle School 3751 Imagineer Dr, Springfield, IL 62704, USA
4:30 pm - Boys Sophomore Football @ Collinsville High School
Springfield High School 2201 S Morrison Ave, Collinsville Illinois 62234
6:00 pm - Boys JV Football vs East Peoria High School
Lanphier High School 1300 N 11th, Springfield IL 62702
6:00 pm - Boys Sophomore Football vs East Peoria High School
Lanphier High School 1300 N 11th, Springfield IL 62702
7:00 pm - Boys Varsity Golf @ Springfield High School
Springfield Southeast High Sch 101 S Lewis St, Springfield Illinois 62704-1899
4:00 pm - Boys Varsity Golf vs Glenwood High School
Springfield High School 101 S Lewis St, Springfield Illinois 62704-1899
4:00 pm
Monday August 31
Tuesday September 1
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
- Going through some stuff in the house tonight.
I had to dig stuff out of the closet and pulled out some of the paintings that are all crammed in there. (Nextdoor Grandview Ave/Wolfe St) - This dingy-looking black book is a drawing book I bought in 2016.
This was actually the first time I drew a children's story about my first dog, Sierra. The story was 36 pages when I finished, but i never published… (Nextdoor Grandview Ave/Wolfe St)
- Springfield water main break floods downtown... (X: SJRbreaking)
- Each year, the Commission on Professionalism partners with Illinois law schools to host a new student orientation, welcoming them to the profession... (X: illinoiscourts)
- Long John Silver's, LLC posted a job opening for Team Member in Springfield. Apply here.
- Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. posted a job opening for Inventory Control Associate (Seasonal) 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: A hole (Thank you Netty W. 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.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.