🌱 Patch AM: How Champaign’s “cat whisperer” is changing lives at The Kitty Crib

Greetings Champaign! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How Champaign’s “cat whisperer” is changing lives at The Kitty Crib
• Which two former Illini stars just got engaged after their Champaign careers?

Also on today's calendar: FREE WEBINAR | “We Three Kings: The Top 10 Adoration of the Magi Paintings of the Italian Renaiss..” and 4 more events.

Today's riddle: I quit my job as a banker. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Friday: Clouds and sun, with a high of 32 and low of 22 degrees.
• Saturday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 35, low: 19. ⛄️ Brr!
• Sunday: Clouds and sun, with a high of 35 and low of 26 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Donna Purcell, the ‘cat whisperer' at Moore's Rescue Ranch, gives new hope to cats in need (chambanatoday.com) — A longtime volunteer at Moore’s Rescue Ranch is quietly transforming the lives of cats at The Kitty Crib on North Market Street in Champaign. Known as the “cat whisperer,” Donna Purcell helps frightened and abandoned cats heal, then matches them with adoptive families. Her work, supported by local partnerships, offers Champaign residents a trusted place to find their next feline companion.
   

• Former Illini basketball sharpshooter Luke Goode engaged to Illinois volleyball star Kayla Burbage (dailyillini.com) — Two standout University of Illinois athletes with strong ties to Champaign, former Illini basketball guard Luke Goode and Illini volleyball middle blocker Kayla Burbage, are engaged after announcing the news on Instagram. Goode, who spent three seasons playing in Champaign before turning pro, now plays in the NBA G League, while Burbage recently wrapped up her Illini volleyball career after transferring to Champaign from Missouri.
   

📸 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!

★ Featured events ★

Tuesday January 6

• FREE WEBINAR | “We Three Kings: The Top 10 Adoration of the Magi Paintings of the Italian Renaiss..”
  Online,
  11:30 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Saturday January 3

• Morrissey Park parkrun
  Morrissey Park , 1209 Harrington Dr , Champaign
  9:00 am
• Gentle Yoga with Steve
  Living Yoga Center , 212 S 1st St , Champaign
  10:00 am

Sunday January 4

• Yoga Nidra with Sharon
  Living Yoga Center , 212 S 1st St , Champaign
  5:45 pm

Wednesday January 7

• Women Elevating Women Resource Group
  Champaign County Chamber of Commerce , 303 W. Kirby Ave. , Champaign
  8:30 am

Friday January 9

• Chamber First Friday Coffee 2026
  Neil St. Blues
  7:30 am

Sunday January 11

• Sass Siders: Pipa's Pub w/ Lisa Castang
  Pipa's Pub , 604 S Country Fair Dr , Champaign
  2:00 pm

📣 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

Monday January 5

• Slow Jam Urbana (every Mon night)
  Lincoln Square Mall , 300 S Broadway Ave , Urbana
  7:00 pm

Wednesday January 7

• Women Elevating Women Resource Group
  Champaign County Chamber of Commerce , 303 W. Kirby Ave. , Champaign
  8:30 am

Thursday January 8

• Thursday Games
  Harvest Market , 2029 S Neil St , Champaign
  7:00 pm

Friday January 9

• 2nd Friday Coffee
  Yo Yo's Coffee & Tea , 104 S Lombard , Mahomet
  7:30 am
• Madison Hughes
  Yellow & Co. , 1830 Patton Dr #2 , Mahomet
  7:00 pm

Saturday January 10

• Conversation Café
  The Urbana Free Library , 210 W Green St , Urbana
  11:00 am

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

• Does anyone want a free artificial Christmas tree?
  Lights are not working. Or does anyone know if it can be recycled anywhere? (Nextdoor Ironwood)
• Anyone just hear that huge explosion about 5-10 minutes ago??
  Sounded like it was near prospect and Springfield area (Nextdoor South Church)

• American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. posted a job opening for AE - Stock Associate - Evening (Off-Hours) in Champaign. Apply here.
• Walmart posted a job opening for Janitorial Associate in Champaign. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Champaign here.

🗞 Nearby News

Urbana

• Mayor Williams reflects on key accomplishments as Urbana closes out 2025 (chambanatoday.com)
• The dedicated students behind music at Urbana shows (dailyillini.com)
• Oligarchy XIV: Thoughts on the Anarchism of Dorothy Day (counterpunch.org)

Mahomet

• Top of the Morning, Dec. 31, 2025 (news-gazette.com)

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 just lost interest.
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.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook