Genevieve Kirk said it was only fitting that this year’s Champaign Center Parade of Lights pay tribute to the man credited with inventing the first LED.

University of Illinois Professor Emeritus Nick Holonyak Jr. is the honorary grand marshal of the 19th annual Parade of Lights. Holonyak is 91, and he retired from teaching in 2013.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday may be some of the biggest shopping days of the year for large retailers, but smaller shops across the country are betting on Small Business Saturday to bring local customers through their doors. Businesses in downtown Champaign will be celebrating with a Shop Local event throughout the day.  

What can businesses do to help those who are homeless in the community? That was one of the questions covered at a panel discussion hosted on Wednesday by the Champaign Center Partnership, a local business group.