Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Why a ghost gun arrest has police boosting Campustown patrols

Also check out Girls BB Open Gym on the Champaign Patch calendar

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Wednesday August 26th Patch AM
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Greetings Champaign! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Why a ghost gun arrest has police boosting Campustown patrols
  • How a new homelessness plan could change housing help here
  • Crash near Clinton sends two victims to Champaign hospitals

Today's riddle: What did the wall say to the other wall. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: Humid with a thunderstorm, with a high of 84 and low of 59 degrees.
  • Thursday: Mostly sunny and humid, temps: high: 81, low: 58.
  • Friday: Partly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 82 and low of 55 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Juvenile arrested in Campustown early Sunday on weapons charges (news-gazette.com) — Police arrested a juvenile in Campustown early Sunday after reports of two armed individuals near Green and Fifth streets in Champaign, recovering what they describe as a "ghost gun." University of Illinois Police say extra security is focused on the Green Street area, and they're asking anyone with information or video to contact UIPD or Champaign County Crime Stoppers anonymously.
   

2. Homelessness Holds Steady, New Plan Emerges (foxillinois.com) — Homelessness in Champaign County has held roughly steady, but officials report a small drop in people living unsheltered and are preparing a new strategic plan to push numbers down further. With hundreds of affordable units lost in Champaign and Urbana, local providers are emphasizing rental assistance, court-based prevention, and a more coordinated system of shelters and housing services set to launch this fall.
   

3. Driver killed in 2 vehicle crash in Clinton identified (wandtv.com) — A 68-year-old DeLand woman has been identified as the driver killed in a two-vehicle crash on Route 10 near Clinton, with two others taken to hospitals in Champaign for treatment. Illinois State Police and local authorities are still investigating the collision, which left one passenger airlifted and another driver transported by ambulance, with no condition updates released yet.
   

4. Bloomington Public Works crews working overtime to clean up storm damage (centralillinoisproud.com) — Bloomington is still clearing massive storm debris, and Champaign residents should know their city's forestry crew has been working alongside Bloomington's to speed the cleanup. Bloomington officials say more than 1,000 loads of debris have already been collected, with overtime hours continuing this week and hundreds of damaged tree limbs still to be addressed across the city.
   

5. University of Illinois classes begin 'with great energy' (ipmnewsroom.org) — New and returning University of Illinois students are filling Champaign classrooms with what instructors describe as "great energy," even as some worry about Flock Safety license plate readers in town. A freshman engineering student has joined a petition over privacy concerns, while the City of Champaign stresses it doesn't use Flock's video service and only captures plate images. Classes also kicked off at U of I's Springfield and Chicago campuses.
   

📸 Around Champaign

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Champaign

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🗓 Events Nearby

    Wednesday August 26
  • BASEBALL @ Urbana
    Jefferson Middle School Champaign, IL 61821
    4:00 pm
  • SOFTBALL vs. Rantoul
    Jefferson Middle School Champaign, IL 61821
    4:00 pm
  • Volleyball vs. STM * All levels
    Central High School Champaign, IL 61820
    5:00 pm
  • Flag Football @ Bloomington
    Central High School Champaign, IL 61820
    5:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • I recently hired Cody Howard from Villa Grove to clean up and haul away a very large, difficult mess from our backyard patio area.
    This was much more than ordinary yard waste. The patio had become badly overgrown with large bushes, thorny sticker plants, and volunteer trees. The… (Nextdoor South Church)
  • Is this your pup?
    Found her wandering near Clover and Tamarack Ct. In Southwood neighborhood today @ 2:45. No collar. Very sweet. Please message me if you know who she… (Nextdoor Robeson Park)
  • Pepsi Cola Champaign Urbana Bottling Company posted a job opening for Warehouse Opener in Champaign. Apply here.
  • Amazon posted a job opening for Area Manager 2026 - Illinois (Recent and Upcoming Graduates) 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: Meet me at the corner. (Thank you Earlene M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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