Local News

(NEWTON) Congratulations to Jasper County Board Chairman Jason Warfel who has been recently selected as a member of the 2026 class of Edgar Fellows, a prestigious statewide leadership initiative that brings together emerging leaders from throughout Illinois. Warfel is one of only forty (40) individuals selected from approximately 140 nominees statewide for the highly competitive program as candidates were chosen by a committee representing the public, private, and academic sectors after an extensive evaluation process. Founded […]

(BELLEVILLE) The Illinois Wheat Association is hosting its annual Wheat Plot Tour today at the Southern Illinois University’s Belleville Research Center. The event invited farmers and researchers to tour wheat fields, evaluate winter wheat conditions, and estimate crop yields across downstate Illinois. Four tour groups will begin their field scouting at 9:00 this morning in multiple counties with a final reporting session at 4:00 at the Belleville Center. The Teutopolis […]

(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois Republican Party has elected a new leader. It’s former DuPage County Auditor Bob Grogan, who said yesterday that he is honored and humbled to be the next chair for the state GOP. It was this past Monday that the Republican State Central Committee elected Grogan over incumbent chair Kathy Salvi. It was last month in April that the Illinois Democrats reelected State Representative Lisa Hernandez of Cicero as the State Party […]

(OLNEY/NEWTON) After this morning’s rain ends, our downstate area sky will dry up for the rest of today, through tonight, and most all of tomorrow. With a slight chance of more rain back in the forecast by late Thursday night, most all of Friday’s forecast will include more widespread rain chances. Then after we dry out for a bit on Saturday, rain chances return by late Saturday night continuing into Sunday afternoon, although temperatures are expected […]

(OLNEY/NEWTON) With a Blood Emergency is place throughout the Midwest, the American Red Cross is asking area blood donors to get out and give blood at their next earliest opportunity to help replenish low area blood supplies on hand :  Tuesday (5/19/26) at the Blood Donation Center in Effingham from 11:30 to 7:30 Wednesday (5/20/26) at the Holy Cross Parish Hall in Wendelin from 1:30 to 5:30 Wednesday (5/20/26) at the Palestine […]

(SPRINGFIELD) Although the USDA’s latest Crop Progress & Conditions Report shows that statewide corn and soybean planting are about three-quarters complete, the question remains about new concerns of replanting due to recent heavy rains. In yesterday’s report, farmers have 75% of the corn planted around Illinois, a jump from 54% the previous week. Soybean planting hit 74% as of Sunday, up from 57% the week before. While 46% of the […]

(NEWTON) The Jasper County School Board of Education met for its regular monthly meeting in May last night in Newton. The Board : discussed the amended budget for Fiscal Year 2026 and then set a Budget Hearing prior to the Board’s next regular monthly meeting on June 22nd at 6:20 that Monday evening : approved the payment of bills for April as presented : approved the $447,000 bid from Grunloh […]

(SPRINGFIELD) Today is the first day of the filing period for independents and new party candidates seeking state and federal offices in Illinois. Candidates have had since February 25th to collect signatures and have today thru May 25th to file at the Illinois State Board of Elections Office in Springfield. The 2026 Mid-Term election will be held Tuesday, November 3rd. (SPRINGFIELD) A proposed law could allow child services to consider […]

(OLNEY/NEWTON) As the approaching low pressure storm system moves into Illinois today, we’ll have more rain and thunderstorm activity later today through tonight before ending tomorrow morning. After an average of one to three inches of rain yesterday, with some spots getting between four and seven inches of rain, flash flooding is a risk with more rain likely the next 24 hours. Then after a dry Thursday, it will be a day likely full of rain on Friday, followed by a dry […]