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šŸŒ± How a 2024 school lockdown ended in a 10-year sentence

Urbana, Illinois Patch AM: a 4 min read

Morning Urbana! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ā˜•ļøļø

In today's newsletter:

  • How a 2024 school lockdown ended in a 10-year sentence
  • What treasures will you find at Urbanaā€™s Halloween book sale fundraiser?
  • How Urbana test plots could reshape future soybean farming

Also on today's calendar: International Folk Dance and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What do an island and the letter "t" have in common? šŸ¤” (Answer below!)

From our Partner
Today's Urbana 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 SpeedtestĀ®. Based on analysis by OoklaĀ® of Speedtest IntelligenceĀ® data 1H 2026. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Urbana Patch AM possible.
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Weather forecast:

  • Sunday: Cloudy, humid; a p.m. t-storm, with a high of 79 and low of 60 degrees.
  • Monday: A shower and t-storm; cooler, temps: high: 67, low: 56.
  • Tuesday: Mostly cloudy with a shower, with a high of 67 and low of 53 degrees.

šŸ“° News we're reading

1. Champaign man to serve 10 years for weapon possession in high speed chase incident (news-gazette.com) ā€” A Champaign man has been sentenced in Urbana to 10 years in prison for felon firearm possession tied to a 2024 high-speed chase that triggered a soft lockdown at Booker T. Washington STEM Academy. Prosecutors relied on dashcam and bodycam footage plus DNA from a recovered gun, while two other men from Champaign and Rantoul also received lengthy sentences for related weapons charges.
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2. UC Books to Prisoners Fall Benefit Book Sale (chambanamoms.com) ā€” A big fall book sale is coming to the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center on October 31, offering about 8,000 gently used books for just $1ā€“$2 each. Families can also browse mystery book bags, handmade ā€œnovel jewelry,ā€ baked goods, and other items, all to support UC Books to Prisonersā€™ work sending free books to people incarcerated in Illinois.
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3. Scientists hope deeper-rooted soybeans can withstand climate extremes and store more carbon (orlandosentinel.com) ā€” Researchers are testing genetically engineered soybeans at a research farm in Urbana to see if deeper roots can better handle climate extremes and store more carbon in the soil. The work, led by the Salk Institute and partners, could eventually influence how central Illinois farmers grow soybeans and manage their fields, though itā€™s still in the experimental stage.
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4. 25% of St. Joseph-Ogden High School graduates at Illinois community colleges took remedial courses in 2024-25 (silnews.com) ā€” New state data show how St. Joseph-Ogden and other Champaign County high schools, including Urbana High School, are preparing graduates for college, with Urbanaā€™s remediation rate notably higher than several peers. The report also highlights increased state K-12 funding and a new child tax credit that could affect many Urbana familiesā€™ finances.
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šŸ“ø Around Urbana

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šŸ—“ Upcoming Events in Urbana

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ā˜… Featured events ā˜…

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šŸ“£ Urbana Shout Outs!

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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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šŸ’¬ Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Are there local support groups for caregivers of people who have dementia?
    A friend of mine will definitely benefit from it but I canā€™t find anything specific online. Thank you in advance! (Nextdoor Middle Urbana)
  • Iā€™m looking for someone to clean a moved-out home on Sep 29 or 30.
    About 1000 sf. I would like it clean for the new owner to move in. Please leave a number or a way to reach out. Possibly an estimate for your timeā€¦ (Nextdoor North Urbana)
  • Urbana Country Club posted a job opening for PM Line Cook in Urbana. Apply here.
  • Trice Healthcare posted a job opening for Food Service Worker 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: They are both in the middle of water. (Thank you Curt K. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

šŸ‘‰ Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you whatā€™s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

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Stay in the loop with what's happening in Urbana

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.

Stay in the loop with what's happening in Urbana

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.