Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How many American Indian students now attend Champaign County schools?
Also check out Jingle Bell Rock Small Business Show on the Champaign Patch calendar
Good day Champaign! We're here again with what you need to know today. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How many American Indian students now attend Champaign County schools?
- How a weekend fire may reshape Restoration Urban Ministries’ plans
- Which Neil Street restaurants are still open under Champaign’s boil order?
Also on today's calendar: Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer and 3 more events.
Find out what's happening in Champaignfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Champaign? Post it to Champaign photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️
Today's riddle: The doctor told me to drink carrot juice after a hot bath. - Did it help? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Champaignfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
From our Partner
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- Wednesday: Freezing fog in the morning, with a high of 40 and low of 32 degrees.
- Thursday: Windy with periods of rain, temps: high: 49, low: 13. ⛄️ Brr!
- Friday: Much colder, with a high of 28 and low of 25 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. 32 American Indian students enrolled in Champaign County districts in 2024-25 school year (chambanasun.com) — Champaign County schools enrolled 32 American Indian students in 2024-25, with 22 of them in Champaign Unit 4, making this the county’s highest concentration. Though they represent just 0.1% of local enrollment, the increase from last year is significant, happening as Illinois boosts K-12 funding and Champaign schools continue to grow more diverse. 
2. Officials say vacant building at Restoration Urban Ministries that caught fire was set for demolition (news-gazette.com) — A vacant Restoration Urban Ministries building in Champaign, already slated for demolition, was heavily damaged in a weekend fire that drew a second alarm but caused no injuries. Investigators and Champaign police are still determining the cause, while the nonprofit works to fund demolition and prepares to open a nearby transitional-housing program for about 16 families in late January.
3. Multiple restaurants impacted by Champaign boil order (wcia.com) — A boil order is still in effect along Neil Street near Kirby Avenue in Champaign after Monday’s water main break, affecting several popular restaurants that remain open with precautions. Places like The Ribeye are relying on bottled water and limited menus to keep holiday business going while American Water works to restore service by late Wednesday afternoon.
4. Mixed job trends across Central Illinois in September: IDES (wcia.com) — Champaign’s job market hit a record number of positions this September for the third straight year, even though overall nonfarm employment in the Champaign-Urbana area stayed flat compared to last year. State officials say Illinois’ metro areas show mixed trends amid federal economic uncertainty, but point to Champaign-Urbana’s record September employment as a sign of ongoing progress.
5. Illinois signs Croatian forward (news-gazette.com) — University of Illinois men’s basketball has added Croatian forward Toni Bilic in Champaign as a midseason roster member, though he’ll only practice and train this year. The 6-foot-8 newcomer will work on strength and conditioning with the Illini while preparing to contribute in future seasons.
📸 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
★ Featured events ★
- Jingle Bell Rock Small Business Show
Market Place Shopping Center, 2000 N Neil St, Champaign
10:00 am
Saturday December 20
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Sweary Coloring with Cats @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
8:30 pm - 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 - Open interviews
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce , 303 W Kirby Ave , Champaign
9:00 am - Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings
The Orpheum Champaign 346 North Neil Street Champaign, Illinois 61820
8:45 pm
Wednesday December 17
Saturday December 20
Monday December 22
Friday December 26
📣 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
- The Space and Kristen Unakis Present COMEDY OPEN MIC NIGHT!!!!
The Space , 1 E Main St Ste 107 , Champaign
8:00 pm - Yellow and Co. presents Comedian (and teacher) Chastity Washington
Yellow & Co. , 1830 Patton Dr #2 , Mahomet
7:00 pm - Candlelight: Tribute to Coldplay
Orpheum Champaign , 346 N Neil St , Champaign
8:45 pm - Open interviews
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce , 303 W Kirby Ave , Champaign
9:00 am - PMP Certification 4 Days Classroom Training in Champaign, IL
HQ North Randolph Street , 206 N Randolph St 2nd Floor , Champaign
9:00 am - Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings
Orpheum Champaign , 346 N Neil St , Champaign
6:30 pm
Thursday December 18
Saturday December 20
Monday December 22
Tuesday December 23
Friday December 26
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
- On the evening of the 14th or early on the morning of the 15th someone used their snowblower on my sidewalks at 2703 Worthington Drive.
I don’t know who did it, but their kindness and generosity are greatly appreciated. (Nextdoor Cherry Hills) - Attempted to refill my prescriptions at Niemman’s/County Market Pharmacy this morning and found out that they closed on Dec 8th.
I was told that prescriptions were all transferred to a Walgreen’s store. However, the person I spoke to was not able to tell me which Walgreen’s. I… (Nextdoor Ridgewood)
- Sam's Club posted a job opening for Baker and Packager Associate in Champaign. Apply here.
- Burlington posted a job opening for Seasonal Retail Stocking Associate - Part Time 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 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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