Farmer City Heritage Days is this weekend in Farmer City.

President of the Farmer City Heritage Days organization, Felicia Hughes indicates the festival offers entertainment, a carnival and all sorts of activities happening throughout the three days that kicked off Thursday.

Plenty of entertainment resumes Friday night and Saturday right off the main drag in Farmer City. Hughes appreciates the support of sponsors that allow the entertainment to happen.

Saturday is a big day for the kids. Hughes explains they have a lot going on for children of all ages - the highlight of which is the free 'Kids Zone'. 

FarmerCityHeritageDays.com  has all the information about this year's festivities. The festival runs through Saturday in Farmer City. 

Kids and cyber safety is a growing concern among law enforcement and a central Illinois detective is seeing it in his small portion of the world.

On the WHOW Morning Show Thursday, Piatt County Sheriff's Detective Stew Williams told Regional Radio he has been in the Detective's role a little more than a month and he sees it much more now than he did when he was on patrol.

These individuals online are posing as teens hoping to befriend our youth for various reasons. Det. Williams sees people wanting material of a sexual nature, some are simply after money and often the threat of personal information being leaked to a friends list scares kids. 

According to Det. Williams, some kids are very trusting and will add anyone on any platform while others will not talk to someone if they don't know them. He indicates these characters online are very good at learning about their victims to make a connection.

Det. Williams encourages everyone to be mindful of what they are putting out into cyberspace because it can stay out there longer than you realize. He stresses this to kids, nothing goes away once it is put online.

We'll have more from Det. Williams next week on Regional Radio. 

With lawmakers' help across the aisle, one Illinois Congressman wants to improve the Illinois housing crunch.

Republican Darin LaHood introduced the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act last year with the support of more than 160 house members. LaHood says the Act could support financing nearly two million affordable homes within the next decade.

Lawmakers approved LaHood's bipartisan Act in the House of Representatives, where it awaits a vote in the Senate. The Act has the backing of 80 Republicans and 81 Democrats.

The legislation awaits a vote in the Senate.

A small DeWitt County school district is reviewing its 2023-24 school year and one thing that continues to show up is the impacts of COVID decisions.

On the WHOW Morning Show Wednesday, Blue Ridge Schools Superintendent Dr. Hilary Stanifer explains a new program provides the ability to identify learning gaps within its classes. 

As district leadership goes back to evaluate the latest school year, they are finding they have a very concerning mental health crisis among its student body.

As she reflects on the decisions that were made during COVID and sees how those decisions have impacted kids now, Dr. Stanifer confesses, there are some decisions she would make differently now.

The district has done a few things to respond to some of the issues they are seeing. Dr. Stanifer explains among them were some small group coaching sessions with teachers at various points this school year.

Dr. Stanifer indicates the district has plans for more social and emotional learning next school year. 

A week of very pleasant weather is going to usher us into the first weekend of June.

On the WHOW Morning Show Wednesday, Mike Albano at the National Weather Service in Lincoln told Regional Radio if you've got things to do outside, this weekend is going to be ideal.

Normal temperatures should be the predominant pattern getting into the first few weeks of June. Albano says we should see a bit of a dry trend creep in with these moderate temperatures. 

As we roll through June, we are going to transition back to a La Nina weather pattern with temperatures moving more above normal.

This weekend, Friday night into Saturday there are increased chances of rain but Albano points out nothing severe is expected and most chances of rain are between 30 percent and 40 percent across the area. 

The state budget is done. 

The Senate approved it this past weekend and the House approved the $53 billion spending plan on Tuesday. Democrats call it balanced, but Republican Chief Budget Negotiator Norrine Hammond doesn’t think the state should be increasing spending again and using new tax hikes to pay for it.

The state’s new fiscal year begins July 1.

Clean energy in Illinois is growing and having an impact on the economy. A new report from American Clean Power says billions have been invested in the industry.

Erika Kowall with ACP says the state is generating up to 9,400 megawatts of renewable energy and by 2030 another 10,000 megawatts should be online.

Battery storage for all that production is also growing – with 3,800 mega-watts expected to be ready by 2030.

Who is responsible for the upkeep of historic sites in Bishop Hill, Illinois? 

With needed repairs and the cost of those repairs mounting, Todd Dedecker with the Bishop Hill Heritage Association says there is only so much his group can do. The BHHA oversees several historic buildings in the historic village while the State of Illinois and several private owners control other sites deemed historic landmarks by the state...

Dire conditions at several state owned historic buildings in Bishop Hill has led to calls for the State to begin needed renovations soon or risk losing some of the 19 pre-Civil War buildings still standing in the tiny historic village.

A few weeks ago, Logan County officials held a virtual town hall to give residents the latest in the fight to keep the Logan Correction Center open.

The State of Illinois is doing a full evaluation of the facility after a needs assessment showed a total rebuild was necessary. However, a rebuild may not take place in Lincoln. Mayor Tracy Welch was a part of the town hall and wanted to message how the community can be a part of the fight to keep the facility local.

According to Mayor Welch, there is a process this all has to go through before a final decision is made on the future of Logan Correction Center. The Mayor and others will keep putting out where the process stands but he encourages everyone to stay up to date as it moves along.

The Mayor wasn't very impressed with some of the reasons for relocating the prison. The Mayor and others believe that the desire is to get the prison closer to other resources for inmates. 

Mayor Welch believes if the state is seeking to get the prison closer to other resources for the inmates, Lincoln is just as well suited to make those accommodations as anywhere.

Mayor Welch encourages residents and others to send their testimonies to COGFA during this time as they continue with the public comment period. 

There is information on how to do that on the City of Lincoln's Facebook page. 

Battling through the rain and elements, the latest facility at Monticello School's Wilkey Complex remains on schedule.

That's according to Superintendent Adam Clapp who indicates it has been impressive that any time the weather is good enough to be working, construction crews are getting things done.

Clapp reminds the facility will house a new state-of-the-art weight room as well as a concession and restrooms for the activities on that side of Kratz Road.

Long due for improvement is the parking lot on the west side of the football field and just off the entrance to the new Sievers Center. Clapp indicates that the parking lot is going to be paved this summer.

Monticello athletic director Dan Sheehan posts frequent photo updates of the facility's progress. You can follow on Twitter and Facebook by searching Sages Athletics. 

The Illinois Senate approved a budget coming out of the Memorial Day holiday and central Illinois Republicans are offering their responses to the highest spending budget in the State's history.

Sen. Sally Turner describes the budget as a misallocation of priorities. The Lincoln Republican calls out the prioritization of everyone but Illinois residents in this year's spending plan.

Rep. Dan Caulkins points to states around Illinois cutting taxes but Illinois raising taxes. He says a vote for the budget is setting up the State for failure.

As Lincoln fights to keep the Logan Correction Center, Rep. Bill Hauter says the neglect of the facility started years ago when the state did not prioritize its maintenance. He says the continued lack of attention could take the prison the Chicago area.

The $53.1 billion spending plan was approved early Wednesday morning by passing the General Assembly. Republicans criticize the overreaching state budget without Republican support and say it is $2.6-billion more than last year’s enacted budget and includes pay raises for politicians and a staggering $1-billion for non-citizens.

