🌱 Patch AM: What new enrollment data reveals about Springfield’s American Indian students

Good morning Springfield! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• What new enrollment data reveals about Springfield’s American Indian students
• How UIS athletes are reshaping what “winning” means in Springfield.
• Which Springfield businesses are getting upgrades and new construction this month?

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

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Springfield? Post it to Springfield photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: The doctor told me to drink carrot juice after a hot bath. - Did it help? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Freezing fog in the morning, with a high of 38 and low of 36 degrees.
• Thursday: Rain and a t-storm; breezy, temps: high: 52, low: 15. ⛄️ Brr!
• Friday: Colder with periods of sun, with a high of 33 and low of 28 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. 31 American Indian students enrolled in school districts in 2024-25 school year (sangamonsun.com) — Springfield School District 186 now enrolls all 31 American Indian students attending Sangamon County public schools in 2024–25, a notable increase from last year. The report breaks down how this small but growing group fits into countywide demographics and comes as Illinois boosts K–12 funding, information that may shape local conversations about representation and resources in Springfield schools.
   

2. Just win? At UIS, success runs deeper (illinoistimes.com) — University of Illinois Springfield athletics leaders say winning matters, but they’re emphasizing academics, community service, and youth engagement as the real measures of success for Springfield’s only NCAA Division II program. From top conference performances to school partnerships and service projects helping residents in need, UIS athletes are working to strengthen ties across Springfield while expanding opportunities, including a new women’s flag football team in 2027.
   

3. Building permits – Dec. 8 to Dec. 14 (springfieldbusinessjournal.com) — Springfield residents can see where new commercial activity is happening, with fresh building and remodel permits issued for spots like Wabash Avenue, Taylor Avenue, MacArthur Boulevard, and Prairie Crossing Drive. From retail upgrades to new construction, these projects hint at ongoing investment across several busy corridors.
   

4. Uber driver attacked and carjacked in Springfield; suspect arrested (newschannel20.com) — Springfield police have arrested a 24-year-old local man accused of attacking and carjacking an Uber driver at Durkin Drive and Lawrence Avenue last month. The driver was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, and detectives secured an arrest warrant for multiple robbery and hijacking charges before taking the suspect into custody at Sangamon County Jail.
   

5. Springfield group makes thousands of sandwiches each week for community (wandtv.com) — A volunteer group in Springfield is turning peanut butter and jelly into thousands of meals for hungry neighbors every week, delivering to 13 local shelters and pantries. PBJ Springfield now mobilizes community donations and weekly sandwich-making sessions at Brinkerhoff Mansion, recently hitting a record 5,000 sandwiches in one week to support unhoused and food-insecure residents.
   

📸 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!

Saturday December 20

• The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Springfield, IL
  Maldaner's Restaurant , 222 S 6th St , Springfield
  6:00 pm

Monday December 22

• Walk-in Volunteer Interviews
  2815 Old Jacksonville Rd. #201
  9:00 am

Saturday December 27

• The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Springfield, IL
  Maldaners Banquet Hall , 222 S 6th St , Springfield
  6:00 pm

📣 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

Wednesday December 17

• Bite Into a Good Book Club
  Chatham Area Public Library District , 600 E Spruce St , Chatham
  12:00 pm
• The Fiber Circle
  Chatham Area Public Library District , 600 E Spruce St , Chatham
  6:00 pm
• JH/HS Band/Choir Concert HS Gym
  HS Gym New Berlin, IL 62670
  6:00 pm
• Paint with Ashley Blake “Gnome for the Holidays” Paint Night
  The Tap Room , 104 E Mulberry St , Chatham
  6:30 pm

Friday December 19

• Mobile Branch at Meijer
  Meijer , 4200 Conestoga Dr , Springfield
  9:00 am
• NBE Gingerbread Houses
  New Berlin CUSD 16 New Berlin, IL 62670
  1:00 pm
• Weekly Card and Board Games
  Chatham Area Public Library District , 600 E Spruce St , Chatham
  1:00 pm

Saturday December 20

• Kapital Sound
  Curve Inn , 3219 S 6th St , Southern View
  6:00 pm
• Kapital Sound at the Curve
  Curve Inn , 3219 S 6th St , Southern View
  6:00 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

• Opinion: Illinois Faces a Choice: Protect Disability Care Progress or Slip Backward —Nicole Andas Read on Patch

• A Christmas gift I was able to find for my sister at Prairie Archives.
  My sister is a music teacher, and when I saw the old operetta, I figured it would be a perfect gift. This piece is from 1888. It's amazing that… (Nextdoor Grandview Ave/Wolfe St)
• Looking for a good home for a sweet male pit, has his shots and is fixed.
  Good with other dods and kids, would love to find him a good home by Christmas. Please help (Nextdoor North of Washington Park)

• The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) today released the following statement regarding a new study () by the Illinois Power... (X: IMA_Today)
• Students in the #UISedu Illinois Legislative Staff Intern Program (ILSIP) met with Illinois @GovPritzker today at the State Capitol. The program... (X: UISedu)

• Wal-Mart posted a job opening for Stocking Team Associate in Springfield. Apply here.
• Sam's Club posted a job opening for Meat Cutter and Wrapper 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 don’t know. I can never finish drinking the hot bath!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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