(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 : Monday (6/1/26) at the House of Prayer in Albion from 12:00 to 6:00 Monday (6/1/26) at the Clay Electric Cooperative Office on the west side of Flora from 1:00 to […]
(SPRINGFIELD) The Federal Trade Commission launched an antitrust investigation into the concentrated fertilizer industry and its pricing power, mostly because the USDA has shown the single largest increase in input costs for nationwide farmers since 2020 has come from fertilizer. While higher prices “do not always mean” illegal activity, the FTC says it cannot rule out the possibility of anti-competitive action in the fertilizer industry. The Justice Department previously initiated […]
(SPRINGFIELD) Illinois lawmakers approved the state budget early on this Monday morning in Springfield, after trudging through the night. The budget totals $55.9 billion, including an $830 million supplemental current-year spending plan, meaning the upcoming fiscal year 2027 budget is essentially flat. The measure froze corporate net operating loss and taxes on social media companies, digital assets, fantasy sports, tobacco, and sports betting on prediction market websites. The budget bill […]
(OLNEY/NEWTON) As a stationary boundary from south Iowa into southwestern Illinois continues to move southeastward, showers and thunderstorms are heading for our downstate area, but will likely be out of southeastern Illinois by noon or early this afternoon, and we will likely have some afternoon sunshine. Then we’ll return to dry weather conditions for the rest of the work week with a high pressure system over the Upper Midwest, but […]
(NOBLE) A reminder that Noble Chowder raffle tickets are now available for purchase at three locations, at P&J Market, at Salon 124, and at the Noble Village Hall, all during regular hours of operations. With a lot of cash prizes available, tickets can be bought right up until Chowder Day, on Saturday, August 8th. Also, quilt tickets are on sale as well at P&J Market and Village Hall. (OLNEY) It’s […]
(SPRINGFIELD) State Representatives Adam Niemerg and Blaine Wilhour both voted to pass Senate Joint Resolutions 61 and 62 to name two overpasses in Effingham in honor of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher B. Donaldson and Sargent Timothy D. Sayne for their service and sacrifice to the United States. Both resolutions were passed yesterday in the State House and now are law. The families of both Effingham natives were in attendance […]
(SPRINGFIELD) USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) recently opened the Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, a state-of-the-art facility providing the cattle industry with innovative tools & advanced technologies to manage and eliminate invasive fly and tick pests. The new 52,000-square-foot laboratory in Kerrville, Texas features cutting edge laboratory spaces, advanced cattle facilities, and a state-of-the-art genomics core to drive research that delivers innovative control technologies for the U.S. livestock industry. […]
(SPRINGFIELD) Law enforcement officials and others from across the state gathered yesterday for the Law Enforcement Medal of Honor Ceremony in Springfield to honor officers who performed acts of heroism in 2025. 19 officers from six agencies received the Medal of Honor in recognition of their brave and sacrificial service to the people of Illinois. Recipients included those from the Illinois State Police, from Sheriff’s Departments in both Carroll and Kane Counties, and from […]
(OLNEY/NEWTON) A new downstate area forecast now calls for a renewed chance of rain over the next several days and nights, however those chances are very, very low. With the Omega Block weather pattern still expected to dominate our conditions through most all of next week, a few upper level disturbances could possibly bring us some spotty showers late tonight, then again early tomorrow morning, and yet again early Monday morning. Otherwise, plenty of dry weather is expected through the end […]
