Good morning Champaign! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Prairie Artist Market at Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: What do you call cows dancing in the dark 🤔 (Answer below!)
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1. Champaign police consider expanding drone fleet two years after program launch (cu-citizenaccess.org) — Champaign residents may soon see more police drones in the sky as the city's department considers expanding its current fleet of seven devices and 16 licensed pilots. Officials say drones are used under strict Illinois laws for emergencies, searches, warrants and documenting crashes, with policies limiting how long any recorded images of people are kept.
2. New Illini Hall Reaches Milestone at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (myradiolink.com) — A major milestone just landed on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus as the new Illini Hall's steel frame is now complete in Champaign, advancing a four-phase project that also renovates historic Altgeld Hall. The 140,000-square-foot facility will soon house math, statistics, and a new data science center, promising upgraded classrooms, labs, and collaboration spaces for local students and faculty.
3. 16 property bookings reported in Champaign County for week ending Sept. 13 (chambanasun.com) — For the week ending Sept. 13, Champaign County authorities recorded 16 bookings in the property category at the county correctional center, covering alleged offenses from retail theft and burglary to stolen vehicles and identity theft. These records give residents a snapshot of recent criminal charges shaping local public safety and justice activity.
4. 241 lawyers with active licenses in cities within Champaign County as of August (chambanasun.com) — Champaign residents have access to a sizable legal community, with 128 of Champaign County's 241 actively licensed lawyers based in the city itself as of August. The countywide total dipped slightly from July, while statewide figures show Illinois remains one of the nation's most lawyer-dense states, with strong earning potential across experience levels.
5. Champaign County, Illinois, typical home value rises 4.4% to $240,639 in August 2026 (chambanasun.com) — Home values across Champaign County, including the city of Champaign, climbed 4.4% over the past year, with the typical home now valued at about $240,600. Prices here remain below Illinois and U.S. averages, but single-family homes are rising fastest, which could influence what you pay to buy or sell locally.
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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: Night Moo-s (Thank you John S. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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