Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Recognize this man seen cutting an internet cable on West Miller?
Spotted on the Springfield calendar: Springfield Oyster & Beer Festival
Good morning Springfield! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Recognize this man seen cutting an internet cable on West Miller?
- How Springfield schools are tightening AI, cyberbullying, and cellphone rules this year
- How a single water main break upended downtown Springfield overnight
Today's riddle: What did the tree say when Spring arrived? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Friday: Mostly sunny and delightful, with a high of 83 and low of 61 degrees.
- Saturday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 85, low: 67.
- Sunday: Hot with partial sunshine, with a high of 91 and low of 72 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
📰 News we're reading
1. Crime of the Week: Help needed identifying suspected cable-cutter (capitolcitynow.com) — Springfield police and Crime Stoppers are asking for help identifying a man who allegedly cut an internet cable from a utility pole in the 700 block of West Miller on July 30. If you recognize the white male seen tampering with wires around 5:30 p.m., you can submit an anonymous tip by phone, online, or through the P3 app for a possible cash reward. 
2. Local schools adapting to new state technology guidelines (newschannel20.com) — Springfield School District 186 is tightening how it handles cyberbullying and student phone use under new Illinois laws and statewide AI guidelines. Local leaders stress teaching "digital citizenship," warning students and parents about AI-generated explicit images and emphasizing that AI should support, not replace, real classroom work and relationships. Nearby Williamsville-Sherman schools are adopting similar rules and parent partnerships.
3. Water main break floods downtown Springfield streets (sj-r.com) — A major water main break in downtown Springfield flooded Monroe Street, cut power to hundreds of CWLP customers, and lowered water pressure from Enos Park to Lanphier High School. Several local businesses, including Dumb Records, Gallina's Pizza, The Bus Stop bar, and the Kidzeum, suffered flooding or closures as city crews and Mayor Misty Buscher assessed damage and began overnight repairs.
4. SMMC News & Events Blog (uillinois.edu) — Students in Springfield can build real-world money skills through FIN 514, a graduate personal financial planning course at the University of Illinois Springfield that focuses on creating comprehensive financial plans. The blog also outlines similar personal finance classes in Urbana and Chicago, encouraging students across the system to plan ahead for future semesters and seek out financial education opportunities.
5. Catholic church obtains injunction against assisted suicide law (wandtv.com) — A federal judge has temporarily blocked Illinois' new physician-assisted suicide law after a request led by Bishop Thomas Paprocki of the Catholic Diocese of Springfield. The order shields Springfield-based Catholic hospital systems from being required to provide information or referrals that conflict with church teaching. The injunction, agreed to by the state, lasts while the case proceeds.
📸 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
- Girls JV Volleyball
Springfield High School 1501 E Plummer Blvd, Chatham IL 62629
4:30 pm - Baseball vs. Henry
John F Kennedy Elem School JFK
4:30 pm - Boys Varsity Soccer @ Wesclin High School
Springfield High School 2600 W Main Street, Belleville Illinois 62226
5:30 pm - Boys Varsity Football vs East Peoria High School
Lanphier High School 1300 N 11th, Springfield IL 62702
7:00 pm - Boys Varsity Football vs Mascoutah High School
Springfield Southeast High Sch 2350 E Ash St, Springfield Illinois 62703-3398
7:00 pm - Boys Varsity Football @ Collinsville High School
Springfield High School 2201 S Morrison Ave, Collinsville Illinois 62234
7:00 pm - Girls Varsity Volleyball @ Glenwood High School
Springfield High School 1501 E Plummer Blvd, Chatham IL 62629
7:30 pm - Boys Varsity Golf @ Edwardsville High School
Springfield High School 6161 Center Grove Rd, Edwardsville IL 62025
8:30 am - Open House at the Early Learning Center
Early Learning Center Springfield, IL 62704
12:15 pm
Friday August 28
Saturday August 29
Monday August 31
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
- Hi everyone!
I'm new to the neighborhood and excited to settle in. I'm a friendly animal lover with a soft spot for horses—especially horse adoption and I care… (Nextdoor Rochester Rd) - September 19, 2026 We are having our Fayette Block party.
This is our first, and I'm looking forward for everyone to come together and truly enjoy the experience of neighbors supporting each other… (Nextdoor Vinegar Hill)
- #OTD in 1818, Illinois passed its first Constitution. The date is featured on the seal of the Illinois Supreme Court. This is the third seal in the... (X: illinoiscourts)
- We're recognizing the work of trial court administrators across the state. Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit Trial Court Administrator Dan Wallis shares... (X: illinoiscourts)
- ImpactLife posted a job opening for Distribution Associate in Springfield. Apply here.
- Hy-Vee Supermarket posted a job opening for Frozen Clerk 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: What a re-leaf! (Thank you Flo G. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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