Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Death On University Of Illinois Campus Believed To Be Accidental: Police

Make time for nuEra Champaign Now Serving Medical Patients! on the Champaign Patch calendar

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Tuesday September 29th Patch AM
Tuesday September 29th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Hi there, Champaign! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☕️️

Hosting an event in Champaign? Let Patch get the word out for you. Post it to the Patch calendar.

In today's newsletter:

  • Police probe apparent accidental death near Alma Mater on campus
  • What witnesses saw before a teen was shot in north Champaign.
  • Why Sooie Bros BBQ is finally reopening its Champaign doors today

Also on today's calendar: nuEra Champaign Now Serving Medical Patients! and 10 more events.

Today's riddle: What do you call a one-legged Big Foot? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Tuesday: Partly sunny and warm, with a high of 79 and low of 55 degrees.
  • Wednesday: Cloudy and very warm, temps: high: 84, low: 64.
  • Thursday: Rain and a t-storm; breezy, with a high of 79 and low of 56 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Death On University Of Illinois Campus Believed To Be Accidental: Police (patch.com) — A 29-year-old man was found unresponsive near the Alma Mater statue at Green and Wright streets on the University of Illinois campus in Urbana, and was later pronounced dead by the Champaign County Coroner. Police say there are no signs of foul play and believe the death was accidental, noting there was no ongoing threat to the campus community as the investigation continues.
   

2. Teen injured in Champaign shooting (news-gazette.com) — A 16-year-old was seriously injured in a daytime shooting on North Third Street in Champaign, and police are still searching for the suspects. Officers and detectives remain in the neighborhood gathering evidence and video, and residents are urged to share anonymous tips with Champaign County Crime Stoppers to help move the investigation forward.
   

3. Back on the Menu: Sooie Bros Returns After 18 Months (newschannel20.com) — Champaign residents can once again grab barbecue at Sooie Bros BBQ, which reopens today at 3 p.m. after an 18‑month closure and legal battle with the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District. The restaurant now has a new bar, longer hours, updated equipment, and a renewed focus on serving loyal local customers while its lawsuit with the health district continues.
   

4. UPDATE: Developer provides statement on potential data center (news-gazette.com) — A major data center campus is being explored just west of Champaign, with developer Clean Cloud Energy eyeing rural land near Mahomet that could bring millions in new tax revenue to Champaign County schools, emergency services, and infrastructure. Village officials stress that talks are still preliminary, no formal application has been filed, and residents will have multiple chances to review and comment before any decision is made.
   

5. Phelan, Goncalves earn Big Ten weekly honors (news-gazette.com) — Champaign volleyball fans can celebrate as Illinois standouts Kenna Phelan and Talita Goncalves picked up Big Ten weekly honors after the Illini's 2-0 conference start at Huff Hall. Their performances against ranked Minnesota and USC highlight a strong early season, with Illinois now heading to the Pacific Northwest for key road tests against Washington and Oregon.
   

📸 Around Champaign

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Champaign

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Champaign Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

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

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • The beauty of our full Harvest moon last evening 9/26/2026.
    Looking to the east from Kirby and Duncan area in Champaign, IL (Nextdoor Carrie Busey)
  • Does anyone have any cat food I just found this stray kitten.
    I think I'll take it in until I find a home for it (Nextdoor Douglass Estates)
  • Constellation Energy posted a job opening for Senior Reactor Operator in Champaign. Apply here.
  • Denny's posted a job opening for Cook - Franchise 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: Hop Squatch! (Thank you Terri R. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

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

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Champaign