🌱 Patch AM: How a new wet lab in Research Park could boost local careers

Hello Champaign! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How a new wet lab in Research Park could boost local careers
• Meet the Garden Hills special-ed teacher families and students can't stop praising.
• How Champaign County's new app could simplify your next trip to vote.

Today's riddle: Why did the chicken go to the gym? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
Today's Champaign Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's Best Mobile Network in the US according to Ookla Speedtest®. Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 1H 2026. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Champaign Patch AM possible.
Find a T-Mobile store near Champaign.

Weather forecast:

• Friday: Hot with a t-storm in spots, with a high of 96 and low of 68 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
• Saturday: Variable clouds, a t-storm, temps: high: 89, low: 67.
• Sunday: Partly sunny and less humid, with a high of 85 and low of 60 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. U of I's Research Park hosts ribbon cutting for new PurposeBuilt Brands research facility (wcia.com) — A new PurposeBuilt Brands research and development facility has officially opened in the U of I Research Park on South Oak Street in Champaign, giving local engineering and science students hands-on wet-lab experience. Company leaders say the location strengthens collaboration with campus talent while keeping operations close to their Gurnee headquarters, potentially bringing more research activity and professional opportunities to Champaign residents.
   

2. Teacher of the Week: Megan Nierenhausen, special education, Garden Hills Academy, Champaign (news-gazette.com) — A special-education teacher at Champaign's Garden Hills Academy, Megan Nierenhausen has become a key part of the school community over five years, supporting students and staff. She's celebrated for energetic teaching, book-study lessons, and helping students reach those "light bulb" learning moments while advocating closely for their needs and families.
   

3. Champaign County Clerk's new election app (wandtv.com) — Champaign County voters will soon have a new Poll Tracker app to find polling places and drop boxes, check wait times, and access election updates. The app also links to voter registration, vote-by-mail requests, sample ballots, and BallotTrax so residents can monitor their mail-in ballot status and receive notifications right from their phones.
   

4. Champaign County records 12 traffic bookings for week ending Aug. 30 (chambanasun.com) — Champaign County authorities recorded 12 traffic-related jail bookings for the week ending Aug. 30, highlighting several DUI and serious driving offenses handled at the county correctional center. While individual details are listed, residents mainly see a snapshot of recent enforcement activity on local roads and how aggressively impaired and unlicensed driving is being addressed.
   

5. Week ending Aug. 22: Lowest regular gas in Champaign County reaches $4.03 (chambanasun.com) — Drivers across Champaign County saw the lowest reported regular gas price hit $4.03 per gallon during the week ending Aug. 22, with an average of $4.26. The article explains how refinery outages, global tensions, and seasonal demand have pushed prices higher in Illinois and nationwide, and notes that prices can change quickly from day to day.
   

📸 Around Champaign

Subscribe

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!

Friday September 4
• Varsity Football vs. Mahomet
  Central High School Champaign, IL 61820
  7:00 pm
Saturday September 5
• Volleyball JV Tournament
  Central High School Champaign, IL 61820
  8:00 am
• Boys Soccer @ Urbana
  Central High School Champaign, IL 61820
  8:00 am
• Board Game Demo Days @The Scratching Post CU!
  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
Monday September 7
• Labor Day - No School
  Champaign CUSD 4 Champaign, IL 61820
• Girls Golf @ Charleston
  Central High School Champaign, IL 61820
  4:00 pm
Tuesday September 8
• The Renewal Room
  Ujima Retreat Center, 4303 S High Cross Rd, Urbana
  8:30 am
• UPBringing | Session #1 | LGBTQ+ 101
  The UP Center of Champaign County, 1001 S Wright St, Champaign
  5:30 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

Friday September 4
• Cross Country-MS @ Chrisman (Game) →
  Franklin Middle School Away - CHRISMAN
  4:00 pm
• XC @ Chrisman
  Jefferson Middle School Champaign, IL 61821
  4:00 pm
• Boys Soccer @ Urbana
  Central High School Champaign, IL 61820
  4:00 pm
• Musical AUDITIONS
  Centennial High School Auditorium
  4:00 pm

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

• Hi neighbors!
  I'm Alan Dunahee and have recently moved into the Champaign area. I'm offering local handyman help here in Urbana/Champaign for small home projects… (Nextdoor Trails of Chestnut Grove)
• Update 9/3
  Cat came back last night and ate but still couldn't get pic. Haven't seen it tonight. 9/2We have a cat hanging out in the yard tonight. Put out… (Nextdoor Boulder Ridge West)

• Maurices posted a job opening for Retail Assistant Manager - Full-Time in Champaign. Apply here.
• MyJobsCorner posted a job opening for Cleaner Jobs: Hiring Immediately! Full Time / Part Time - $18-$47/Hr 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: He was working on his pecks (pecs). (Thank you W F C. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

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