🌱 What Carbondale’s new station and events plaza mean for 2026
Good morning Carbondale! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- What Carbondale’s new station and events plaza mean for 2026
- How Carbondale neighbors can brighten holidays for abuse survivors
- Who from SIU Carbondale is steering this high-stakes medical dean search?
📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Carbondale? Post it to Carbondale photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️
Today's riddle: The doctor told me to drink carrot juice after a hot bath. - Did it help? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner
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- Wednesday: Periods of sun; not as cool, with a high of 55 and low of 45 degrees.
- Thursday: Showers and a heavier t-storm, temps: high: 55, low: 22.
- Friday: Mostly sunny and colder, with a high of 40 and low of 31 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Carbondale hosts annual State of the City luncheon (kfvs12.com) — Carbondale leaders just outlined big changes coming in 2026, highlighting the nearly finished Southern Illinois Multimodal Station and the new Entertainment and Events Plaza that should host concerts by next summer. A packed State of the City luncheon showed strong community interest in these projects, which officials say will improve travel, tourism, and quality of life for residents and visitors alike. 
• The season of giving: Holiday donations for Survivor Empowerment Center (kfvs12.com) — A Carbondale-based domestic violence shelter is asking residents to donate comfort items and household goods to help adults and children spending the holidays in its care. Staff say hotline calls have topped 5,000 this year, and simple gifts like socks, blankets, and toys can make a huge difference while survivors work with advocates, counselors, and a transitional program to rebuild their lives.
• SIU Medicine begins national search for next dean and CEO (sj-r.com) — Southern Illinois University Medicine has kicked off a national search for its next dean, provost and CEO, with a co-chair based at SIU Carbondale. Local readers connected to the Carbondale campus may see familiar leaders helping guide this process, which aims to shape the future of SIU’s medical education and health services across Illinois.
📸 Around Carbondale
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
Carbondale
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
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crafters n' stitches
Carbondale Public Library, 405 W Main St, Carbondale
6:00 pm
Monday December 22
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
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Semester Exams- Day 1
Carbondale Comm H S Carbondale, IL 62901 -
Board of Fire and Police Commissioners Meeting
Carbondale, IL Calendar , 200 S. Illinois Avenue , Carbondale
9:00 am -
Sustainability Commission Meeting
Carbondale, IL Calendar
5:00 pm -
Semester Exams- Day 2
Carbondale Comm H S Carbondale, IL 62901 -
End of 1st Semester & 2nd Quarter
Carbondale Comm H S Carbondale, IL 62901 -
Holiday Break- No School
Carbondale Comm H S Carbondale, IL 62901 -
City Offices Closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Carbondale, IL Calendar Carbondale, IL 62902
Thursday December 18
Friday December 19
Monday December 22
Wednesday December 24
📣 Carbondale 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
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Bowling-V Boys @ Herrin High School (Game)
Herrin High School Away -
4:00 pm -
Bowling-V Girls @ Herrin High School (Game)
Herrin High School Away -
4:00 pm -
December Chamber Luncheon
Sergio's Mexican Restaurant , 550 E Industrial Park Rd , Murphysboro
11:45 am -
Basketball-JH Girls @ Eldorado HS-MS (Game)
ELDORADO HS-MS Away -
5:30 pm
Wednesday December 17
Thursday December 18
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
- A man named Liam Wilson used this site looking for a personal assistant to help his mom when she moved to Carbondale.
I responded and contacted him by email and text. He ended up stealing my email address and making himself appear as me. He has a different phone… (Nextdoor Carbondale)
- Wal-Mart posted a job opening for Stocking Team Associate in Carbondale. Apply here.
- Wendy's posted a job opening for Team Member * in Carbondale. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Carbondale here.
🗞 Nearby News
Murphysboro
- New program offers EECA consumer-members bill credits for reducing wnergy use suring peak times – Sun Times News Online (suntimesnews.com)
Marion
- Caldwell Wrestlers Finish 3-2 at Wildcat Duals (yoursportsedge.com)
- Southern Ill. choir returns from Christmas performance at the White House (kfvs12.com)
- Reply All: December 2025 (thebanner.org)
Ok Carbondale! 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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