Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How this Fifth Street sewer repair could disrupt your usual route
You won't want to miss The Space and Kristen Unakis Present COMEDY OPEN MIC NIGHT!!!! on the Champaign Patch calendar
Hi there, Champaign! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How this Fifth Street sewer repair could disrupt your usual route
- How Champaign families can access the new winter overflow shelter tonight
- What’s replacing the old Jimmy Johns at Mattis and Springfield?
Also on today's calendar: Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer and 7 more events.
Find out what's happening in Champaignfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Today's riddle: What did one tuna say to the other after getting caught stealing files from work? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner
Today's Champaign 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 Champaign.
Find out what's happening in Champaignfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Thursday: Cloudy and cold, with a high of 29 and low of 25 degrees.
- Friday: Cloudy and chilly, temps: high: 31, low: 11. ⛄️ Brr!
- Saturday: Snow and flurries, 1-3", with a high of 11 and low of -10 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Fifth Street closed for emergency sewer repair until December 12 (chambanasun.com) — Fifth Street in Champaign is closed between Daniel and Chalmers for an emergency sewer repair, blocking through traffic but keeping access to nearby properties. City officials expect the work to wrap up by 3 p.m. Friday, December 12, weather permitting, so plan alternate routes around this busy campus-area stretch until the street reopens. 
2. Champaign County Regional Planning Commission launches winter overflow emergency shelter (wixy.com) — Families in Champaign County facing homelessness this winter can access a new overflow emergency shelter for those with minor children, with nightly intake at 307 S. Neil Street in Champaign. The program runs through April 3, 2026, offering warm shared sleeping spaces, support from trained staff, and data-driven efforts to expand long-term family shelter options.
3. Former Jimmy Johns to be demolished, new retail space coming soon in Champaign (wcia.com) — A former Jimmy Johns building at Mattis and Springfield in Champaign will be demolished this month to make way for a new four-tenant retail space with two drive-throughs. City planners say the busy intersection fits a broader redevelopment plan, and the property owner hopes to start construction in spring and open businesses by next fall.
4. Questions about fixing $3M budget deficit could be added to Champaign Co. primary ballot (wcia.com) — Champaign County leaders are weighing how to close a projected $3 million general fund deficit and may ask voters for guidance with three non-binding questions on March’s primary ballot. Depending on public feedback, the board could cut services affecting roads and law enforcement or pursue a new tax referendum, with a public budget study session planned for January 27.
5. New laptops given to people in need in Central Illinois (wcia.com) — Hundreds of free laptops are being distributed this holiday season at the Salvation Army Church and Worship Center in Champaign, with about 100 people already picking theirs up. Organizers say the program is meant to ease financial strain for families, students, and workers who can’t afford a computer but rely on one to stay connected and move ahead.
📸 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 ★
- The Space and Kristen Unakis Present COMEDY OPEN MIC NIGHT!!!!
The Space, 1 E Main St Ste 107, Champaign
8:00 pm
Thursday December 11
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Trivia Night @The Scratching Post
The Scratching Post is Champaign's Cat & Board Game Cafe. Enjoy our light snack and drink menu, purchase a game pass to access our massive library of 500+ board games, or make a reservation to visit our cat lounge where 20+ adoptable cats are waiting
7:00 pm - Sidewalk Prophets Great Big Family Christmas
Lincoln Square Theater , 141 N Main St. , Decatur
7:00 pm - Mistletoe Market CU
Orpheum Champaign , 346 N Neil St , Champaign
9:00 am - Jake and Jackson
Pour Bros. Craft Taproom , 40 E University Ave , Champaign
2:00 pm - Free S'mores Social
Urbana Park District , 505 W Stoughton Street , Urbana
3:00 pm - Lindy Hoppers at Hamilton Walkers - Fall/Winter Edition 2025
Hamilton Walker's , 201 N Neil St , Champaign
7:00 pm - Open interviews
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce , 303 W Kirby Ave , Champaign
9:00 am - Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer
Orpheum Champaign , 346 N Neil St , Champaign
6:30 pm - Candlelight: Tribute to Coldplay
The Orpheum Champaign 346 North Neil Street Champaign, Illinois 61820
8:45 pm
Thursday December 11
Friday December 12
Saturday December 13
Sunday December 14
Monday December 15
Saturday December 20
📣 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
- Teen Lounge
Champaign Public Library , 200 W Green St , Champaign
3:00 pm - New to CU Mixer
Experience Champaign-Urbana , 17 Taylor St , Champaign
5:00 pm - Trivia Night at Cloud Mountain Kombucha
Cloud Mountain Kombucha , 208 W Griggs St Suite 102 , Urbana
6:00 pm - Trivia Night @The Scratching Post
The Scratching Post is Champaign's Cat & Board Game Cafe. Enjoy our light snack and drink menu, purchase a game pass to access our massive library of 500+ board games, or make a reservation to visit our cat lounge where 20+ adoptable cats are waiting
7:00 pm
Thursday December 11
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
- Op-Ed: Champaign’s Firefighter Shortages Mirror a Statewide Crisis. Pension Reform Could Strengthen Safety —Emily Ramirez Read on Patch
- Does anyone know a small business who’s doing the Toys for Tots?
I’m really trying to buy a few toys because every kid should have something to open on Christmas Day. (Nextdoor Ayrshire) - Please share & repost to help reunite this stray cat!
FOUND on December 9, 2025 in Champaign, IL 61821 near Bloomington and Mattis Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to contact the… (Nextdoor Boulder Ridge West)
- ServiceMaster Clean posted a job opening for Janitorial Project Team Member in Champaign. Apply here.
- Hudson Technologies, Inc. posted a job opening for Inventory Associate III 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 could get canned for this!
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.