With more rain that rolled through Illinois this week, planting progress is slowly but surely getting wrapped up.

Just half the week was suitable for fieldwork. State Crop Statistician Mark Schluessner says rainfall totals were below average and excess soil moisture was down from last week.

Corn planting is nearly two-thirds complete while soybeans are just short of 60 percent planted.

Schluessner has an update on the winter wheat crop and hay crops...

Pasture conditions improved from last week with 85 percent in good to excellent condition. With still planting going on in Illinois, be on the lookout for those implements on rural roadways.

Storm season in Illinois often leads to downed power lines. One question that Ameren Illinois gets regularly is what they do when they receive a report about a downed power line. Rick Johnson is the Manager of Vegetation Management for Ameren Illinois

Ameren is reminding everyone that you should never approach a downed power line. Don't touch anything that is on top of a downed power line, and most importantly, call Ameren Illinois so they can come and safely remove and replace the downed line.

A state budget is one step closer to being approved and Republicans are slamming the largest state spending plan on record.

The $53.1 billion spending bill increases taxes on sports betting operations, ends a business tax deduction and eliminates the state’s sales tax on groceries. It also spends hundreds of millions on migrant shelters and health care for undocumented citizens. Republican State Senator Don DeWitte says its too much spending and too much revenue enhancement.

The approved budget also grows the state’s child tax credit. It now goes to the House for approval.

A new state budget should soon be passed. 

The Senate completed their work this weekend, approving the largest budget in the state’s history. It increases the amount of money spent on education; it raises taxes on sports betting companies. The budget funds services for migrants, it eliminates the state’s one percent sales tax on groceries. Democrat State Senator Elgi Sims says it’s a fair budget.

Two Democrats voted against it as did every Republican. The budget now goes to the House for approval. They return to Springfield – today.

The county fair season is underway in Illinois. The Greene County Fair in Carrollton starts today says Greene County Fair board member Mark Walker.

The Martinsville Ag Fair started this past Sunday.

The DeWitt County Board last Thursday night debated the decommissioning form for the letter of credit from Enel.

The international renewable energy company wants to use an overseas bank with one branch in New York. Board member Terry Ferguson questioned the longevity of the overseas bank.

Enel has to make its first deposit into the account on the first anniversary of the Alta Farms II wind farm going live. Ferguson reminds the County has to sign off on the bank used by Enel and Buck Carter wondered if this was a negotiable part of the agreement.

For more clarity, the Board turned to the agreement for the exact language and then wondered what would happen next if they said no.

Board Chair Dan Matthews suggested the Board vote down the recommendation and ask Enel to create an escrow account. The Board decided to table it and send the matter to the County treasurer to explore more about the option of an escrow account.

In other news related to Enel from the Thursday Board meeting, it was revealed to the Board that Enel representatives would be making efforts to get in front of the Board later this summer to discuss its curtailment issues. 

Another year of CEO programming is in the books. 

It's always a bitter-sweet ending says Melanie Brown, Facilitator for the Central Illinois CEO program. She explains from where students start to where they finish is always fun to watch from her perspective.

The success stories of the program Sangamon Valley CEO Facilitator Lisa Sheppard says she had a very unique experience this year where a student very late in the game had to completely change directions.

For Brown, she encouraged one of her students to try something a little more challenging and was proud of the way she took on the challenge.

The two leaders will turn their attention to next year. For the Central Illinois CEO program, they welcome 15 new students while the Sangamon Valley CEO program will have another ten students.

The Central Illinois CEO program has students from Blue Ridge, Clinton, Maroa-Forsyth, and Warrensburg-Latham High Schools. Visit centralillinoisceo.com for more information or find them on Facebook or Instagram.

The Sangamon Valley CEO program has students from Argenta-Oreana, Bement, Cerro Gordo, DeLand-Weldon, and Monticello. Visit sangamonvalleyceo.com for more information or find them on Facebook and Instagram. 

The DeWitt County Board will take up the purchase agreement and short-term lease agreements of the Clinton Lake Marina next week.

The Board received the agreements late Wednesday night before its monthly Thursday board meeting. Board Chair Dan Matthews and Melonie Tilley were concerned there was not sufficient time for Board members to look over the agreements.

That was State's Attorney Dan Markwell - who went back and forth when questions arose regarding an agreement the Board received earlier in the month. Markwell and Matthews had differing opinions regarding the proration of slip rent fees.

According to Markwell, slip rental fees total around $400,000. He feels with money like that, the language of the agreement needed to be clear for both parties.

 Matthews contends the proration of the slip rental fees was in the original draft but Markwell says it wasn't and the original draft was just a starting point for the agreement.

Board members argued over how much of the appraisal value and the slip rent revenue was known during the Request for Proposal Process, or RFP. 

All the conversation led back to the Board deciding they will vote on the purchase agreement and short-term lease agreements next Thursday night. 

The City of Clinton has been working for the last few months to update its website and it is nearing completion as it readies to go live.

City Administrator Taylor Baxter tells Regional Radio the new website has updated imagery and is more user-friendly.

According to Baxter, the new website will be more efficient for users and will also have more information that is more accessible. While he is excited about the new site, he anticipates they will need to make some adjustments along the way. 

The City website was a targeted improvement for Baxter from day one on the job from last fall and had taken on a similar project when he was in Pontiac.

The URL remains the same and many of the features are the same as well but Baxter hopes, there will be things that are easier to find now. Visit clintonillinois.com as officials hope it is ready soon. 

University of Illinois Extension Nutrition Educator Caitlin Mellendorf is highlighting vinegar for National Vinegar Month. 

Caitlin Mellendorf at the U of I Extension in DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt Counties tells Regional Radio you can do all sorts of things with a variety of vinegar. She adds vinegar can be a great substitute to reduce sodium in your diet. 

According to Mellendorf, they are starting to receive reports of lower dilution of vinegar so be aware of that as you shop. Otherwise, the variety of vinegar is a great way to add flavor to different meals as well.

One of the benefits of having vinegar in your pantry is the fact it lasts forever. Mellendorf says while known as a "cure-all", there's not enough evidence to know exactly the impacts of those benefits but it is still a great, healthy alternative.

Extension.illinois.edu/dmp has great information on vinegars, their flexibility and usage options, as well as recipes. 

Identity theft is when someone uses your personal information to impersonate you or steal from you and learning more about identity theft can help you keep your info safe. 

Jack Myers with Social Security is highlighting some of the basics of identity theft to just remind people of what it can look like. Thieves can steal your data physically or digitally, without contacting you directly. The other form of identity theft is thieves contacting you directly and convincing you to provide sensitive info or money - which is a scam.

If scammers contact you directly and steal your money, the impact is immediately clear. Myers says what if they got your information and what can they do with that?

There are several ways to spot and identify if your identity has been stolen. A few key actions according to Myers a review your credit card and bank statements for unauthorized transactions. Also, obtain and review your credit reports regularly to make sure they do not include accounts you have not opened.

Next week on Regional Radio, Myers will lay out some ways we can prevent becoming the victim of a scam. 

