Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Can you help identify suspects in a $3,000 Champaign retail theft?
Spotted on the Champaign calendar: Women Elevating Women Resource Group
Hey hey Champaign! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Can you help identify suspects in a $3,000 Champaign retail theft?
- How the I-57/74 overhaul will keep disrupting Champaign commutes
- How a bag of Takis is bringing hope to Champaign youth
Today's riddle: The world champion tongue twister just got arrested! 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Champaignfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high of 31 and low of 27 degrees.
- Wednesday: A p.m. rain or snow shower, temps: high: 37, low: 14. ⛄️ Brr!
- Thursday: Intervals of clouds and sun, with a high of 26 and low of 20 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Police seek public's help in identifying suspects in $3,000 retail theft (foxillinois.com) — Champaign County Crime Stoppers is asking residents to help identify three women suspected of stealing more than $3,000 in Nike merchandise from Dick’s House of Sport on North Neil Street in Champaign. The November 4 incident was caught on video, and detailed descriptions of the suspects and their vehicle have been released. Tips can be submitted anonymously by phone, website, or the P3 Tips app. 
Find out what's happening in Champaignfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
2. $251.8M Interchange project reaches key milestones in Champaign (wandtv.com) — A massive $251.8 million rebuild of the I-57/I-74 interchange in Champaign has hit key milestones, with seven of eight ramps now open and major flyover ramps in use. Drivers should expect ongoing lane changes, delays, and paving work through 2026, with final striping and landscaping stretching into spring 2027 as part of the broader Rebuild Illinois program.
3. A simple gift, a powerful message: Bringing hope to youth this Christmas (chambanatoday.com) — In Champaign, a local youth program is using simple gifts like Takis and Chicago sports shirts to remind kids they’re seen and cared for during Christmas. As 2025 ends, organizers say donations are crucial to keep creating these moments of hope. Contributions made by December 31 at 11:59 p.m. will support youth now and count for this tax year.
4. Illinois football angling for own win against Tennessee (news-gazette.com) — Illinois football’s Music City Bowl matchup with Tennessee features several key players who built strong ties in Champaign, including QB Luke Altmyer, who stayed, set school records, and now leads the Illini into Tuesday’s game. The story also highlights team bonding events, local-food-loving transfer James Thompson Jr.’s Champaign and Urbana restaurant series, and emerging defensive leaders preparing to take over next season.
5. Illinois 2025 tornado total likely top 5 going back 75 years (wandtv.com) — Champaign County is among several central Illinois areas hit by tornadoes in 2025, contributing to a statewide total already topping 130 and likely finishing top five in 75 years. The report explains how unusually active this year has been, with central Illinois seeing roughly double its typical tornado count and more confirmations still pending.
📸 Around Champaign
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 Champaign
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
- Women Elevating Women Resource Group
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce , 303 W. Kirby Ave. , Champaign
8:30 am
Wednesday January 7
📣 Champaign 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
- Movie Matinee
Rantoul Public Library , 106 West Flessner Avenue , Rantoul
2:00 pm - Free Sewing Day
109 S Oak St , Villa Grove
3:00 pm - Library Closed for New Year's
Swearingen Memorial Library , 201 N 3rd St , St Joseph - Library Closing
Rantoul Public Library , 106 West Flessner Avenue , Rantoul
1:00 pm - BED BEFORE 10PM: DISCO DANCE
Gallery Art Bar , 119 W Main St , Urbana
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Comedian Paul Farahvar New Years Eve Show!
Yellow & Co. , 1830 Patton Dr #2 , Mahomet
9:30 pm - Library Closed
Rantoul Public Library , 106 West Flessner Avenue , Rantoul - Winter Used Book Sale
St. Joseph Township – Swearingen Memorial Library , 201 N 3rd St , St Joseph
1:00 pm - Basketball (Boys F)
Rantoul Twp High School (Main Gym)
5:30 pm - Home School Club
Rantoul Public Library , 106 West Flessner Avenue , Rantoul
10:00 am - Basketball (Boys JV, V)
Rantoul Twp High School (Main Gym)
5:30 pm
Tuesday December 30
Wednesday December 31
Thursday January 1
Monday January 5
Tuesday January 6
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Champaign PatchAM possible:
- Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- My grandson flew his drone today of all days and the wind took it....
if you're in the Robeson Park neighborhood between Blackthorn and probably Barberry or further and see a black Styrofoam stealth flyer looking drone… (Nextdoor Robeson Park) - A Cat was Lost on 2025-12-22, more info at https://petfbi.org/api/view/762624/f6a7d858
Lost or found a pet? Report it to Pet FBI at https://petfbi.org (Nextdoor Hessel Parl)
- Parkland College posted a job opening for Head Teacher, Child Development Center in Champaign. Apply here.
- Staples posted a job opening for Retail Sales Associate in Champaign. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Champaign here.
Ok Champaign! 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 hear they’re giving him a really tough sentence.
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.