Good Day
Champaign
Friday, May 16th, 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 Friday, the 16th of May.
CRIME NEWS
- ➤ Rantoul Police confirmed a deceased male was found at Heritage Lake at 6:00 a.m. Thursday and launched an investigation with help from the Rantoul Fire Department, Cornbelt Fire Protection District Dive Team, and the Champaign County Coroner’s Office — anyone with additional information is urged to contact police. WICS
- ➤ A Westville man was sentenced to 45 years in prison for fatally stabbing John Carmean in 2023—Carmean identified his attacker before dying on January 4 at Carle Foundation Hospital. WAND
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ The Champaign Police Department in partnership with the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Police, and over 200 local agencies is boosting seat belt enforcement from today to May 27 to improve safety during Memorial Day travel—drivers and passengers must buckle up or receive citations. City of Champaign
- ➤ Congresswoman Budzinski said Wednesday evening that a new bill approved by the House Agriculture Committee will cut SNAP benefits by increasing work requirements and shifting costs to states+ She warned the changes could remove food assistance for households with children, older adults, or people with disabilities, and the bill now moves to a full House vote. WCIA
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ The Illini will open their season on August 29 at Memorial Stadium in primetime against Western Illinois — kickoff time and TV details will be announced later. This move makes Illinois the fifth Big Ten team to begin its season in 2025 as four other conference teams play on August 28. WCIA
- ➤ Illinois men's basketball will add more games with Tennessee as they plan to play in Nashville in December and will meet again at the United Center in a future season. The Illini lost their last two meetings, including a buzzer beater finish in Champaign on Dec. 14—and now hold an all-time record of 1 to 4 against the Volunteers. 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.
-
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.
-
Moo-vie Nights at Prairie Farm
8-11 p.m. — Prairie Farm — Family-friendly fun — Enjoy a summer movie night featuring films centered on beloved farm animals.
-
Dance Arts Conservatory Presents Peter Pan
2:00 – 3:30 p.m. — Virginia Theatre — Family-friendly performance — A comedic ballet that brings the classic story of Peter Pan to life through various dance styles.
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
Don’t overlook compression packing cubes for your next trip — they’re a simple but transformative travel essential. Designed to compress clothing and maximize space, these cubes help you fit twice as much into your suitcase without the bulk.
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
The only normal people are the ones you don't know very well.
Know who said this? Send us an email!
Reveal the authorAbout 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.
Advertising Opportunities
Advertising with us will make sure you stay at the top of everyone's mind—in Champaign and across Illinois. You can learn more here. We'll work together to build a custom plan to hit your goals this year.
Alternatively, you can submit events, announcements, real estate listings, and job postings. We'll include them in our newsletter on whichever dates you like.
Community, delivered
Our hyper-local media company activates communities through daily email newsletters that curate the most positive, impactful local news + events – all for free.
Subscribe to Good Day Champaign
A free Champaign community newsletter.
- Daily local news
- We curate the most positive, impactful local news + events.
- 6AM City
- A publication of 6AM City, the nation's leading local newsletter-first media network. Nominate your city.
© 6AM City Inc. 2025. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Service. Questions? Contact us here
Sitemap: https://gooddaychampaign.com/sitemap