Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: What Springfield’s existing lift assist fee means as a new law begins

Coming up: Walk-in Volunteer Interviews on the Springfield Patch calendar

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Sunday December 21st Patch AM
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Cheers Springfield! We’re back, helping you stay up to date with what’s happening. Let's take on the day together! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • What Springfield’s existing lift assist fee means as a new law begins
  • What Springfield’s budget talks could mean for your school’s funding
  • How Springfield’s ISP academy just added 21 new troopers statewide

Also on today's calendar: Walk-in Volunteer Interviews.

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

Today's riddle: What did the balloon say to the doctor? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

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

  • Sunday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 38 and low of 28 degrees.
  • Monday: Periods of sun, temps: high: 46, low: 40.
  • Tuesday: Periods of sun, with a high of 54 and low of 37 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. IL municipalities, fire districts can charge lift assist fees for congregate care facilities starting Jan. 1 (wandtv.com) — Springfield residents should know the city already charges lift assist fees to congregate care facilities, and a new state law will let every Illinois municipality and fire district do the same starting January 1. The fees, aimed at frequent calls from assisted living and nursing homes, must reflect actual personnel and equipment costs and won’t apply to private homes or medical emergencies.
   

2. Illinois Education officials brace for lean fiscal year ahead (wqad.com) — From Springfield, state education leaders are warning that next year’s K‑12 funding boost will likely be modest despite growing needs. With flat revenue forecasts and other state priorities competing for dollars, officials say even maintaining current support for transportation, special education, and meal programs will require more money, shaping what local districts can expect in 2026‑27.
   

3. ISP Welcomes New Troopers Of Cadet Class 151 (riverbender.com) — A new class of 21 Illinois State Police troopers just graduated at the ISP Academy in Springfield and will report to posts around the state this weekend. The lateral-entry officers completed 11 weeks of academy work here plus 14 weeks of field training, and will now begin solo patrols after mentoring with field training officers.
   

4. Too Good for Drugs program earns statewide recognition in Illinois (sj-r.com) — A Springfield-based Family Guidance Center is being honored alongside Williamsville Junior High’s principal for their “Too Good for Drugs” program, which brings free, research-based prevention lessons into classrooms. The statewide award recognizes how their partnership builds students’ decision-making and substance-abuse resistance skills, with plans to keep the program embedded in the school’s health curriculum for years to come.
   

5. Ukrainian national pleads guilty to Nefilim ransomware attacks (cyberscoop.com) — A major international ransomware operator has pleaded guilty, and the FBI’s Springfield field office is highlighting how agents here helped track his digital trail. While the case targets global cybercriminals, it underscores that investigators based in Springfield are deeply involved in protecting U.S. companies from multimillion‑dollar online extortion schemes.
   

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Hello everyone I'm in the Springfield area.
    Ive been a foster parent to stray/ community cats since the summer usually around 6-8 cats daily. I make shelters for cats for free. If you have… (Nextdoor Rochester Rd)
  • Found dog at 12:30 running around at MacArthur and Isles.
    Please message me I can’t take her to my house we can’t have pets (Nextdoor Stratford Place)
  • 𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐎𝐈𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐒 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐓 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐒 𝟏𝟓𝟏 𝐈𝐒𝐏 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟕𝟎𝟎 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟗 𝐒𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐅𝐈𝐄𝐋𝐃 – The Illinois State Police... (X: ILStatePolice)
  • We hosted some students from Western Illinois University last week to discuss what FBI Springfield does in the local area, some cases, and some job... (X: FBISpringfield)
  • Hilton posted a job opening for Hotel Maintenance - President Abraham Lincoln Springfield- a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Springfield. Apply here.
  • Walmart posted a job opening for Stocking Team Associate 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 feel lightheaded!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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