In the meantime, you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at www.identitytheft.gov. Also, visit www.ssa.gov and look for the publication: Identity Theft and Your Social Security Number. 

Claims volume is not at last year’s levels, but it’s up there says COUNTRY Financial's vice president of Claims and Client Services Jesse Kohlbecker.

In an average year, COUNTRY will receive approximately 42,000 storm claims across its 19-state coverage area. In 2023, they received more than 60,000, which is a 44-percent increase. Nearly all of those claims occurred before August 31, meaning the highest concentration occurred in the spring and summer.

As Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Illinois' Senior Senator wants to reduce prescription drug prices.

Even with insulin capped at 35 dollars a month under Medicare, Senate Democrat Dick Durbin says the average prices on more than 12 hundred medications are up four-fold across the country. He called the Ensuring Affordable and Accessible Medications hearing to demand answers from large prescription drug manufacturers.

Earlier this year, a package of bills advanced out of Committee to lower prescription drug prices. However, a vote in the full Senate is awaiting.

Those bills, dubbed the Interagency (INTER-agency) Patent Coordination and Improvement Act, were introduced by Senator Durbin and Republican Senator Thom Tillis.

Clinton High School will go dark for about a month and a half this summer.

Superintendent Curt Nettles indicates they will have to replace a switchboard that controls power to the whole building. He says this isn't something that should be put off any longer.

In the meantime, activities for classroom work will be done online. Other staff will shift to the Clinton Academy or the Junior High School until it is complete. 

Potential severe weather is predicted by the National Weather Service in Lincoln, for all of Central Illinois, tonight into Sunday.

NWS officials say a couple periods of strong to severe storms are expected over the Memorial Day weekend.

Strong storms will move into west central Illinois late tonight and move across the state through the morning hours. At this time, these storms should be weakening as they move into the area.

Another round of of storms will occur Sunday afternoon into Sunday evening as a strong front moves across the area. Large hail of 1-2 inches, damaging wind gusts of 60-70 mph, and tornadoes will be possible.  Locally heavy rainfall will also be a threat.

Lightning will be a threat during both rounds of thunderstorms over the Memorial Day weekend.

Stay tuned to Regional Radio for the latest watches and warnings as this severe weather event unfolds this weekend.

The City of Clinton has expanded the hours liquor can be sold on Sundays.

Clinton City Administrator Taylor Baxter tells Regional Radio a local grocery store owner was finding people headed to Clinton Lake would want to buy alcohol but because Clinton limited its sales to starting at noon on Sundays, those sales were happening in other communities.

The amendment to the ordinance was approved Tuesday night and went into effect starting this past Wednesday. 

Could a new City Hall be in the immediate future for the City of Clinton?

That is what officials are trying to determine. On the WHOW Morning Show Wednesday, City Administrator Taylor Baxter told Regional Radio the City is working with an architect on a request for proposal for what a new City Hall would have to look like.

Currently, most City services are housed in one facility - City administration, water, fire, and police. According to Baxter, that would be the plan for a new facility.

Baxter indicates the City would like to keep itself close to downtown because of the network connection with the County Building. Space is limited in that part of the City but Baxter says they have a few ideas in mind.

Issues with City Hall's elevators have led to the conversation about a new City Hall facility. Baxter reminds the City recently needed to find a new maintenance company and the cost to completely fix the elevator is going to be substantial because it is so old.

A substantial amount in the City's reserves will allow them to afford this project. The reserves may not cover the entire cost but Baxter says they will have options. 

Baxter indicates the City continues to conduct its business in the lower level of the fire station on Tuesday evenings. 

The Clinton Board of Education Tuesday night approved pay increases for its substitute teachers and support professionals. 

On the WHOW Morning Show Wednesday, Superintendent of Clinton Schools Curt Nettles told Regional Radio substitute teachers pay will go up. Subs that are retired teachers will receive a little extra and subs that fill in more than ten consecutive days will see their pay increase on the 11th day.

Nettles indicates they seem to have a small number of substitutes that end up becoming de facto full-time teachers. They have tried to bring them up to a salary comparable to a full-time teacher.

The Board of Education Tuesday night did not discuss the teacher pay issue and in fact, had minimal discussion about most of the agenda items. Nettles explains there is constant conversation between himself and the Board of Education leading up to monthly meetings. He encourages community members who have questions about anything on the Board agendas to reach out to him or contact your local Board member.

Nettles says they do a comparison to find out what other districts around Clinton pay and to keep up so they can attract and retain substitutes. 

More than 38 million Americans plan to hit the roads this weekend for one of the busiest travel days of the year.

As for prices at the pump, Patrick DeHaan, a petroleum analysis expert with GasBuddy, estimates the national average will hold in the mid-three dollars per gallon range.

Over the past week, prices at the pump across Illinois are down almost five cents per gallon on average.

On the national stage, prices at the pump are down three cents per gallon.

To combat prices at the pump, President Biden ordered the release of one million barrels per day between Memorial Day and the fourth of July.

US Senator Dick Durbin is again trying to push for a series of bills to protect children as they access the internet and use social media. Durbin, the Chair of the Judiciary Committee is being joined by Republican Lindsey Graham for the bi-partisan push.

The STOP CSAM Act – seeks to empower the victims of child sexual abuse material on the internet by allowing them to sue tech companies. Durbin has seen the bill and others fail to pass, but he says it’s time to push for passage.

Durbin wants a Senate vote this summer.

Plenty of rain this spring for first-year Livingston County CropWatcher Joel Barickman. He’s had to take advantage of short planting windows to get his crop in the ground.

Barickman is a sixth-generation family farmer, with the farm dating back to the 1830s.

Some rural hospitals in Illinois are struggling. Reimbursements from state and federal programs are slow and staffing needs are growing. Jackie Kernan is the Regional President of OSF Healthcare in Central Illinois...

OSF Healthcare has recently expanded services in places like Galesburg and LaSalle-Peru where Regional Hospitals went out of business, leaving those communities without localized healthcare.

Illinois Farm Bureau president Brian Duncan closely watching this week's markup of the Farm Bill in the House Ag Committee.

The markup is on Thursday. If it clears the Ag Committee it will move to the House Floor.

Five Illinois reps serve on the House Ag Committee--Mike Bost, Nikki Budzinski, Jonathan Jackson, Mary Miller, and Eric Sorenson.

Some of the bravest actions by police officers in Illinois over the past year were honored in Springfield. The Governor, Director of the Illinois State Police and other law enforcement officials gathered to recognize 13 officers who displayed courage and heroism in the line of duty.

ISP Director Brendan Kelly says troopers and police step into situations daily that can turn quickly; from a motorist assist on the side of the highway that results in finding a wanted felon, to aiding a family in a domestic violence situation. Kelly says from the days of his grandfather policing has changed, but the need for cops and the law has always remained.

Each officer was awarded the Illinois Law Enforcement Medal of Honor.

This spring, four students from Monticello High School were a part of State Senator Sally Turner's Youth Advisory Council.

Each year, the program welcomes dozens of high school students from across the Lincoln Republican's 44th Senate District to the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield to learn more about the state’s legislative process. Monticello junior Matt Swartz says his principal, Mr. Travis Courson encouraged him to give this program a try.

