Good morning, Champaign.

The Illini Central community is rallying around eighth-grade student Parker Swaar who suffered a skull fracture after being hit by a shot put at a track meet and is receiving hospital care while school officials review safety protocols to support his recovery.

On the evening of May 4, Champaign County Sheriff's deputies responded to a reported stabbing on Gurth Drive during a domestic dispute where a 54-year-old woman was injured and taken to Carle Foundation Hospital in stable condition—her husband Rafael Magdaleno-Mendoza was arrested at 8:01 p.m.—he now faces charges of attempted murder, aggravated battery and aggravated domestic battery.

Governor Pritzker and Rivian announced a new 1.2 million-square-foot supplier park under construction in Normal that will create nearly 100 direct jobs.

Rivian will invest almost $120 million and the project is expected to finish in 2026—boosting clean energy manufacturing in the region.

Gasoline prices in Illinois dropped by 5.3 cents per gallon over the past week to $3.34, a decline of 15.0 cents from last month and 53.4 cents from last year—GasBuddy surveyed 4,378 stations.

On May 3, the City of Champaign ordered The Park Bar and Grill to close immediately for public safety reasons after videos showing fights surfaced online — officials said the bar must remain closed until they meet with the owner or until May 10.

Illinois lawmakers passed a 2023 law that lets small nuclear reactors be built next year — several senators now want to lift the 1987 ban on large reactors to help meet future energy needs.

Senate Bill 1527, with 27 co-sponsors as of May 5, will be reviewed by the committee before the upcoming third reading deadline.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a recall of vine ripe tomatoes sold in 11 states including Illinois because they may be contaminated with salmonella.

Customers who purchased the 4-count product packaged by Ray and Mascari Inc. should discard it and follow the recall instructions.

Touch-A-Truck Day

9 AM – 1 PM — Centennial Park — Free entry — Experience the thrill of climbing and honking real trucks and vehicles.

2025 Springtime Showdown #2

5 PM - 5 PM — Rantoul Family Sports Complex — $30 Adult Weekend Pass — Compete for a chance to enter the USSSA Great Lakes National Championships with exciting fastpitch action.

Illinois PTA SPOTLIGHT 2025

11 AM – 5 PM — Centennial High School — Registration required — Celebrate young artists' achievements with engaging workshops and an inspiring showcase of creativity.

The Space CU x Morning Jay’s Brunch Pop Up

10 AM – 3 PM — The Space — RSVP required — Experience a creatively delicious scratch-made brunch during UIUC Graduation weekend.

May Game Night: Theme TBA — CUDO Plays

6:30-9 p.m. — Hyatt Place Champaign/Urbana — Free entry — Connect with fellow game lovers and enjoy an evening of fun games and camaraderie.

Wiz Khalifa Concert

8-11 p.m. — The Canopy Club — $85/ealistmap — Get ready for a night of live music with Wiz Khalifa at the Canopy Club in Urbana.

May Social at Research Park

5:00 – 6:30 p.m. — Research Park at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — Free entry — Network over drinks and snacks with local professionals in a relaxed atmosphere.

Beetlejuice Jr Musical

2:00 – 3:30 PM — Virginia Theatre — Cost TBA — Experience the whimsical chaos of Beetlejuice in this youth theatre production.

Bentley's Trivia Night

6-8 p.m. — Bentley's Pub — Drink purchase required — Test your knowledge with trivia in the beer garden and compete for prizes!

Hamilton Walker's Wine Dinner

May 28-29 — Hamilton Walker's — Special ticket pricing — Enjoy a curated 5-course meal with wines from Francis Ford Coppola Winery.