Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Why are hundreds more Champaign teens saying yes to summer jobs?

Happening soon: Mistletoe Market CU on the Champaign Patch calendar

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Friday December 12th Patch AM
Friday December 12th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Cheers Champaign! We’re back, helping you stay up to date with what’s happening. Let's take on the day together! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Why are hundreds more Champaign teens saying yes to summer jobs?
  • How will HOT ROD Power Tour cash in for Champaign-Urbana?
  • How strict will Champaign’s holiday traffic crackdown really be?

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: I once read a book about anti-gravity. 🤔 (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.AdvertisementAdvertisement

Find out what's happening in Champaignfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Weather forecast:

  • Friday: Cloudy and chilly, with a high of 31 and low of 10 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
  • Saturday: Snow and flurries, 1-3", temps: high: 11, low: -10.
  • Sunday: Sunny and frigid, with a high of 7 and low of -8 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Champaign ‘YES' program says signups are booming for their job placement (wcia.com) — Champaign’s YES program is rapidly expanding, with enrollment jumping from 64 students in 2024 to 350 expected this coming year at Centennial and Central High Schools. Teens get paid work experience with Champaign-Urbana businesses plus resume and interview coaching, and organizers may hire more staff to keep up with demand and support local youth.
   

2. HOT ROD Power Tour returns to Rantoul, boosting local economy (foxillinois.com) — A massive wave of car enthusiasts is headed our way as the HOT ROD Power Tour returns to Rantoul in June 2026, with Experience Champaign-Urbana projecting over $1.3 million in economic impact. Beyond the action at Rantoul National Aviation Center, locals can join the fun at a Pint Night in downtown Champaign, featuring craft drinks and entertainment.
   

3. Champaign police launch holiday traffic safety campaign (foxillinois.com) — Expect to see more Champaign police on major roads starting Dec. 12 as officers crack down on speeding, impaired driving, and seat belt violations through Jan. 5. The campaign, backed by state and federal funds, targets key arterial routes in Champaign and urges residents to slow down, stay sober, and avoid distractions like texting while driving.
   

4. Shine the Block 'Meal in a Bag' donation drive aims to combat food insecurity (chambanatoday.com) — A monthly Shine the Block “Meal in a Bag” drive in Champaign is gathering shelf-stable meal kits to support residents of Country Brook Apartments facing food insecurity. Organized by H3, the effort offers warm meals, resources, and easy-to-make kits, with donations accepted at A Cut Above the Rest Barber Academy or brought directly to the Y on the Fly event.
   

5. Champaign County Board Zoning Board of Appeals met Dec. 11 (chambanasun.com) — Champaign County’s Zoning Board of Appeals just outlined key decisions affecting land use near Champaign, including a proposed 4.99 MW solar farm in Somer Township and a zoning change on University Avenue in Urbana. The board also plans to discuss time limits for solar, wind, and battery cases and finalize its 2026 meeting calendar, shaping how future projects move forward.
   

📸 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 ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 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

    Friday December 12
  • Sidewalk Prophets Great Big Family Christmas
    Lincoln Square Theater , 141 N Main St. , Decatur
    7:00 pm
    • Saturday December 13
  • Watson's @ Riggs Christmas Market — Watson's Chicken
    Riggs Beer Company , 1901 S High Cross Rd , Urbana
    12:00 pm
  • Paw-traits with Santa
    Serra Subaru Champaign , 1402 N Dunlap Ave Suite A , Savoy
    1:00 pm
    • Monday December 15
  • Open interviews
    Champaign County Chamber of Commerce , 303 W Kirby Ave , Champaign
    9:00 am

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
  • Translate Japanese (Katakana) to English - Need Help
    Hi All; I have a Japanese document that needs to be translated into English. Anybody out there who's good at this? Thanks Kimi (Nextdoor Timberline & Westlake Sub)
  • Snipes posted a job opening for Stock Personnel in Champaign. Apply here.
  • Hillel International posted a job opening for Assistant Director at Hillel at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 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 couldn’t put it down.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

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

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Champaign