Sages junior Eli Craft was a part of this experience and indicates there was a proposed bill the students had that they had to argue for or against. Like Swartz, Craft was approached by Mr. Courson.

Junior Catie Swartz says this was a great experience because all the students were put in a room together and had to figure things out. Junior Ashley Stiverson explains they were active in their government class and their teachers approached them about the opportunity.

Matt Swartz says it was intimidating because there were really smart kids in the room but he still really enjoyed the experience.

Craft also felt it was somewhat intimidating but says he learned a lot about communication and hearing about the viewpoints of other people.

For Stiverson, she enjoyed meeting a lot of new people and hearing their perspectives.

Catie Swartz did not know what to expect in the process but enjoyed touring the State Capitol and hearing from other students during the process.

The Swartz's are twins and Matt says it was fun to participate in that with her.

Sen. Turner’s Youth Advisory Council allows local high school students to learn more about government through two meetings held each school year. During the fall meeting, students heard from local leaders and had the opportunity to propose ideas for new legislation. This year, students put forward a proposal meant to require schools to offer healthier and more nutritious food options.

During the spring meeting, students took on the various roles involved in the legislative process for a mock committee hearing in an actual Senate committee room at the Capitol Complex. The students had the opportunity to serve as concerned citizens and lobbyists who advocated for and against the proposal, reporters who covered the committee hearing, and lawmakers who discussed and voted on the proposal legislation.

May Days 2024 is in the books for the Clinton Chamber of Commerce.

Now it's off to the annual golf outing. Executive Director Janice Peterson says the outing comes up on Friday, June 21.

Peterson planned her first outing last summer and says it was a lot of fun. She didn't know what to plan for and enjoyed the outing a lot.

Peterson hopes to have a few new twists with this year's outing. Look forward to those as we get closer.

Registration is open at clintonilchamber.com. 

The summer camp season is about to arrive and the Clinton YMCA's Camp Osage is ready for students.

On the WHOW Morning Show Monday, Y Executive Director Rennie Cluver told Regional Radio their staff is getting its plans together for kids this summer. Camp kicks off May 28 after the Memorial Day holiday.

Cluver describes Camp Osage as a typical summer camp with a lot of activities and lots of social interaction. While for many families, it is a great form of childcare during the summer, they aim for it to be more than that from a programming perspective.

Registration is going on now. Cluver indicates there is a rate for Y members and non-members. You can register at any time and if you are not a member of the YMCA, he hopes you'll consider at least a youth membership for that discount which will not take long for it to pay for itself.

According to Cluver, Luka Case and Melinda Akers, the co-directors of Camp Osage, have a lot of great activities in store for campers this summer.

Again, families can register campers at any time during the summer. Camp Osage begins on Tuesday, May 28 after the Memorial Day weekend. Get more information about all things Camp Osage by visiting clintoncommymca.org, stopping in at 417 South Alexander Street in Clinton, or calling 217-935-8307 for more information. 

For some, the Memorial Day weekend will be the first time they pull out the grill for the barbecue season.

If that describes you or that grill is out but might need a little maintenance, Caitlin Mellendorf at the University of Illinois Extension in DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt Counties has a brief checklist for you this holiday weekend.

Food safety can be a huge deal for a Memorial Day weekend and gatherings involving food. Mellendorf encourages using plates to transport food and utensils for food handling.

Keeping surfaces clean is often an aspect of grilling for a family or a gathering that goes unnoticed but can be vitally important to a healthy party. Mellendorf encourages frequently wiping down those counters and scraping the grill grates between food preparations.

Another key to a healthy party involving food is getting those meats cooked to a proper internal temperature. Mellendorf says a food thermometer is the only foolproof way to know you've gotten your meat to the proper temperature that is safe to eat.

The USDA has a hotline for food safety information. It is 1-888-MPHOTLINE or 1-888-674-6854. Mellendorf has more information at the Extension website, extension.illinois.edu/dmp. 

Farmers had just a little bit more time in the fields this past week.

While for the first time this season, rainfall was below average for the week, just half the week was suitable for fieldwork says State Crop Statistician Mark Schluesner.

Corn planting took a big step forward but remains behind the pace of last year and five-year average. Schluesner gives an update on soybean planting.

Winter wheat made progress this week but declined in its condition. Schluesner says hay is 10 percent harvested.

Schluesner says with more work still to be done in Illinois fields, be on the lookout for large equipment as you make your way around the state.

As state lawmakers focus on the planned end for the spring lawmaking session – the budget is firmly on everyone’s mind.

Governor JB Pritzker says after all the talk of a budget memo, indicating that agencies should be ready for up to $800 million in cuts, the message is simple. He wants a balanced budget to sign.

Lawmakers can pass a budget on a simple majority vote until the end of May.

The Memorial Day weekend is the jumpstart to the busy boating season in Illinois and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is gearing up for a busy boating and camping weekend.

DNR Conservation Police Captain John Williamson encourages boaters to get those boats out and do a once-over of maintenance. He indicates one of the biggest issues they encounter is boats that break down or are not ready for the water and then experience problems on the water.

Capt. Williamson says a bad combination is when you start to involve alcohol in your on-the-water activities. While you can have open alcohol containers on a boat, you do need a sober operator.

DNR authorities are very active in monitoring life jackets. Capt. Williamson stresses you need to have a life jacket that fits each occupant on the boat at a given time.

The veteran game warden has seen many dangerous maneuvers by boaters on the water over the years. Fortunately, most go executed without incident but he cautions boaters because those boats do not have breaks.

The busy Memorial Day weekend impacts more than just state waterways. Campgrounds on state grounds are busy as well. We'll hear more from Capt. Williamson on that later this week on Regional Radio.

In May our nation celebrates Memorial Day to honor military service members who have given their lives for our country.

Social Security is reminding families who have lost loved ones that Social Security benefits may be payable to surviving family members including spouses and children. Jack Myers with Social Security notes they also recognize and support our wounded warriors.

Social Security disability benefits can help financially if you are unable to return to work. Myers says as a thank you for your service, Social Security expedites disability claims through its Wounded Warrior initiative if you became disabled while on active military service on or after October 1, 2001. They also expedite your disability claim if you have a VA Compensation Rating of 100% Permanent & Total. 

Myers encourages veterans and their families to check out its new fact sheet - “Social Security Disability and Veterans Affairs Disability -How do They Compare?”

Learn more about disability programs, the expedited claims process, and other info for veterans at: www.ssa.gov/people/veterans/. Find the fact sheet and more at www.ssa.gov/pubs, then type “Veterans” in the filter box.

Families across Illinois will be able to tap a new federal program to keep kids fed during the summer.

The state is among the first in the nation to participate in the summer EBT program or “Sun Bucks”. It provides an extra $120 per child for eligible families – the goal - to fill the gap of feeding kids who are otherwise able to get a meal or two at school. Republican State Senator Sue Rezin says the program is the right way to get food to kids.

The program could reach more than 1 million children and officials say it could reduce child hunger by 30%.

