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🌱 Were you awake near Kerr Avenue during Sunday’s early-morning robbery?
Urbana, Illinois Patch AM: a 5 min readGood morning Urbana! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Were you awake near Kerr Avenue during Sunday’s early-morning robbery?
- How Urbana’s new fire chief rose from a small-town legacy
- See which Urbana-area seniors just earned new Hickory Point Bank scholarships
Today's riddle: what do you call a rabbit with fleas? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Wednesday: Becoming windier and cooler, with a high of 67 and low of 42 degrees.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny and pleasant, temps: high: 70, low: 52.
- Friday: A couple of showers, with a high of 76 and low of 60 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Urbana police investigate armed robbery and shooting on Kerr Avenue (wixy.com) — Urbana police are investigating an armed robbery and shooting on the 600 block of Kerr Avenue that left one victim injured but in non-life-threatening condition. Investigators are asking nearby residents to check surveillance footage and share any tips with Urbana police or Champaign County Crime Stoppers. Authorities urge neighbors to stay alert and report suspicious activity around Kerr Avenue. 
2. Bambrey: 'Incredibly well-deserved honor' for Tate; UI professor talks UFOs; another 'chief' in Doggett family (news-gazette.com) — Urbana has officially named Steve Doggett Jr. as its new full-time fire chief, with Mayor DeShawn Williams and city council backing his promotion after years of local service. The same radio show also celebrated longtime Illini sports voice Loren Tate’s Lou Liay Spirit Award, explored a UI astronomy professor’s take on UFO reports, and spotlighted Champaign audio shop Good Vibes Sound ahead of a new People’s Choice contest.
3. Top of the Morning, May 12, 2026 (news-gazette.com) — Urbana families can celebrate that Urbana High seniors were among the first Hickory Point Bank Merit Scholars honored in a new Champaign-Urbana awards program. Twenty‑one local students from six area high schools received cash scholarships, including one $5,000 top prize, recognizing strong grades, test scores and thoughtful essays at a downtown Champaign ceremony Monday night.
4. Champaign firefighter spouses train like their partners at annual Fire Ops event (dailydispatch.com) — Spouses of Champaign firefighters recently suited up in Mahomet to experience realistic fire and rescue drills alongside their partners. One participant’s husband serves with the Urbana Fire Department, highlighting the shared challenges local firefighting families face. The event deepened appreciation for the physical and emotional demands on firefighters across Champaign-Urbana.
📸 Around Urbana
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🗓
Upcoming Events in
Urbana
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
-
Local Art Exhibit - Sydney Bruner →
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 -
Varsity baseball vs. Monticello
Central High School Champaign, IL 61820
4:30 pm -
Local Art Exhibit - Sydney Bruner →
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 -
Varsity Baseball vs. Danville
Central High School Champaign, IL 61820
4:30 pm -
JV Baseball @ Danville
Central High School Champaign, IL 61820
4:30 pm -
Drag Bingo @The Scratching Post! →
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
8:00 pm -
Local Art Exhibit - Sydney Bruner →
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 -
Varsity Baseball @ Danville
Central High School Champaign, IL 61820
4:30 pm
Thursday May 14
Friday May 15
Saturday May 16
Monday May 18
📣 Urbana 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
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Can Your Employee Handbook Become Evidence?
Chamber Office Conference Room, 303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign
9:00 am -
Walk-In Interviews
Express Employment Champaign, 1001 N. Mattis Ave, Champaign
9:00 am -
Middle Schools Facilities Planning Open House
Jefferson Middle School, 1115 Crescent Dr, Champaign
5:30 pm -
Read and Rebound
Garden Hills Elem School Champaign, IL 61821
4:00 pm
Wednesday May 13
Thursday May 14
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
- Just call Funk Away Garbage Cleaning Service LLC 📲🏘️🧼🫧🚿💦
they are fully insured for your peace of mind, and they do great quality service all at a reasonable price. (Nextdoor South Urbana)
- Urbana School District #116 posted a job opening for District Custodian in Urbana. Apply here.
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign posted a job opening for Residence Hall Director - Undergraduate Residence Halls - Residential Life in Urbana. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Urbana here.
Ok Urbana! 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: Bugs Bunny ! (Thank you bruce A. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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