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Good morning, Springfield! In today’s edition: Cats’ Pyjamas Cat Cafe nonprofit shift, the first baby of 2026, the Harlem Globetrotters 100 year tour, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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đź“° In the news
Community hub finds new footing: Springfield’s Cats’ Pyjamas Cat Cafe is transitioning to a nonprofit after the 2024 Adams Street fire, aiming to access grants, accept tax-deductible donations, grow volunteers, and sustain its foster space — read the full story.
Joyful start to parenthood: Springfield’s first baby of 2026 arrived at 12:41 a.m. Thursday at HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Illinois. Meet Theodore Barker, the Barker family’s first child — read the full story.
Monthlong sobriety guidance: Dry January is underway, offering a health reset to start 2026. Experts suggest clearing alcohol from home and choosing social plans without drinking. Illinois regulators share resources on alcohol — get tips and resources.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since this month last year. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Major updates across government: Illinois has new measures led by Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias to streamline services, boost road safety, and protect libraries. They allow online DMV written tests, require lane changes when passing cyclists, fund library security, tighten towing oversight, and modernize Court of Claims electronic filing and payments. Read the full story.
Where to rally this week: With 10 indoor and 5 outdoor courts, Premier Pickleball Center makes it easy to reserve a court, drop into open play, or book a lesson. No weather worries, just reliable games and a friendly scene when you’ve got an hour to spare.
Kid energy, contained: Ergadoozy is a locally run indoor creative play spot with seven zones for kids 12 and under, from climbers to pretend zones, with plenty of space to burn wiggles, while you sip your coffee in peace and maybe call it cardio.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now, you’ll get three free gifts, AND you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.
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📆 Around town this week
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
🏞 Terrain Design 101 @ Lincoln Library | Monday (1/5) at 5:00 PM – Skip battling the yard and build tiny mountains instead at a hands-on Terrain Design 101 workshop. A quick idea share, then you craft miniature landscapes with patience, glue, and smug satisfaction, finally a landscape you can finish, display, and never have to water.
🖨 Recipe Cutting Board Sublimation Class @ Rochester Public Library District | Wednesday (1/7) at 5:00 PM – Back by popular demand, give your favorite family recipe a permanent upgrade at this cutting board sublimation class. The library supplies the boards, you bring the nostalgia, and for $10 you leave with something prettier than a stained index card. Registration required: bit.ly/48BSQKw.
🎶 Micah Walk @ Obed & Isaac’s The Cidery | Wednesday (1/7) at 6:00 PM – Winter’s got the beer garden on pause, so the cidery’s bringing the music inside with Micah Walk kicking things off. Wednesday nights are back, perfect for trading snow boots for bar stools, getting your cider fix, and calling it self-care.
đź–Ś Library Books Paint Night @ The Library Pizza and Sports Bar | Wednesday (1/7) at 6:30 PM – Need an excuse to say you spent the night at The Library? Paint with Ashley Blake, tackle the “Library Books” theme, and sip something civilized while pizza, sports, and easy conversation do the heavy lifting. No experience, all supplies, and a fridge-worthy masterpiece.
🔨 Williamsville Quarter Auction @ Williamsville Community Foundation | Thursday (1/8) at 6:30 PM – Grab your coin jar and head to the monthly quarter auction supporting the Williamsville Youth Summer Baseball League. Expect lively bidding, an All In paddle for the bold, prizes, food for purchase, and small-town fun money cannot buy, but quarters can.
🏀 The Harlem Globetrotters 100 Year Tour @ BOS Center | Thursday (1/8) at 7:00 PM – Round up the kids, your inner kid, and that cousin who swears he still has a hook shot, then catch the Harlem Globetrotters’ 100-year celebration. Ridiculous tricks, gravity-defying dunks, and big laughs, plus surprises like the Golden Basketball. History, hijinks, and an excuse to cheer.
🌟 The Sweet Nothings @ Curve Inn | Friday (1/9) at 6:30 PM – Direct from Bloomington, The Sweet Nothings hit The Curve Inn with playful twists on the songs you actually know. Cover is five bucks, cheaper than your last latte, and worth every note. Grab a barstool, a cold one, and your best sing-along voice.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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đź“» Springfield report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 51°F – Low: 41°F – Precip: 0%
Partly sunny, with a high near 51. South southwest wind around 8 mph, with gusts as high as 16 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. South wind 6 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 58°F – Low: 35°F – Precip: 0%
Mostly sunny. High near 58, with temperatures falling to around 52 in the afternoon. West southwest wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. West wind 2 to 6 mph.
This house is wild
A Satterwhite Log Home on 3.44 acres in the Rochester School District, this 3-bed, 2-bath retreat pairs rustic texture with modern comfort. A spacious living room sets the tone with timber walls and a beautiful fireplace. An additional family room adds coveted flex space for a gym, play area, or lounge with property views.
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Take a peek inside →
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