Illinois Congressman Darin LaHood critical of the Biden administration’s trade policy and its impact on agriculture. He spoke on the subject in a recent conversation with RFD Radio.

LaHood represents Illinois’ 16th Congressional District, which covers 21 counties in central and northwestern Illinois, ranging from McLean and Peoria County to Winnebago and Jo Daviess County. He serves on the Ways and Means Committee.

With the school year wrapping up in Clinton, so too is regular programming at The Vault.

Executive Director Tammy Wilson says as students prepare to leave for the summer months, they are doing a first-time survey of students to find out what they like or do not like to find out how The Vault can improve.

Wilson indicates the survey is roughly five minutes but The Vault leadership hopes to learn about how they can enhance the experience of the kids that come through their doors.

The Vault held its final event for the school year Thursday night and now staff turns its attention to the Summer Career Camps in June and July.

The City of Farmer City will be able to open its pool on time thanks to the hiring of a pool manager.

City Manager Sue McLaughlin reminds they had been working with the Clinton YMCA to operate the pool but because of a staffing shortage within the Y, that was not going to be feasible this summer but the City has secured a manager for the pool this summer.

According to McLaughlin, the preparation for the pool is ongoing as they prepare it for the summer season starting next weekend.

The City has decided they are going to increase admission to the pool this summer because of the rising costs of labor and materials. McLaughlin notes a pass for the pool quickly pays for itself.

The pool opens for the season starting Saturday, May 25. Get more information on this year's pool hours and other activities by following the City of Farmer City on Facebook. 

The May Days Festival opens tonight in downtown Clinton and the excitement it brings to some of the youth of the community is why Clinton Police Chief Ben Lowers annually looks forward to this event.

Chief Lowers says the May Days Festival may not be something the whole community looks forward to and some may even grumble about it but he reminds that this is - for some - as close to a 'Disney World experience' as they'll get.

While there have been few issues with May Days in the past, the Chief says they will continue to have a presence at the annual festival just because crowds at a festival like May Days can offer challenges.

Chief Lowers encourages attendees to leave their dogs and bikes or skateboards at home for the May Days Festival. He says with large crowds both of those can become a liability in the blink of an eye.

When law enforcement is summoned at May Days, Chief Lowers says it is often just minor complaints and credits those that attend the May Days Festival for largely being a good crowd that is just out for the fun of the carnival and entertainment.

The May Days Festival is tonight through Sunday in downtown Clinton. Get more information by finding the Clinton Chamber of Commerce on Facebook or visiting clintonilchamber.com. 

It's baby animal season in Illinois the Department of Natural Resources is sending reminders when you encounter a baby animal and no mom is in sight.

On the WHOW Morning Show Wednesday, DNR Conservation Police Captain John Williamson told Regional Radio they receive calls all the time in the spring for responses to baby animals without a mom in sight.

Capt. Williamson reminds animals will leave their young during the day while the pursue food. He notes, more often than not, they return.

Capt. Williamson says there are professionals that will help animals that need rehabbed or rescued to recover and get ready for life in nature. 

A 2023 study found that if you gained some weight back that you lost, there’s still a benefit to your heart. 

It’s a reminder that it’s never too late to turn your health around. Laurinda Harjai (lore-RIN-dah HAR-jhi), a cardiology provider at OSF, says obesity brings abnormal blood pressure and cholesterol, and thus an increased heart disease risk. To turn things around, she says to start with small, daily tasks like taking the stairs.

Other tips include ditching cigarettes and making healthy choices at the grocery store. That way if you snack, at least it’s good for you.

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that Illinois 54 between Wren Road and DeWitt County Road 1650 East near Clinton will closed starting  May 16.

The closure is necessary for Constellation Energy to replace its railroad crossing and is expected to last 10 days. A detour will be posted.

Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. To avoid the work area, when feasible, the use of alternate routes should be considered. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices, and be alert for workers and equipment.

For more information on IDOT projects, click on the traveler information map at GettingAroundIllinois.com.

As the spring weather becomes more consistently pleasant, more and more individuals are sure to be out and about on the community's streets.

With that increase in foot traffic annually comes an uptick in minor crime. Clinton Police Chief Ben Lowers says that crime is likely to be consistent because of the elimination of cash bail in Illinois.

According to Chief Lowers, rarely is there a forced entry into a home, a vehicle, or a garage. He notes these are crimes of opportunity and individuals seeking out those vehicles that are unlocked.

Chief Lowers notes while home burglaries are not very common, they do encounter those and says it is often a case of someone known to you. There are a couple of main reasons for that being the case.

As the weather gets nicer, there are more complaints of trespass to property, disorderly conduct, and other small crimes. Chief Lowers encourages being a good neighbor to those around you and keeping an eye out for your neighbors. 

The annual May Days Festival opens tomorrow night and runs through Sunday in downtown Clinton.

Executive Director of the Clinton Chamber of Commerce, Janice Peterson reminds the carnival rides have started to arrive and if you try to make your way through parts of downtown Clinton, you'll notice some street closures.

Last month, Peterson indicated the Chamber was seeking a new group to volunteer for the ticket sales at the carnival but Second Chance for Pets was able to step up again this year.

The support of the business community is always a huge boost to making May Days a profitable event for the Chamber and Peterson thanks those that have stepped up, many for a long time running.

Again, the May Days Festival kicks off Thursday night and runs until Saturday evening. Pre-sale carnival wristbands are on sale now at several locations in Clinton. You can get more on that and all things May Days Festival by visiting the Chamber of Commerce Facebook page or clintonilchamber.com. 

Firefighters who gave their lives in the line of duty in the past year were honored in Springfield along with others being recognized for bravery.

Among those recognized for brave actions were fire fighters responding to an anhydrous ammonia truck accident in rural Tuscola. Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton spoke in honor of the fallen.

Already this year one fire firefighter in the state has been killed already in the line of duty.

Are the Bears any closer to landing the needed approval of the state legislature to fund part of the building of a new stadium and the infrastructure to go along with it?

Chicago’s mayor Brandon Johnson was at the State House last week to discuss many issues with lawmakers including a new football stadium. Johnson says the current Solider Field is too old and in too much debt to be viable.

The Bears have offered to chip in more than $2 billion to help build a new domed stadium they say will cost $4.75 billion. But including costs outside of just building the stadium – some experts suggest the total cost to tax payers will be close to $6 billion.

Join the Clinton High School Interact Club for a fundraiser Wednesday evening.

It will be a boy's volleyball game between the junior class and the senior class. Karla Ramirez with the Interact Club explains Rotary is focused on bettering its communities and the focus of that mission is on veterans in the community. 

According to Ramirez, the volleyball game on Wednesday will pit the junior boys against the senior boys. She says they got this idea at a recent conference they attended in talking with other chapters of Rotary.

Ramirez specifically noted the Clinton AmVets organization that helps students with scholarships and they also help veterans afford visits to doctors or provide transportation for those individuals. 

The volleyball match again is Wednesday, May 14 at the Clinton High School gymnasium at 6:30 pm. Veterans can attend the event for free. 

Outlooks for the summer are holding strong to a warmer-than-normal temperature signal.

