Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: What’s next in Champaign’s high-stakes fight over condemned apartments?
Coming up on the Champaign Patch calendar: Saturday Storytime
What's up Champaign! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- What’s next in Champaign’s high-stakes fight over condemned apartments?
- Which Champaign neighborhoods will see Santa roll in on a firetruck?
- How barbershops are becoming surprise literacy hubs for Champaign kids
Also on today's calendar: Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings and 4 more events.
Find out what's happening in Champaignfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Today's riddle: What did the clock say when it ran out of batteries? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Champaignfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Friday: Breezy with clouds and sun, with a high of 60 and low of 40 degrees.
- Saturday: Mostly cloudy, temps: high: 55, low: 52.
- Sunday: A little rain, with a high of 62 and low of 16 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
📰 News we're reading
1. Legal battle over condemned Champaign Park Apartments proceeds into 2026 (news-gazette.com) — Champaign officials are still locked in a court fight with the New York-based owner of the condemned Champaign Park Apartments, with key depositions and a pretrial conference set for January. After years of tenant complaints, condemnations, emergency housing costs, and even a fire at the complex, the city is now pressing the bank tied to the ownership for detailed records on repairs, valuation, and any potential sale. 
2. No sleigh for this Santa: Presents to be delivered by helicopter and firetruck thanks to 33-year tradition (news-gazette.com) — Families in several Champaign neighborhoods can expect Santa to arrive by firetruck this Christmas Eve, thanks to Eastern Prairie Fire Protection District’s long-running Operation Santa. Volunteer firefighters will hand-deliver donated toys across Champaign and visit kids at Urbana’s Carle Foundation Hospital by helicopter, aiming to support families who might otherwise struggle to provide gifts and to build trust with residents beyond emergencies.
3. United Way of Champaign Co. launches Books with Barbers initiative (wcia.com) — United Way of Champaign County is launching a “Books with Barbers” literacy program at local barbershops in Champaign, stocking them with culturally relevant books to encourage kids to read while they get haircuts. Partnering with Champaign Rotary and Books from Brek, the effort targets low reading proficiency among Black students in Champaign Unit 4 and Urbana 116 by bringing books into trusted neighborhood spaces.
4. Area history, Dec. 24, 2025 (news-gazette.com) — A look back at Dec. 24 highlights how Champaign and Urbana once faced a ‘dry’ Christmas during Prohibition-era bootlegging, while Champaign County courts handled a notorious criminal case decades later. The column also recalls a costly Danville mayoral primary triggered by state election rules, offering local readers a snapshot of how regional issues have evolved over the last century.
5. Baby's first Christmas creates memories to treasure in Champaign (wixy.com) — Families in Champaign-Urbana are finding heartfelt ways to mark a baby’s first Christmas, from scrapbooks filled with photos and tiny mementos to notes about favorite sounds and first reactions to holiday lights. Parents are saving everything from hospital wristbands to downtown Champaign ticket stubs so their children can one day revisit how special that first holiday season felt.
📸 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 ★
- Saturday Storytime
Champaign Public Library, 200 W Green St, Champaign
9:45 am
Saturday December 27
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings
The Orpheum Champaign 346 North Neil Street Champaign, Illinois 61820
8:45 pm - Tag Bag Sale
FriendShop Bookstore , Public Library , 200 W Green St , Champaign
1:00 pm - Brewery Tour And Tasting (2025)
Riggs Beer Company , 1901 S High Cross Rd , Urbana
2:00 pm - Tag Bag Sale
FriendShop Bookstore , Public Library , 200 W Green St , Champaign
1:00 pm - Open interviews
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce , 303 W Kirby Ave , Champaign
9:00 am - Women Elevating Women Resource Group
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce , 303 W. Kirby Ave. , Champaign
8:30 am
Friday December 26
Saturday December 27
Sunday December 28
Monday December 29
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
- Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings
Orpheum Champaign , 346 N Neil St , Champaign
6:30 pm - Open interviews
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce , 303 W Kirby Ave , Champaign
9:00 am - 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 - Women Elevating Women Resource Group
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce , 303 W. Kirby Ave. , Champaign
8:30 am
Friday December 26
Monday December 29
Wednesday December 31
Wednesday January 7
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! 💚
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Found this sweet female dog wandering at Sangamon near Kenwood, by Leonhard Center, at 7:45 pm last night.
Animal control is closed till Monday. No collar, no chip. Too healthy for UI vet clinic to take. Contact me if yours. Currently fed and watered and… (Nextdoor Carrie Busey) - A husky is walking around on our street!
Chickory Dr in Sawgrass!! We tried to catch him but couldn’t! (Nextdoor Sawgrass)
- The Chicago Lighthouse posted a job opening for Janitor I in Champaign. Apply here.
- Tractor Supply posted a job opening for Team Member 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 guess I’m out of time.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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