🌱 Patch AM: What Springfield’s new transit hub could mean for your daily commute

Hello again Springfield! We’re bringing you the latest town highlights. Don’t miss out, keep going! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• What Springfield’s new transit hub could mean for your daily commute
• How Kidzeum’s STEAM camp is turning after-school time into discovery
• How 21 new state troopers just launched their careers in Springfield

Today's riddle: Playing golf is bad for your brain. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Mostly sunny and chilly, with a high of 30 and low of 21 degrees.
• Friday: Times of clouds and sun, temps: high: 33, low: 23.
• Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high of 38 and low of 22 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Coffey joins beam signing at Sangamon County Transit Center construction (sangamonsun.com) — Springfield residents are seeing progress on the new Sangamon County Transit Center, with lawmakers, including State Rep. Mike Coffey, celebrating a beam-signing milestone and ongoing construction. The transportation hub, tied to the city’s rail relocation effort, is expected to boost visitor traffic to Springfield and strengthen the local and statewide economy once completed.
   

2. Highlights in education from 2025 (wandtv.com) — Families in Springfield can look to the Kidzeum’s after-school STEAM camp as a hands-on way for kids to explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math, one topic each weekday. The story also spotlights other Central Illinois STEM programs, underscoring how regional schools and museums are working to make learning more engaging for children.
   

3. 21 new troopers graduate, join Illinois State Police (jg-tc.com) — Twenty-one new Illinois State Police troopers have just graduated at the ISP Academy in Springfield, adding fresh officers who may soon be serving communities across the region. The ceremony, held December 19, marked the completion of Cadet Class 151’s training alongside top state police leadership and coordinators at the Springfield facility.
   

4. Local hospitals release visitor restrictions amidst flu surge (wandtv.com) — If you’re planning to visit someone at Springfield Memorial Hospital, be prepared for new temporary visitor limits due to a surge in flu, COVID, and other respiratory illnesses. Adult-only visitors, two-at-a-time rules, and strong masking encouragement now apply there and at other nearby Memorial hospitals to better protect vulnerable patients this winter.
   

5. Around the 217: WAND's year in local stories (wandtv.com) — Springfield gets several spotlights in WAND’s “Around the 217” series, from Irish comfort food and horseshoes at Darcy’s Pint to meticulous repairs at the Springfield Clock Shop and exhibits at the Illinois State Museum. The yearlong tour also highlights Decatur museums, Allerton Park, a Dawson miniature ranch, and New Berlin’s Danenberger Family Vineyard as distinctive Central Illinois destinations.
   

📸 Around Springfield

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• PLEASE HELP!!
  We still have not found Georgie yet!! He is big (12lbs 8oz), grey, sweet, lovable, and has his left ear tipped. We really miss our kitty. Please help… (Nextdoor Laketown)
• Found a Greenlight card on my driveway.
  If your last name is Sykes (or you know someone with that name) can you message me? (Nextdoor Orendorff)

• Premium Retail Services, Inc. posted a job opening for Seasonal Walmart Merchandiser in Springfield. Apply here.
• Illinois Staffing posted a job opening for Seasonal Retail Stocking Associate - Part Time 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 just heard a golfer say he had four strokes on the first hole!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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