Ed Shimon explains May is trending cooler than normal for a short time but that should change as we get into July and beyond for the summer.

According to Shimon, we're not expecting intense heat this summer - at least into August. He says it should be a pretty typical summer.

As far as precipitation, the summer should meet the averages for the summer. 

Drought could become an issue later in the summer but in the meantime, he does not see it being an issue which should lend to an ideal growing season for producers. 

It was another wet week in Illinois, slowing planting progress.

State crop statistician Mark Schluessner says it was a little dryer than last week but still only two days were suitable for fieldwork.

Soybean and corn planting progress continued but remain behind both the yearly and five-year averages.

Pasture conditions improved from last with 79 percent rated good to excellent. 

Winter wheat crop improved from a week ago and the first cutting of hay is seven percent complete and two percent harvested. 

A truck inspection blitz throughout the country and throughout Illinois this week says Don Schaefer with the Mid-West Truckers Association. It runs today, tomorrow, and Thursday.

Schaefer says it’s not just interstates, but the inspections can also occur on state highways.

State lawmakers are involved in the grind of budget-making now.

Last week they were given a memo from Governor JB Pritzker. It lays out if revenues aren’t set to increase from changing sports betting taxes to other changes, then the spending plan will need to include cuts.

The first deadline for a state budget is the end of the month.

Spring is the time many of us clean up or clear out clutter. 

The Better Business says don’t forget to do the same with the digital device on which you surf the web or conduct online business. An agency investigator says there's probably a bunch of digital data clutter that lives on your electronic devices. Taking some simple, proactive steps will go a long way in safeguarding against any number of potentially disruptive issues like identity theft, loss of funds or credit card fraud. Investigator Don O’Brien says to keep an eye on your seniors.

You should also update your system and software; back it up; make sure you are using secure passwords; and clean up your online presence.

This weekend is the annual May Days Festival in Clinton.

It's an event hosted by the Clinton Chamber of Commerce and is also a fundraiser for the non-profit. Executive Director Janice Peterson indicates the May Days Festival is on the Clinton Square this Thursday through Sunday with a carnival, food vendors, and entertainment.

Thursday kicks the weekend off with a flag raising with the veterans organizations of the community. Peterson looks forward to the Clinton High School thespians sing-off that night from 6 pm to 8 pm on the square. Then there's other entertainment going on throughout the week on the square.

This year, Peterson has brought in a good variety of food trucks and vendors that will set up across the downtown square. She has way more food vendors this year than in years past.

Discounted wristbands are on sale now for the carnival over the weekend. According to Peterson, they sold those out quickly last year. They doubled what they sold from last year hoping that will be enough for this year's pre-sale wristbands that are available throughout the community.

We'll have more this week with Peterson on May Days this year, which again kicks off Thursday evening and concludes on Sunday. For more information, visit clintonilchamber.com or find the Clinton Chamber of Commerce on Facebook. 

Last week on Regional Radio, we heard from a Social Security expert regarding a new scam trend revolving around QR Codes.

Quick Response codes, better known as QR codes are a popular way to get information. They are scannable bar codes - often squares - that will direct you to a website. Jack Myers with Social Security encourages verify the source. When you hover over a QR code, you should see the site you are going to be directed to.  Pay attention to the URL. For example, a Social Security QR code will always show you a secure page that has www.ssa.gov in it.

Inspect the code. Myers explains that means taking a moment to look closely as see if the QR code appears to be stuck over the top of another one.  Look for signs of tampering or misspellings, even color mismatches. If something seems suspicious don’t scan the code. 

According to Myers, be cautious of unsolicited QR codes that arrive via text or e-mail - Social Security will never send a QR code via text or e-mail asking you to confirm your information. Additionally, be wary of urgent requests using QR codes. They may send you a fake QR code via text or e-mail to request payment.

The question becomes, does Social Security use QR codes? Myers confirms Social Security does, in fact, use QR codes, and a couple of examples are that they use them on some of its publications as shortcuts or on signage at our field offices for mobile check-in. 

Learn more about fraud and scams at www.ssa.gov/scam. If you’ve come across a scam including a fraudulent QR code related to Social Security, there is a link to report it to Social Security on that website. 

Macomb, Illinois celebrating their connection to the landmark boardgame Monopoly. A special event was held last week says Jock Hedblade, executive director of Visit Unforgettable Forgotonnia, the actual name of the Macomb visitors bureau.

State tourism dollars helped fund the project.

The 2024 Illinois Invasive Species Symposium set for May 22 at the Champaign County Extension office. Erin Garrett is a Natural Resources, Environment and Energy Educator with the Illinois Extension

You can register at go.illinois.edu/InvasiveSymposium.

The Illinois Department of Health has given out more than 100,000 free Gun Locks as part of a partnership with County Health Departments. RaeAnn Tucker is with the Henry and Stark County Health Department...

In Illinois you can contact your local County Health Department and get as many free Gun Locks as you would like.

Information on available resources for individuals struggling with addiction will be available at next weekend's Clinton May Days.

DeWitt County Recovery Oriented System of Care - or ROSC - will host a site at the event on May 17, 18 and 19 in downtown Clinton. Free materials include NARCAN and information on local recovery resources. 

DeWitt County ROSC is part of a statewide network of organizations funded in whole or in part by the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery.

ROCS sponsors events for people in recovery and their families, hosts NARCAN training, and works to educate the public on addiction and recovery assistance that is available in the community.

For more information on ROSC services, contact Maggie Memmott at 217 935 3427, or mmemmott@piattmhc.org.

The DeWitt County Genealogical Society will meet this Tuesday at 4 pm in the genealogy room of the Vespasian Warner Public Library.  

Two videos will be shown: "Abraham Lincoln's Family Tree" and "Lincoln's Parents - Their Story."  

The presentation is free and open to the public with a business meeting to follow for members.

For several months now, the City of Clinton has been without a functional elevator.

Tuesday night at the Clinton City Council meeting, Mayor Tom Edmunds requested an update on the repair of the elevator in City Hall. City Administrator Taylor Baxter says the City is looking for a new maintenance provider for the situation.

In the meantime, if you are a person with limited mobility and have business at City Hall, officials are requesting you call City Hall either ahead of your planned visit or when you arrive and someone will have to come downstairs to meet you. 

If you are an individual who needs help with your energy bill, a central Illinois non-profit says annual funds made available through a popular program are dwindling.

On the WHOW Morning Show Friday, Breann Titus, Chief Visionary Officer for Community Action, told Regional Radio funds from the annual program LIHEAP are dwindling fast despite an extension of the availability of those dollars by the federal government.

Titus estimates there is enough LIHEAP funding available to get to the end of May or early June, so again she encourages a call to Community Action at 217-732-2159 or visit capcil.info to schedule your appointment online. 

The Warner Library in Clinton is gearing up for its annual summer reading club.

It should be a fun summer says Emily Dunham with the Warner Library. June 1 is when registration for summer reading begins and this year the Library is ushering in the program with a big kickoff event.

According to Dunham, when readers come into the library to get registered, they'll receive a tracker that will show their progress throughout the summer. Each age group will have its own milestones to make throughout the summer. 

