Local News
Illinois Freedom Caucus reacts to memo urging $800 million in budget cuts
In the wake of a directive from Governor J.B. Pritzker's office involving a revenue shortfall in the proposed 2025 state budget, some are saying "I told you so." In a memo from Deputy Governor Andy Manar, state agency directors are being asked to prepare for $800 million less in available revenue. State Rep...
May 10, 2024
Blagojevich Backs Trump During Visit To Mar-a-Lago
(Undated) -- Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich continues to support former President Donald Trump. The disgraced former governor backed Trump during a visit last weekend at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. Blagojevich served as governor from 2003 through 2009, when he was removed from office for corruption. The Democrat s...
May 10, 2024
Illinois AG Sues Alternative Retail Electric Supplier Vender
(Chicago, IL) -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul's office is suing an alternative retail electric supplier vender. A lawsuit filed in Cook County court against Southeast Energy Consultants claims the vendor deceived customers into switching from their public utility companies to more expensive contracts with alte...
May 10, 2024
Chance of a shower or storm this afternoon and tonight---cooler temps for next few days
The predicted severe weather for Wednesday never materialized for our area. Storms raged in Missouri and deep southern Illinois through a good amount of the day and night and led to tornadoes in some areas. Several damage reports from the severe storms and tornadoes in deep southern Illinois on Wednesday. But, for ou...
May 09, 2024
DUI cases in Fayette County shows probable uptick for this year, but numbers down Post-COVID
The Driving Under the Influence cases in Fayette County show a probable uptick this year over last year. But, it shows the numbers are down post-COVID. So far this year, there have been 31 DUI cases filed in Fayette County. That looks like it will be up from last year when only 41 were filed for the entire year. The...
May 09, 2024
City of Vandalia sees new high for General Sales Tax Revenue in FY '24
The City of Vandalia reached a new high in General Sales Tax Revenue in Fiscal Year 2024. In the just completed fiscal year, the City of Vandalia had General Sales Tax Revenues of $2,249.277.61. That is a new all time high, going over the $2.181 in FY '22. The FY '23 was down slight from that at $2.165 in General Sal...
May 09, 2024
Illinois Democrats defend hastily enacted Election Year changes
The chair of the Illinois House Ethics and Elections Committee is defending a hastily approved Election year change to election law preventing candidates from being slated for the November Election. Democratic State Representative Maurices West said there was nothing untoward about how the measure passed by gutting and...
May 09, 2024
During Electric Vehicle event, Gov Pritzker admits demand has waned
Governor J.B. Pritzker, whose goal is to have one million electric vehicles on Illinois roads within 6 years, admits demand for EVs has tailed off. Governor Pritzker joined the Illinois Manufacturers Association and representatives from the EV industry Tuesday for the first ever "EV Showcase Day" in Springfi...
May 09, 2024
NWS says 2nd Round of Severe Storms possible this evening/tonight
Another round of severe storms is possible for the area this evening/tonight. The most severe of the storms have stayed to our south so far today. But, there is another round on the horizon. The National Weather Service in St. Louis says Round 2 of severe thunderstorms will move through the area this afternoon into th...
May 08, 2024
Severe Thunderstorms Today--Potential for "Significant" or "Destructive" Storms
The area is looking at Severe Thunderstorms today and into the evening. Our forecast calls for showers and storms with a high of 81. And, then showers and storms for tonight with a low of 61. The National Weather Service in St. Louis says in their latest weather briefing that several waves of severe thunderstorms are ...
May 08, 2024
City of Vandalia Alderman says he's gotten complaints of Sheriff's Deputies "Stalking" Bars, Sheriff responds
A City of Vandalia Alderman says he's gotten complaints of Fayette County Sheriff's Deputies "Stalking" Bars. During Monday's Vandalia City Council meeting, Alderman Ken Hubler spoke during the meeting about the complaints and said he wished something could be said to the Sheriff. Meanwhile, Fayette County Sh...
May 08, 2024
USPS Consolidating Processing and Distribution Center in Springfield
(Springfield, IL) -- The United States Postal Service is moving forward with plans to consolidate the Processing and Distribution Center in Springfield. As a result, all outgoing mail processing operations that were done in Springfield will be moved to St. Louis. The Springfield facility will remain open as a Local Pro...
May 08, 2024
Officials Celebrate Opening Of Ferrero Chocolate Factory in Bloomington
(Bloomington, IL) -- State and local officials are celebrating the grand opening of the Ferrero chocolate factory in Bloomington, Illinois. The 70-thousand square-foot expansion to Ferrero's manufacturing campus in Bloomington will produce chocolate used in iconic products like Kinder, Ferrero Rocher, Butterfinger, and...
May 08, 2024
Case of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Confirmed In Champaign Co
(Champaign Co., IL) -- A case of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is being confirmed in Champaign County. The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District says an individual has tested positive. RMSF is a tick-borne illness transmitted in Illinois primarily by the American dog tick. The disease can be deadly if not promptly and...
May 08, 2024
Severe Weather Threat tonight and Wednesday
We have a severe weather threat tonight and again on Wednesday. As for tonight, the National Weather Service in St. Louis says despite the morning thunderstorms, there is a 30% chance for another round of severe thunderstorms this afternoon. Coverage of these storms will be low, unlike this morning, and many people wil...
May 07, 2024
Three vehicle fatal accident on Monday afternoon in Effingham County---Updated Information
The Illinois State Police handled a 3 vehicle fatal accident on U.S. Route 40 in Effingham County on Monday afternoon. The accident occurred at 2:45 pm on Monday. Illinois State Police Troop 9 Units responded to the accident. Report say Unit 1 was traveling south on N. 450th Street, approaching U.S. Route 40. Unit 2...
May 07, 2024
Tornado Watch until 8 am, Storms moving through area at this time
A Tornado Watch is currently in effect until 8 am as storms are moving through the area. Our forecast calls for showers and storms moving through this morning and we will see a high of 80 for today.
May 07, 2024
Personnel Committee will post City of Vandalia's Economic Development Director position again
The City of Vandalia's Personnel Committee will again be posting the Economic Development Director position. At 5:30 Monday evening, the Personnel, Finance and Insurance Committee held at meeting in closed session. The notice for the meeting stated the purpose of the meeting was to review a potential candidate for the...
May 07, 2024