Coffee in hand, Champaign? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: nuEra Champaign Now Serving Medical Patients! and 10 more events.
Today's riddle: Why did the girl pig break up with the boy pig? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. 'Not again': Champaign pastor reacts to Monday's shooting (wcia.com) — A recent shooting that injured a teenager in Champaign has a local pastor urging parents to take more responsibility as police report finding three illegal guns while using license plate readers to track suspects. Community leaders, including the Champaign schools superintendent, stress how neighborhood violence follows students into classrooms. The pastor says a small group of disconnected youth is repeatedly involved in gun incidents.
2. A guide to local, national domestic violence resources (dailyillini.com) — If you or someone you know in Champaign County is facing domestic or sexual violence, local help is available 24/7 through Courage Connection and RACES, with free, confidential hotlines and shelter, counseling, and legal advocacy. The guide also highlights campus support at the Women's Resources Center and national hotlines, emphasizing survivor-centered, culturally responsive services. Keep these numbers handy and share them widely in our community.
3. Fall Leaf and Yard Waste Collection in Champaign-Urbana and Beyond (chambanamoms.com) — If you live in Champaign or Urbana, fall leaf and yard waste pickup is coming soon, with free curbside collection starting October 26 in Champaign and specific November and December weeks in Urbana. The guide explains what can be bagged, where burning is banned, and how nearby towns like Rantoul, Mahomet, St. Joseph, and Savoy handle leaves. It also highlights the Urbana Landscape Recycling Center as a year-round option.
4. Fundraiser by Don Phelps : In Memory of Alex Rodriguez: Help With Funeral Expenses (gofundme.com) — A family in Champaign is mourning the unexpected death of Alex Rodriguez, who passed away on September 28, and they've launched a fundraiser to help cover funeral, cremation, and memorial costs. Organizers stress that emotional support matters most, but any financial contribution will ease immediate expenses. Neighbors who knew Alex or his family may wish to offer condolences or assistance.
5. Illinois Researcher Named 2026 MacArthur Fellow (newswise.com) — A University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign sustainability professor has been named a 2026 MacArthur "genius grant" fellow, bringing major national recognition and funding to work based in Champaign. His research team uses satellites, AI, and supercomputing to improve farming decisions and conservation, with tools already influencing crop insurance, risk management, and agricultural policy. Expect this honor to further elevate Champaign's role in cutting-edge agricultural science.
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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: "Why did the girl pig break up with the boy pig?" — Because he was such a boar! (Thank you Theresa H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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