The theme this year is 'Read. Renew. Repeat.' with a theme of conservation. According to Dunham, they are focused on conservation and being thrifty with some of the things they're doing this year.

There is so much happening at the library this summer with several programs each week of the summer. Dunham adds there will be ongoing activities that will be available. Some programs will center around the theme of 'Read. Renew. Repeat.'

Executive Director of the Library, Bobbi Perryman, indicates the summer reading club, while providing a fun outlet for kids to continue reading, is also a great program to help prevent the summer slide - where kids fall back in their progress made during the school year.

The Summer Reading Club again kicks off on June 1. You can register at the Warner Library any time throughout the summer. It is a free program and you do not have to have a library card to participate - although library staff hopes you'll get signed up for one if you do not have one already. 

The remainder of April is shaping up to be cooler and wet.

Ed Shimon at the National Weather Service in April says a brief cool down to end the week will be followed by more cooler temperatures as the outdoor spring sports season heads to the postseason.

To finish out the month, it is looking cooler and wet. Shimon notes May historically is when we start to warm up so cooler is certainly relative given the time of the year.

The three-month outlooks into the summer continue to suggest a warm summer is ahead but Shimon isn't predicting an unbearably hot summer. We'll have more with him next week on Regional Radio with that summer outlook. 

An Illinois lawmaker wants to renew the Affordable Connectivity Program after its expiration earlier this spring.

The A-C-P program ensures that households receive broadband internet at a discount and a one-time hundred-dollar discount to purchase a laptop. However, the program expired at the end of April, and Congressman Eric Sorensen wants his counterparts to renew the program.

The A-C-P is limited to one monthly service discount and only provides help to eligible households. The program expired at the end of April.

Stormy weather has been a feature of the Illinois spring and that puts utilities on high alert says Brian Bretch with Ameren Illinois.

Bretch says when you experience a power outage, contact Ameren Illinois at 800-755-5000 or visit amerenillinois.com. He adds, never approach downed power lines.

Members of the General Assembly headed home for the weekend. Both houses have been sending bills to the Governor’s desk. But they haven’t done the biggest task yet. Speaker of the House Chris Welch recently said that’s the budget and he and house democrats are ready to balance it.

The House passed a bill creating the Department of Early Childhood, that’s off to the Governor’s desk for a signature.

Committee hearings at the statehouse can be tedious.

Many are filled with quiet but critical conversations about the impact of a new bill or the reasons it should or shouldn’t be approved. So “testimony” during the House revenue committee stood out.

The witnesses sang a tune to support extending a tax credit for live broadways style performances.

A few weeks ago, longtime Clinton Police Chief Mike Reidy passed away and his successor is remembering the man he describes as a mentor and father figure.

On the WHOW Morning Show Wednesday, Clinton Police Chief Ben Lowers called Chief Reidy the epitome of professionalism and class.

Chief Lowers learned how to be a fair leader and felt Chief Reidy was patient and calm even in the face of adversity.

Chief Lowers recalls the time as a young officer, Chief Reidy got him hyped up for a stakeout but what he walked into he could never have expected.

Chief Reidy had been retired for ten years before his passing and Chief Lowers remembers Chief Reidy as a family man who was very active in the community. 

Reidy was the Chief of Police in Chenoa, Wiscasset, Maine, and retired from the Clinton Police Department.  

He went to Bloomington Central Catholic High School and Western Illinois University.  He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bloomington and Catholic Church of the Little Flower in Springfield. 

Chief Reidy was 69 years old. 

Put June 1 on your calendars for the return of a long-running event in rural DeWitt County.

Dr. Mark Hobbie had participated in the Tour DeWitt bike ride since he came to Clinton in 2016 and on the WHOW Morning Show Wednesday told Regional Radio when the event got called off at the last minute last year, reached out to find out if there was anything he could do to help make it happen again in 2024. It wasn't until earlier this year he finally heard back on that inquiry.

Hobbie says it took a little bit but he's got momentum on his side now. They have settled on a date of June 1 and the ride will originate from Weldon Springs State Park with four different rides for participants.

As the event gets closer, Hobbie needs volunteers. He says to make an event like this happen, volunteers are essential because of what goes into having an enjoyable ride for its participants.

The 'Tour DeWitt' evolved into a fundraiser for local charities. Hobbie has not decided on where the proceeds for this event will go but he hopes to tie it to getting volunteers for the event.

If you are an individual or group interested in volunteering for this year's 'Tour DeWitt' bike ride, contact Hobbie by call or text at 217-313-6718, you can also email him at mahobbie89@gmail.com. 

Registration for this year's bike ride is underway. Visit tourdewitt.weebly.com. Registration by June 17 gets you a t-shirt for the event. 

An ongoing back and forth between a Clinton resident and a Clinton City Commissioner continued Tuesday night at the Clinton City Council meeting.

Seth Reddington has been addressing the Clinton City Council for a few years now regarding questionable payments and reimbursements to Clinton Commissioner of Safety Dan Ballenger. Reddington is calling for an audit on payments to Ballenger over his reimbursements for responding to fire calls even though he is a City Council commissioner.

Reddington contends Council members, referencing Ballenger, should not be able to benefit from policy changes. 

Firefighter Adam Lagaman called on the drama between Reddington and Ballenger to end saying it impacted the rest of the department.

Ballenger Tuesday night introduced new policies regarding reimbursement for response for fire personnel. Among those changes is Ballenger choosing to surrender his pay for volunteer services, however, he points out by state law, he is within his rights to take pay for those hours. The changes were effective May 1. 

It was re-appointment night at the City Council meeting. Stephen Paige was re-appointed as the Fire Chief. Danny Ballenger, Jr. could not be re-appointed as the assistant fire chief because with Ballenger, Sr. abstaining from the vote, there was not a quorum at the meeting with John Wise absent Tuesday.

Additionally, Taylor Baxter was approved as the Public Health officer and Kamren Wilford as the City Sexton. 

Also at the Tuesday night meeting:

>>The Council approved downtown sidewalk work at a cost of just over $270,000. 

>>The Council approved the purchase of 23 building lots at a cost of $612,500

>>The Council approved the contract of City Administrator Taylor Baxter

After a day of volatile, stormy weather, a cool down should be arriving for the conclusion of this week.

On the WHOW Morning Show Tuesday, Ed Shimon at the National Weather Service in Lincoln told Regional Radio a low-pressure system out west was pushing through that was causing severe weather.

It's been a wet start to May so far and Shimon indicates we'll finally get a break from the rain starting later this week. The humidity will move out and while there is minimal chance of rain on Saturday, its forecast is looking pleasant. 

The early part of next week when we begin the outdoor high school sports postseason starts cool and should warm up as the week moves along. 

A NASCAR racing legend made a pit stop in McLean County Tuesday morning as part of the 28th annual Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America.

The cross-country motorcycle ride, led by Kyle Petty and his dad, Richard Petty, stopped at the Love's Travel Stop in LeRoy on their way to Indianapolis, Indiana. Kyle Petty, who lost his son to a tragic accident in 2000, explains why he hosts the ride.

The annual ride travels to raise awareness and funds for Victory Junction, a camp created to enrich the lives of children with chronic or life-threatening medical illnesses.

