🌱 How a new grant just saved a key Freeport kids’ art program

Good day Freeport! We're here again with what you need to know today. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How a new grant just saved a key Freeport kids’ art program
• Why a Freeport lawmaker’s housing “solution” is drawing fierce regional backlash

Also on today's calendar: Hononegah Girls Varsity Basketball @ Freeport and 5 more events.

Today's riddle: What did one tuna say to the other after getting caught stealing files from work? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
Today's Freeport Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. Everyone deserves to be connected. That's why T-Mobile and UScellular have joined forces to connect people from big cities to small towns and everywhere in between. UScellular is now a part of T-Mobile. Find out more at T-Mobile.com/Better-Together.
Find a T-Mobile store near Freeport.

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Cloudy and very cold, with a high of 23 and low of 14 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Friday: Very cold with a few flurries, temps: high: 24, low: -1.
• Saturday: Frigid with snow and flurries, with a high of 4 and low of -8 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• A grant keeps Freeport Art Museum's after school program running (mystateline.com) — Freeport families can look forward to the smArt after-school art program continuing this spring, thanks to a $28,750 grant from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois. The Freeport Art Museum’s program serves about 300 kids each semester, partnering with the Boys and Girls Club of Freeport and the YMCA to give students a safe, creative space beyond the school day.
   

• Rockford area legislator suggests deportation to solve housing crisis (journalstandard.com) — A Freeport-based state senator sparked controversy by suggesting mass deportation of undocumented immigrants as a way to ease the housing crunch, arguing it would free up homes and lower costs. Other northern Illinois lawmakers and local officials at a regional panel strongly rejected the idea, instead calling for more construction, rehab of vacant properties, and policy changes to expand housing supply across the Rockford–Freeport area.
   

📸 Around Freeport

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 Freeport

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Friday December 12

• Snowman Paint Night
  Lucky Pines Pub House & Gaming, 5040 US-20 BUS, Freeport
  6:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday December 11

• Holiday Spectacular
  Freeport High School Freeport, IL 61032
  7:00 pm

Friday December 12

• Hononegah Girls Varsity Basketball @ Freeport
  Freeport High School , 701 W Moseley St , Freeport
  7:15 pm

Saturday December 13

• PAWS to Read
  Freeport Public Library , 100 E. Douglas St. , Freeport
  11:00 am
• Storytime with Santa and Mrs. Claus
  Freeport Public Library , 100 E. Douglas St. , Freeport
  2:00 pm
• Christmas Wizards: A Night of TSO
  Masonic Event Center , 305 W Stephenson St , Freeport
  6:00 pm
• Pet Adoption Fair in Freeport
  966 W Rudy Rd , Freeport
  6:00 pm

Monday December 15

• Babies and Books
  Freeport Public Library , 100 E. Douglas St. , Freeport
  10:15 am

📣 Freeport 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

Thursday December 11

• Pokemon Club
  Freeport Public Library , 100 E. Douglas St. , Freeport
  5:30 pm

Saturday December 13

• EPC Speech @ Rochelle
  Rochelle Township High School , 1401 E Flagg Rd , Rochelle
  8:00 am
• PAWS to Read
  Freeport Public Library , 100 E. Douglas St. , Freeport
  11:00 am
• Storytime with Santa and Mrs. Claus
  Freeport Public Library , 100 E. Douglas St. , Freeport
  2:00 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

• New to this app, just asking if anyone's seen Fred?
  He's been missing nearly 2 months. I keep doing weekly checks at the humane society and vet. No luck, neither have admitted him. (Nextdoor West Clark)
• With Winter here and snow falling many people are noticing leaks coming from their Roof due to the snow.
  If that's you give me a call 815-618-5731. We can come by price your Roof out for a full replacement in the Spring and do a repair to get you through… (Nextdoor Freeport/Lancaster Twnshp)

• City of Highland, IL posted a job opening for Custodian in Freeport. Apply here.
• Freeport School District 145 posted a job opening for Diving Coach - Girls High School in Freeport. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Freeport here.

🗞 Nearby News

Winnebago

• Winnebago Co. Sheriff's Office to hold ‘Shop with a Cop' and ‘Fill the Bus' events (wifr.com)
• FOIA request sent to Winnebago County regarding new contracts on December 10, 2025 (rockfordsun.com)
• Rockford area basketball scores from Tuesday, December 9, 2025 (mystateline.com)

Byron

Ok Freeport! 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: I could get canned for this!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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