Morning Champaign! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☕️️
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In today's newsletter:
- What police need from neighbors after two overnight Champaign shootings
- Meet the Champaign pianist who just won a world championship title
- Champaign-born Helen Louise Denton remembered by family across Illinois
Today's riddle: What is always in front of you but can never be seen? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Weather forecast:
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Monday: A shower early in the morning, with a high of 77 and low of 55 degrees.
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Tuesday: Plenty of sunshine, temps: high: 81, low: 52.
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Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 80 and low of 55 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. 17-year-old shot in abdomen, man shot in the head in separate Champaign shootings (wandtv.com) — Two separate overnight shootings in Champaign left a 17-year-old and a 36-year-old hospitalized in stable condition, one with an abdominal wound and the other with a head wound. Both victims arrived at a local hospital on their own, and police say the incidents are unrelated. Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact Champaign Police or leave anonymous tips with Crime Stoppers.
2. World Championship Old-time Piano Playing Contest Winners (oxfordeagle.com) — A Champaign resident, Faye Ballard, just captured the Senior Division title at the World Championship Old-time Piano Playing Contest in Mississippi, standing out among competitors from across the globe. The festival, held annually in Oxford since 2016, drew pianists performing food- and drink-themed pieces, with winners named in multiple age and style divisions.
3. 2026 06/02 (southernillinoisnow.com) — Champaign is part of the life story of Helen Louise Denton, who was born here in 1948 and has a brother still living in the city. Her funeral service is set for Tuesday, June 2, in St. Elmo, with visitation earlier that day and memorials suggested to New Horizons Church or a charity of choice.
4. POWER Act stalls as Illinois General Assembly wraps up spring session (wcia.com) — Illinois lawmakers ended their spring session without passing the POWER Act, a major proposal to tighten regulations on data centers, even as debate over their environmental and economic impact grows. That same month, Champaign County leaders approved a one-year moratorium on new data centers to study their effects. Expect continued negotiations this summer that could shape future projects near Champaign.
📸 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!
Tuesday June 2
- Facilities Committee Meeting
Champaign CUSD 4 Champaign, IL 61820
5:30 pm Wednesday June 3
- Women Elevating Women Resource Group
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce Large Conference Room, 303 W. Kirby Ave. Champaign, Il. 61820
8:30 am - Donate Your Used Board Games! →
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce 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
2:00 pm - Exhibit of Local Art by Anna Spencer →
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce 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
2:00 pm Thursday June 4
- Donate Your Used Board Games! →
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce 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
2:00 pm - Exhibit of Local Art by Anna Spencer →
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce 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
2:00 pm Friday June 5
- Donate Your Used Board Games! →
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce 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
2:00 pm Saturday June 6
- Exhibit of Local Art by Anna Spencer →
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce 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
2:00 pm
📣 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
Tuesday June 2
- Facilities Committee Meeting
Champaign CUSD 4 Champaign, IL 61820
5:30 pm Wednesday June 3
- Women Elevating Women Resource Group
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce Large Conference Room, 303 W. Kirby Ave. Champaign, Il. 61820
8:30 am Friday June 5
- Rock Show at Rose Bowl →
Rose Bowl Tavern, 106 N Race St #1, Urbana
8:00 pm Saturday June 6
- The Big Dig! — Sola Gratia Farm →
The Community Classroom at Sola Gratia Farm, 2200 S Philo Rd, Urbana
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
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Missing cat near Green and Victor in Champaign.
His name is Kevin. Will probably be skittish since he’s not used to be being outside. Please contact me if you see him! (Nextdoor Wildwood) -
Has anyone seen a little grey tabby cat in the past day or so?
She's an indoor cat that I believe has escaped and I've looked everywhere for her. (Nextdoor Ayrshire)
- Staff Management | SMX posted a job opening for Overnight Warehouse Material Handler in Champaign. Apply here.
- Kohl's Corp. posted a job opening for Part-Time Store Merchandising Associate (Early Morning) 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: The future (Thank you Brenda C. for sending it in!)Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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