Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How a Springfield neighbor just rose to a top agriculture post

Also check out First Night Springfield on the Springfield Patch calendar

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

In today's newsletter:

  • How a Springfield neighbor just rose to a top agriculture post
  • How many Springfield families needed food help this holiday season?
  • Want to stand inches from Lincoln’s signed Emancipation Proclamation?

Also on today's calendar: The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Springfield, IL.

Find out what's happening in Springfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: How many sheep does it take to make a sweater? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Springfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Saturday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 57 and low of 55 degrees.
  • Sunday: Rain; breezy in the afternoon, temps: high: 69, low: 15. ⛄️ Brr!
  • Monday: Sunny, windy and much colder, with a high of 27 and low of 15 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Springfield resident tapped as ag department assistant director (myjournalcourier.com) — A Springfield resident, Kristi Jones, has been appointed assistant director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture, pending state Senate confirmation. Living in Springfield with her family and holding a master’s from University of Illinois Springfield, she’s led initiatives supporting local food systems, animal disease preparedness, and disadvantaged farmers, positioning her as an influential voice for agriculture policy in the capital.
   

2. Local groups tackle year-round hunger with holiday efforts (newschannel20.com) — Springfield’s Salvation Army and Central Illinois Foodbank are ramping up holiday food distributions while stressing that hunger persists long after the season ends. Both groups report rising demand, rely heavily on volunteers, and welcome donations and volunteer help year-round from Springfield and surrounding communities to keep families fed.
   

3. See Lincoln's signed Emancipation Proclamation in Springfield now (sj-r.com) — Springfield residents can currently see a rare, signed copy of the Emancipation Proclamation at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum downtown, on display through February 3. The special exhibit, open through April 26, also features iconic Lincoln artifacts and ties into a national initiative inviting visitors to weigh this document’s importance against other key records in American history.
   

4. Liver disease among causes of alcohol-related deaths in parts of Illinois (wixy.com) — From Springfield, state health officials are spotlighting a new Illinois Department of Public Health report that tracks how much adults drink and how alcohol contributes to deaths, including liver disease. The data show big regional differences, with the Peoria region leading in alcohol-related liver disease deaths, and the IDPH director urging more education over new criminal penalties.
   

5. IL SOS Giannoulias Unveils 2025 Rejected License Plates (effinghamradio.com) — From Springfield, the Illinois Secretary of State’s office has released its 2025 list of rejected vanity and personalized license plates, flagging more than 550 ideas as offensive or unreadable. The report highlights how reviewers screen for lewd language, hate speech, and hard-to-read combinations, while noting that nearly 800,000 vehicles statewide now sport customized plates.
   

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Merry Christmas!
    Anybody know of any restaurants that are open today? Cant trust Google hours lol (Nextdoor Keys)
  • We got hit again.
    They got into our car and rummaged through our center console. Here is the kick. We got the face of the culprit running away from our car. If you… (Nextdoor Iles Park)
  • Illinois Staffing posted a job opening for Clerical Representative Cash Management in Springfield. Apply here.
  • Sangamon ROE Online Application Consortium posted a job opening for Substitute Custodian 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: I have no idea. I didn’t even know sheep could knit.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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