Good Day
Champaign
Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025
Supporting our sponsors is one of the best ways to support Good Day Champaign.
Good morning, Champaign. Here's your local news at a glance for Wednesday, the 23rd of April.
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ Governor JB Pritzker announced $30 million in state grants to revitalize downtown areas and commercial corridors across Illinois—funds that come from the RDMS and RISE programs and aim to improve public spaces and boost local jobs. In Champaign, Bubin Properties received $771,263 to renovate a vacant building—an effort that will help spur further economic growth in the area. WICS
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ The Illinois Department of Transportation has launched a campaign during National Work Zone Awareness Week—introducing new video requirements for student drivers, billboard ads, and expanded distracted driving patrols to reduce work zone crashes. The new effort targets drivers aged 15 to 34 and follows recent trends of hundreds of crashes involving distracted drivers. WICS
- ➤ Champaign City Council approved buying Chase Bank for nearly $6 million to expand office space because the current building is overcrowded. The deal includes about $3 million for the building, $25,000 for closing costs and almost $3 million for renovations — the city will finalize the purchase by early May and hire five new workers for the mental health co-response unit launching in September — with renovations lasting six months. WICS
- ➤ Champaign will see new storm sewers, sidewalks and street lighting installed as part of the Garden Hills Drainage Improvement Project to reduce flooding. Construction may begin next month and finish in summer 2027 — a local resident said the upgrades give him hope to stay in the neighborhood. WCIA
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ University of Illinois alum and Paralympic champion Susannah Scaroni won the 129th Boston Marathon on Monday in Boston—she finished in 1:35:20 and beat second-place finisher Catherine Debrunner by over two minutes. WCIA
TRAVEL NEWS
- ➤ TODAY'S SPONSOR Compression packing cubes are a travel game-changer — fit twice as much, stay organized, and avoid suitcase chaos. Perfect for any trip, they keep clothes tidy, save space, and make packing and unpacking a breeze. The Buy
Supporting our sponsors is one of the best ways to support Good Day Champaign.
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SAFe® 5.1 POPM Certification Training
9 AM - 1 AM — City of Champaign — Early Bird: $1199 | Regular: $1899 — Gain your SAFe® PO/PM certification through interactive sessions and real-world applications.
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Project Management Techniques Certification
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. — HQ — Course completion certificate — Gain essential project management skills through an interactive workshop led by experienced trainers.
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Hatsuyuki Hamada Seminar
9 a.m. to 11 p.m. — Kokushi Midwest Judo — Registration required — Renowned sensei Hatsuyuki Hamada shares his expertise in a two-day judo seminar.
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Candlelight Yoga
6-7 p.m. — Fire Doll Studio — Suggested donation $11-$33 — Unwind and rejuvenate with a soothing yoga class for all levels in a tranquil setting.
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Infection Prevention 3-Day Training
8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. — Wyndham Garden Urbana Champaign — Costs vary — Enhance your skills in long-term care infection prevention with expert-led sessions.
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Cinderella Concert
7:30-11:30 p.m. — Virginia Theatre — Ticket prices vary — Rock out to the iconic sounds of hard rock band Cinderella, known for their hits from the '80s.
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Champaign Cinco De Mayo Bar Crawl
4-11 p.m. — City of Champaign — Tickets available — Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with exclusive access to top bars and festive vibes.
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Star Wars Trivia at Pour Bros
2-4 p.m. — Pour Bros. Craft Taproom — Free to play — Test your knowledge of the galaxy far, far away with exciting trivia and great prizes.
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Cinco De Mayo Celebration
11 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. — Esquire Lounge — Order a Modelo pint and keep the souvenir glass while enjoying food and drink specials.
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Touch-A-Truck Day
9 AM – 1 PM — Centennial Park — Free entry — Experience the thrill of climbing and honking real trucks and vehicles.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
Maximize Space and Stay Organized with Compression Packing Cubes
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Beyond just saving space, compression packing cubes keep your luggage neat and organized. Group your outfits by day or category, separate clean and dirty clothes, or designate cubes for different family members when traveling together. No more rummaging through your suitcase — everything stays in its place, easily accessible when you need it.
Lightweight and durable, these cubes are ideal for carry-ons and checked bags alike. They also help prevent overpacking by limiting how much you can fit in each cube. Once you try them, you’ll wonder how you ever traveled without them.
Supporting our sponsors is one of the best ways to support Good Day Champaign.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.
~ Helen Keller
About Good Day Champaign
Welcome to the Good Day Champaign, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Champaign, Illinois community. If you like the Good Day Champaign, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Champaign.
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