Community Corner

🌱 What big tax and street decisions is Urbana Council weighing now?

And check out Sweary Coloring with Cats @The Scratching Post! on the Urbana Patch calendar

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Coffee in hand, Urbana? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • What big tax and street decisions is Urbana Council weighing now?
  • Remember when Urbana debated paying for a new aquatic center?
  • How a glowing new Urbana lab could change Midwest indoor farming

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Urbana? Post it to Urbana photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

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

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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

Weather forecast:

  • Tuesday: Mostly sunny and not as cold, with a high of 36 and low of 27 degrees.
  • Wednesday: Freezing fog in the morning, temps: high: 38, low: 32.
  • Thursday: Windy with rain, then cooler, with a high of 49 and low of 13 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!

📰 News we're reading

1. City of Urbana City Council met Dec. 15 (chambanasun.com) — Urbana’s City Council is set to tackle major budget, tax, and infrastructure decisions, including a new property tax levy and multiple tax abatements for the 2025–26 fiscal year. The agenda also covers Safe Streets grant changes, school district parking, road work on Vine and Washington, and dissolving a TIF district, all with direct local impact.
   

2. Area history, Dec. 15, 2025 (news-gazette.com) — A look back at Dec. 15 highlights a 2010 decision by the Urbana Park Board to seek a property-tax increase to help fund a $7.7 million aquatic center at Crystal Lake Park, a move with big implications for local recreation. The column also recalls a mysterious 1925 house fire and 1975 efforts to expand collective bargaining for Illinois university faculty.
   

3. U of I's New Controlled Environment Research Facility Advances Indoor Farming with Stakeholder Input (newswise.com) — A new controlled-environment agriculture facility at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in Urbana is now up and running, with researchers fine-tuning lighting, nutrients, and temperature to improve indoor-grown crops. Led by assistant professor James Santiago, the project aims to help Midwest growers and even households raise leafy greens and other produce year-round while cutting pesticides, food miles, and supply-chain risks.
   

4. Athletes of the Week: Spesard steps up, Casillas rocks tournament (news-gazette.com) — Area prep sports fans will notice Urbana represented among this week’s Athlete of the Week finalists, with Lai’Yonna Harper earning a nod for her basketball play. The honors ultimately went to Georgetown-Ridge Farm’s Madi Spesard and Mahomet-Seymour wrestler Marco Casillas, who share how community support and offseason work are fueling their success.
   

📸 Around Urbana

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 Urbana

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

    Wednesday December 17
  • 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
    • Monday December 22
  • Open interviews
    Champaign County Chamber of Commerce , 303 W Kirby Ave , Champaign
    9:00 am

📣 Urbana 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

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

  • I have this beautiful ceramic angel, but after years never seem to find the right place for her in the house.
    I wondered it anyone else would be able to display her during the holidays so she's not just sitting in a box every year. She has a spot for a taper… (Nextdoor South Urbana)
  • I would like to recommend Bielert construction to anyone who needs something done.
    Brad and Chris installed our dishwasher yesterday. They were very professional and did excellent work at a reasonable price. (Nextdoor Water St)
  • Urbana Park District posted a job opening for Aquatic Facilities Maintenance/Custodial in Urbana. Apply here.
  • Walgreens posted a job opening for Inventory Specialist in Urbana. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Urbana here.

Ok Urbana! 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, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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