Local News

(SPRINGFIELD) The USDA is launching a new online portal to streamline reporting of transactions involving U.S. agricultural land by foreign persons, which can include businesses and governments, under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA). The new online portal is part of a broader effort to strengthen and protect American farmland as the USDA continues its implementation of the National Farm Security Action Plan. The new online portal is available at afida.landmark.usda.gov and […]

(NEWTON) The Newton City Council met for a regularly scheduled meeting this past Tuesday night and here’s a report from the unofficial minutes from the meeting. The Council : approved the payment of pre-paid bills worth $297,640 and the accounts payable worth $271,158 : approved the TIF Application submitted for 110 South Van Buren Street by United Country Burke Auction & Realty for 15% of the total project cost, up […]

(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois Department of Employment Security says the state’s unemployment rate was unchanged last month, at 5.1%, based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The number of unemployed persons in April was up eight-tenths of a percentage point (0.8%) from March, and up 12.7% over the same month one year ago. The national joblessness rate for April came in at 4;3%. For more details, go to […]

(OLNEY/NEWTON) With no major storm systems expected to impact our downstate area over the next several days and nights, the severe weather risk will remain low, and the chances of heavy rainfall amounts are very low. In fact, we’ll start a warming trend today with a high in the 70’s and into the 80’s by the first of next week. Our rain chances are pretty much on-and-off in nature with […]

(OLNEY) The Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Board of Trustees had its regular monthly meeting for May earlier this week at Lincoln Trail College, northeast of Robinson. The Board : approved the payment of all bills as presented : reviewed the recent Spring 2026 IECC Facilities & Technology Survey, which generated 288 responses on facilities and 284 responses on technology : waived a second reading and approved revisions for three District […]

(OLNEY/NEWTON/NOBLE) A reminder that most all city and village halls in the area will be closed next Monday, in observance of Memorial Day 2026. After normal office hours tomorrow, the village and city halls will then be back open Tuesday of next week, May 26th, with normal hours. In addition, in Olney, the brush dump will also be closed next Monday, however it is open today, tomorrow, and Saturday of […]

(SPRINGFIELD) During the next several weeks, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct the June agricultural survey by contacting over 90,000 producers across the nation to determine crop acreage and stock levels as of June 1st, with the acreage and stock reports to be released June 30th. Many consider the June ag survey as one of the most significant and recognized survey’s conducted by the USDA as the results […]

(SPRINGFIELD) Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed an executive order to establish a new Aging Commission to help guide and implement the state’s new ten-year blueprint to address the needs of older adults in Illinois, especially those with disabilities and their caregivers. Members will soon be chosen for the EngAging Illinois Multisector Plan for Aging Commission.  (CENTRALIA) A company in nearby Marion County has announced it will invest more than $15 million to expand operations with help […]

(OLNEY/NEWTON) We’ll have a cloudy, cool, and dry sky on tap for this Thursday throughout our downstate area, although a warming trend will begin tomorrow with warmer air and higher humidity levels in the weekend forecast. However, more rain chances accompany the warm up in our forecast, calling for widespread rain tomorrow, then after a mostly dry day Saturday, we’ll have more scattered rain chances Sunday afternoon into Monday afternoon […]