Local News

(BLOOMINGTON) The charitable arm of the Illinois Farm Bureau, the IAA Foundation, has announced it will award more than $300,000 to 127 students pursuing agriculture-related degrees. Students are selected based on their activities and leadership, their community involvement, professional career goals, and their overall commitment to success. The Illinois Farm Bureau and county farm bureaus combine to award more than $1 million in scholarship support each year. For more, go […]

(SPRINGFIELD) The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Illinois continues to rise, as of yesterday, it’s now up to an average of $4.45, more than a dollar higher than it was at this time a year ago. The Triple A Motor Club reports the average Illinois price on yesterday’s date in 2025 was $3.42. It’s now the highest price for gasoline in Illinois in nearly four […]

(OLNEY/NEWTON) With some light rain ending this morning and a dry sky expected for the rest of this Wednesday, a cooler weather pattern will remain in place for the rest of this week with high temperatures for the start of May at least 10 to 15 degrees below normal. Some light rain chances return to our downstate area on Friday, then the weather will clear out for a dry weekend, […]

(OLNEY) Olney Central College is underway with an extensive $2 million project to renovate four science labs in Dr. Kent L. Wattleworth Hall, where not a lot of upgrades have been made since the building opened in the early 1970s. With the focus on transforming the third-floor physics, chemistry, and two biology labs into modern, high-tech learning spaces, the work began this past Monday and is expected to continue through […]

(NEWTON) The Newton City Council met in regular session a week ago tonight. The Council : approved the payment of all bills as presented – $227,155 in accounts payable and $71,875 in pre-paid bills : on a 5 to 1 vote, approved pay estimate #1 to B & T Drainage for the Watermain Replacement Project on East Reynolds Street worth $205,545 : on a 5 to 1 vote, approved the […]

(SPRINGFIELD) In this week’s USDA Illinois Crop Progress and Condition Report, it continues to be a tale of two seasons for many farmers around the state when it comes to fieldwork progress, all depending on the weather pattern. Downstate producers have been very busy up until yesterday, while their counterparts further north have experienced hit-and-miss planting opportunities. As of Sunday, the statewide planting numbers show an average of 29% for […]

(OLNEY) The Olney City Council met in regular session last night. The Council : approved the payment of all bills as presented : after weeks of review, approved the 2026-2027 Fiscal Year Budget as presented : agreed to designate funds for Capital Expenditures, including $200,000 to street & road improvements and $175,000 for sewer system improvements : approved the $9,234 purchase of a riding mower for the Water Plant from […]

(SPRINGFIELD) The Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has upheld former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s conviction on ten counts of public corruption. The ruling came down yesterday after the three judge panel heard oral arguments in the case back in April 9th. (WASHINGTON, D.C.) A bipartisan proposal is gaining support in our nation’s capital that could boost domestic fertilizer production and storage, while lowering costs for farmers and reducing […]

(OLNEY/NEWTON) With the cold front moving through our downstate area last night, it was a stormy 12 hours leading up to that frontal passage. From mid-morning yesterday through last night, a lot of rain fell causing flash flooding problems throughout south/central and southeastern Illinois, not to mention the dangerous lightning, hail, and damaging winds. A trailing shortwave weather system will bring us slight rain chances for later today, continuing through tonight, before ending. Then we’ll dry out for a few […]