By IIS Radio SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Police are joining law enforcement officers from five other states for Wednesday’s Speed Awareness Day. The day is designed to draw attention to the dangers of speeding says State Police Trooper Elizabeth Clausing. “It’s one of the leading causes of crashes and certainly leads to more signifcant injuries…… MORE
By IIS Radio SPRINGFIELD – Sales of adult-use cannabis in Illinois jumped by 50 percent in the last fiscal year. Recreational marijuana sales climbed to $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2022, generating major sales tax revenue for the state says Illinois Department of Revenue spokesperson Maura Kownacki. “A record breaking $445 million in tax revenue…… MORE
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 5.6 days suitable for field work during the week ending July 24, 2022. Statewide, the average temperature was 78.8 degrees, 2.3 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged 0.94 inches, 0.09 inches below normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 16 percent very short, 19 percent short, 60 percent adequate, and 5…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Gas prices across Illinois are down almost 18 cents over the past week, averaging $4.82 a gallon. Costs at the pump have dropped about 64 cents over last month, but are $1.52 more expensive compared to this time last year. According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Illinois…… MORE
By IIS Radio SPRINGFIELD – Secretary of State Jesse White’s office is again extending the expiration date for Illinois driver’s licenses and ID cards. You now have until Dec. 1 to renew your license or ID. The previous extension was set to expire at the end of this month but Secretary of State spokesperson Henry…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – This sounds like a new way to do news. The non-profit model is embraced by, among others, the Better Government Association, whose president is David Greising. “You apply the same rigor (in “solutions journalism”) that you apply in investigative reporting to problems in government to finding out what has been…… MORE
By Jake Fogal On September 17, at Heartland Community College, the Ecology Action Center will host the 2022 McLean County Household Hazardous Waster Collection. Residents of Illinois can dispose of dangerous, flammable, corrosive, reactive, and explosive household products and chemicals during this event. If not properly disposed of, these wastes can pose a major risk…… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – Two people are safe after the small engine plane they were piloting experienced trouble landing Thursday afternoon in Bloomington. Central Illinois Regional Airport deputy director Fran Strebing says it happened just before 1:15 PM Thursday. The plane landed and came down the runway into a safety area, which is the…… MORE
By HOI ABC NORMAL – No jobs will be cut at Rivian’s manufacturing facility in Normal. A company spokesperson says only non-manufacturing jobs would be affected. This comes after a Bloomberg report of the company prioritizing certain programs, halting certain non-manufacturing hiring and adopting major cost-down efforts. Amazon’s Rivian-made electric delivery vehicles are beginning Thursday to roll out in…… MORE
By IIS Radio SPRINGFIELD – The Mega Millions jackpot is now more than $600 million. No one has been lucky enough to match all Mega Millions numbers since mid-April says Illinois Lottery spokesperson Lorrel Lynch. That’s caused the jackpot for Friday night’s drawing to swell to $630 million. “One of the biggest jackpots we’ve seen…… MORE
By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …
By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…
By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…
Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…