(OLNEY/NEWTON) With an approaching cold front expected to move through our downstate area by later this afternoon, we’ll have spotty rain chances until then, although the significant rainfall amounts may fall elsewhere. After the rain chances end tonight, a high pressure ridge will push the cold front out of Illinois with some clear and dry weather on tap for Saturday and Sunday. Then more rain chances return for Monday and […]
(OLNEY) Here’s the list of activities this week at the Olney Public Library : SATURDAY (4/25/26) : it’s the OPL’s Used Book Sale from 10:00 to 4:00 with hardback books at $1.00 each and paper back books at 50 cents apiece – books can still be donated at the OPL THURSDAY (4/23/26) : youngsters are invited to the 3D Print Club at 4:00 to learn how to design and use […]
(SPRINGFIELD) On February 23rd, two months ago today, the USDA opened enrollment for farmers who planted program crops during the 2025 crop year. The deadline to submit a completed FBA payment application to USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) was last Friday, April 17th. As of earlier this week, nearly $9.6 billion in FBA payments have been disbursed, with nearly 500,000 applications approved by the FSA. It was last December, USDA […]
(OLNEY) The Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Board of Trustees met for its regular monthly meeting in April this past Tuesday night in Fairfield : the Board approved the payment of all bills as presented : approved fee updates effective Fall 2026, including the elimination of testing fees, which will save students approximately $177 and agreed to redistribute a $40 lab fee in the Medical Assistant program evenly across two courses […]
(SPRINGFIELD) Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has issued an executive order he says will bolster state laws to prevent insider trading amid the rapid growth of online prediction markets and event-based gambling contracts. The order prohibits state employees from using nonpublic information to participate or assist any person in prediction markets and event-based contracts. (SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois House has passed legislation to provide tax incentives for the Chicago Bears and other […]
(OLNEY/NEWTON) With this week’s warmest day on tap this Thursday, we’ll have abundant sunshine with a few clouds and yet another strong south/southwest wind by mid-afternoon, all courtesy of that warm front that continues to lift northeast into the Great Lakes Region. But, an approaching cold front will bring us our next chances of rain, maybe as early as tonight, but more likely tomorrow through tomorrow night. Then the sky clears out for a dry weekend with dry conditions for […]
(OLNEY) The local 5th Grade Spelling Bee, sponsored by the Olney Rotary Club, was held this past Monday night at the Richland County Elementary School in Olney. Of the 29 students from the Elementary School and St. Joseph School who qualified for the spelling bee, all based on the results of a spelling bee test administered in all 5th grade classrooms, there were 21 students that participated Monday night. Congratulations to Aviana Newwell who won the competition, […]
(SPRINGFIELD) Supporters across all 50 states and U.S. territories raised more than $1.6 million during the 11th annual Give FFA Day, boosting funding for leadership development, agricultural education, and other student opportunities through the National FFA Organization. Held February 26th, during National FFA Week, Give FFA Day drew thousands of individual contributions from alumni, current members, and supporters, with all 52 state associations taking part. The total matched the amount […]
(SPRINGFIELD) A newly proposed Illinois constitutional amendment would change the way legislative and representative districts are drawn in the state. Filed this past Monday by Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, the proposed amendment, if approved by the State House, would put the question to statewide voters in this year’s November midterm elections. Downstate Republicans are strongly opposed to the plan, saying it would further corrupt district maps which are […]
