Local News

(SPRINGFIELD) The unemployment rate in Illinois has risen to 5.2%, according to yesterday’s report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The state’s March joblessness rate is up from 5.0% reported for February. The Champaign-Urbana area, however, saw its 14th consecutive month of year-over-year job growth. (SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office has announced transition plans for the state’s retirement savings program for […]

(OLNEY/NEWTON) As another low pressure system approaches the Midwest, we’ll have a dry and warmer day on this Friday, although our next chance of showers and possible thunderstorms will roll through later tonight before ending early tomorrow morning. The sky will clear up then for Saturday with some sunshine in the forecast, plus now the forecast calls for a mostly dry day on Sunday for Mother’s Day. We’ll likely stay […]

(OLNEY/NEWTON) It’s every second Saturday in May that letter carriers in more than 10,000 cities, towns, and rural areas across America take part in the national Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, the largest one-day food drive in the United States. Led by letter carriers represented by the National Association of Letter Carriers (AFL-CIO), with help from rural letter carriers, other postal employees, and other volunteers, the drive has delivered more […]

(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois Department of Agriculture says it will distribute more than $796,000 in federal funds over the next three years to expand access to locally grown produce and boost the competitiveness of the state’s specialty crop industry. An application for grant funding is now available on the IDOA website and must be returned by 12 noon June 5th, four weeks from tomorrow. Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations, government & […]

(OLNEY) The Richland County School Board of Education has called a Special Meeting for this evening, starting at 5:00 in the Science Commons at Richland County High School in Olney. The only agenda item is discuss and possibly approve a change order with GeoSurfaces for the tennis courts at the Athletic Complex. The meeting is open to the public and will be streamed online.

(NORMAL) More than 300 Illinois State University employees are back on the job after ratifying a new five-year contract and ending a strike that began last month on April 8th. The AFSCME Local 1110 members will receive an immediate 3.5% pay increase and $1,500 signing bonus, plus additional 3% raises on each July 1st from 2026 through 2029. ISU administration and union members came to an agreement after a sixth […]

(OLNEY/NEWTON) A high pressure ridge over the Midwest will give us plenty of sunshine on this Thursday, but still with below-normal temperatures for this time of the year. We’ll stay dry here in our downstate area through tonight and most of tomorrow until another weather system moves in with rain and thunderstorm chances Friday evening through Friday night. After maybe some lingering showers Saturday morning, we’ll dry out until slight […]

(MT. VERNON) Justice David K. Overstreet of the Illinois Supreme Court will administer the attorney’s oath to twelve (12) new lawyers today in the Fifth Judicial District, starting at 2:00 at the Cedarhurst Center for the Arts on Richview Road in Mt. Vernon. The group is among 279 individuals who will be sworn in and admitted to the practice of law in Illinois during bar admission ceremonies held in the […]

(OLNEY) The next Queen of Hearts drawing at the Olney VFW Post is this coming Sunday afternoon at 4:00, with the $1.00 tickets on sale all this week and always open to the public. The new jackpot will be $5,000. All proceeds support the VFW Post Home and local Veterans. (NEWTON) The Newton American Legion will host an all-you-can-eat Mother’s Day Buffet this Sunday from 10:30 to 1:00 priced at […]