Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How a new internship could change how Springfield’s Council gets work done
Coming up on the Springfield Patch calendar: Fall Classics: It's A Wonderful Life 2025
Coffee in hand, Springfield? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How a new internship could change how Springfield’s Council gets work done
- Why was the petition against the East Division megaproject thrown out?
- How a Springfield towing owner’s new guilty plea could impact residents
Also on today's calendar: Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings and 7 more events.
Find out what's happening in Springfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Today's riddle: What did the boat dock say when it was arrested? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner
Today's Springfield 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 Springfield.
Find out what's happening in Springfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Saturday: Considerable cloudiness, with a high of 45 and low of 10 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
- Sunday: Mostly sunny and colder, temps: high: 26, low: 18.
- Monday: Not as cold, with a high of 46 and low of 30 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Committee advances City Council internship program (sgfcitizen.org) — Springfield City Council is moving forward with a dedicated internship program that would place paid student interns in the City Clerk’s Office to support council research and transparency work. If approved in January, the semester-based pilot could start with one or two interns, partnering with local universities and giving students hands-on experience in Springfield’s council‑manager system while helping unpaid council members manage their workload. 
2. Petition against huge East Division development deemed insufficient (sgfcitizen.org) — Springfield’s City Clerk has ruled a petition against the massive East Division Street housing development insufficient, leaving the City Council’s rezoning approval in place for now. Neighbors in and around Bristol Park and Cooper Estates worry about density, traffic, and representation, especially those just outside city limits who couldn’t legally sign the petition despite living next to the project.
3. Former owner of Affordable Towing in Springfield pleads guilty to new charges on Friday (ky3.com) — A former Springfield towing company owner has admitted to new federal charges involving mail fraud, identity theft, and money laundering tied to vehicle titles handled through his local businesses. He previously served time for directing employees to tamper with emissions controls on diesel tow trucks operating in and around Springfield. A judge will sentence him on the latest charges at a later date.
4. Eden Village hosts free drive-thru Christmas light display in Springfield (ky3.com) — A new free drive-thru Christmas light display is open this weekend and next at Eden Village 2 on West Brower Street in Springfield, with donations supporting the nonprofit’s work. Visitors can enjoy the lights from their cars, then stop by Eden Village 1’s Christmas Market and Open House on Saturday afternoon to learn more about the community.
5. Missouri athletes navigate new pressures as sports betting enters second week (ky3.com) — Missouri State Lady Bears players in Springfield say legal sports betting is adding new pressure from fans and online commenters, even as they prepare to host Arkansas at Great Southern Bank Arena. MSU officials emphasize mental health counseling and security support for athletes, while players urge Springfield-area fans to remember they’re students and neighbors first, not just parts of a wager.
📸 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!
★ Featured events ★
- Fall Classics: It’s A Wonderful Life 2025
Gillioz Theatre, 325 Park Central E, Springfield
2:00 pm
Sunday December 14
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Chanukah on the Square
Springfield, MO Calendar , Park Central Square 100 Park Central Square , Springfield - Santa's Wonderland Ice Rink
Springfield, MO Calendar , Bass Pro 1 Bass Pro Drive , Springfield
10:00 am - Ahren Belisle
Springfield Improv , 1300 W Poplar St , Springfield
7:00 pm - Chanukah on the Square
Springfield, MO Calendar , Park Central Square 100 Park Central Square , Springfield - STI Clinic Walk-in hours
Springfield, MO Calendar , 227 E. Chestnut Expressway , Springfield
8:00 am - Santa's Wonderland Ice Rink
Springfield, MO Calendar , Bass Pro 1 Bass Pro Drive , Springfield
10:00 am - December Food Handler Safety School
Springfield, MO Calendar , 2535 N Kansas Expy , Springfield
2:00 pm - Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings
Stone Chapel , Springfield
6:30 pm - Candlelight: Queen vs. ABBA
Stone Chapel at Drury University Drury University Springfield, Missouri 65802
8:45 pm
Sunday December 14
Monday December 15
Friday December 19
Sunday December 21
📣 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
- Snow Storytime
Ozark Community Branch Library , 1005 N 4th Ave , Ozark
10:00 am - SELF CARE SATURDAY SOUND BATH
Lavish Sound , 7342 W Farm Rd 170 b , Republic
10:30 am - Reindeer at the Farm
Cassidy Flower Co. at Estes Farms , 5176 N Fremont Rd , Nixa
12:00 pm - December Symphony
Juanita K. Hammons Hall , 901 S National Ave , Springfield
2:00 pm
Saturday December 13
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
- Please share & repost to help reunite this lost cat!
Lizzy was LOST on December 10, 2025 in Springfield, MO 65809 near Woodside, Near E. Battlefield & 65 Hwy Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest… (Nextdoor Ozark Highlands) - I lost the kitty love of my life Tuesday.
I just have to thank The Traveling Vet for their kindness, support, and compassion. I held my baby while she passed, and I will miss her so much with… (Nextdoor Mark Twain)
- Willard clarifies the parks department will face budget cuts, no closure... (X: kytv)
- FREE TO ALL READERS: A referendum petition seeking to repeal the ordinance that authorized the rezoning for a controversial housing development... (X: sgfcitizen)
- Penske posted a job opening for Service Booking Agent in Springfield. Apply here.
- The Reserves Network, Inc. posted a job opening for Purchasing Assistant 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 demand a jury of my piers.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
👉 Help make Patch AM better
- Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
- Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
- List items for sale or services offered
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