Kyle and his dad, Richard, signed autographs and took photos with fans at the stop.

They say they mean it this time.

16 years after the first deadline to get a REAL ID passed, Homeland Security says next year it will be the law. A REAL ID is a driver’s license that will allow you to board a plane in the United States. That means more people will need to go to the Secretary of State and get a REAL ID drivers license. Alexi Giannoulias says his office is kicking off a campaign to get people signed up who need one.

May 7th – 2025 is the deadline but travelers who have a passport, passport card or global entry card can board a plane with any of those documents.

US Senator Dick Durbin says a recent vote to pass a war aid bill for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan wasn’t perfect, but it was the bill that needed to be passed at the time.

$61 billion is going to bolster Ukraine’s fight against Russia, $26 billion for Israel and humanitarian aid to Gaza and $8 billion to back Taiwan as they stand against China in the Pacific.

Teens in DeWitt County will have more opportunities for unique hands-on experiences this summer discovering various career opportunities.

The Vault in Clinton has annually hosted special one-week camps called 'Summer Career Camps' and youth activities director Jason Kitson says registration for the camps is underway now.

According to Kitson, the summer career camps are a huge hit with the kids and one of the reasons for that is because sign-ups are limited so there is a lot more time for kids with each activity.

For Kitson, he doesn't just want kids to have the short experience of whatever the field is they are exploring but he wants them to meet local leaders in that field and have those connections.

Sign-ups for camp this year are underway. Kitson says some camps are full but others still have a few spots. If you are a teen interested in this opportunity, inquire while you're at The Vault. If you're a parent interested in learning more, visit thevaultclinton.org. 

The prospect of a grocery coop in Farmer City continues to make progress.

On the WHOW Morning Show Monday, DeWitt County Development Council Director Curt Homann told Regional Radio the coop is currently pursuing a nearly $500,000 grant.

Homann says there has been good progress made toward an opening. An opening date is not imminent as the group has a lot more work to do over the next several months.

Because there is still so much to do before opening, Homann can only estimate the store could open by the end of the year. 

Celebrating IAA Foundation Scholarship recipients. David Mock of Galva is receiving the $7,500 Illinois Farm Bureau Legacy of Leadership Scholarship. He is a student at the University of Illinois. Mock spoke with RFD Radio about the award and his line of study.

The charitable arm of the Illinois Farm Bureau, the IAA Foundation, is awarding $151,501 to 89 students pursuing degrees in agriculture-related fields.

Visitors to Chicago’s Field Museum are familiar with “Sue” the famous Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton that is on display.

Now visitors will see a much smaller and rarer set of dinosaur bones. Archaeopteryx (ar-key-aap-tricks) is a bird that lived 150 million years ago and is a link between dinosaurs and birds. Jingmai (Jing-May) O’Conner, the Fields’ Dino Curator says the fossil is one of the best species of what she calls a ‘holy grail’ find.

The fossil is just one of 13, it’s regarded as perhaps the best one ever found and the only one on display in a North American museum.

Monticello Police Chief Rob Bross and his wife, Piatt County Sheriff's Department School Resource Officer Lindsey Bross share a unique work-life balance as spouses in law enforcement in the same community.

Chief Bross has been in law enforcement for over 20 years however, Deputy Bross has only been in the field for just over a decade. Before that, she actually worked in education and now gets the best of both worlds.

Chief Bross tells the story of how the two went to school together but in 2000 they started their courtship.

When the two come home from a long day's work, they understand each other's problems unlike a lot of spouses can. But one says the other seems to attract a little more of the drama.

The two are parents and Chief Bross says it is nice to have someone that works closely with the youth and can see the things they are challenged with in a 21st-century world that may not have been issues when they were younger.

The two say the key to sharing the same line of work and being spouses is having open lines of communication, particularly as their children get older and are starting to get more involved.

Before having kids the Bross' enjoyed traveling and sharing experiences.

Quick Response codes - or QR codes - are a popular way to get information.

These are scannable bar codes - often in the shape of a square - and direct you to a website, which most new phones will scan with the camera app. Jack Myers with Social Security indicates they are helpful and convenient, but like most other things, require a little caution as scammers are creating QR codes to trick people into visiting a fraudulent website or downloading malware that compromises their personal info.

There are a variety of ways scammers could get you with this. For example, they could cover official QR codes with fake ones on parking meters, menus, or magazines, and send QR codes via e-mail or text message pretending to be from delivery companies. 

According to Myers, scammers can request that you confirm your information due to suspicious activity on your account using imposter QR codes or by placing harmful QR codes on social media advertisements.

While those are some of the things that can be done through QR codes, there are ways to protect yourself from a fraudulent QR code. We'll have more on that next week with Myers on Regional Radio. 

In the meantime, Myers encourages you to learn more about fraud and scams at www.ssa.gov/scam.  If you’ve come across a scam including a fraudulent QR code related to Social Security, there is a link to report it to Social Security on that website. 

The Land of Lincoln Honor Flight is kicking off the 2024 flying season on May 14 with Mission #70.

The first flight of the season will serve 94 Veterans including 15 Korean Era veterans, 79 Vietnam era veterans from Bloomington, Champaign, Chestnut, Clinton, Decatur, Farmer City, Lincoln, Mahomet, Mason City, Mt Zion, and Normal.

Veterans will represent all branches of the military as well as the Air National Guard and the Army National Guard.

These 94 veterans and their Guardians will report May 14th at the Abraham Lincoln Capitol Airport at 4 AM to travel to Washington DC on a chartered Sun Country 737 aircraft to visit the World War II, Korean and Vietnam War memorials, as well as Arlington National Cemetery Tomb of the Unknowns, the Lincoln Memorial, the National Air & Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia, the US Marine Corps Memorial and the US Air Force Memorial.  

This day of honor is provided at absolutely no cost to our veterans and is completely funded by donations from the general public.

A central Illinois outdoors official says they are noticing an increase in fishing and hunting thanks to easier access to licensing.

Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police Capt. John Williamson indicates they have seen an increase in activity thanks to outdoorsmen or aspiring outdoorsmen being able to get licenses through the DNR website and app.

The spring trout fishing season recently opened and those fishing license renewals came up on April 1.

dnr.illinois.gov has all the licensing information and regulations. You can also apply for those licenses online or through the Illinois Outdoors app.

A Clinton grocery store owner is working to keep grocery prices down in the middle of some worst inflation he's seen in his career.

Dave Jackson owns the Clinton Save-A-Lot in Clinton and explains the challenge is keeping food prices down while making a profit. He calls the last four years the most challenging he's ever been through.

Coming out of COVID, finding certain items could be challenging, and the specific items that would be low in supply but high in demand would change from week to week or month to month. Jackson says they are, for the most part, getting items in regularly now. 

According to Jackson, he hears often from customers their appreciation of his efforts to keep prices low and indicates they get customers from all over central Illinois that come to Clinton to shop at Save-A-Lot.

As far as inflation, Jackson says some items will return to normal or close to what they were before COVID but other items he says you will not see go back down.

As the fresh produce season rolls in, Save-A-Lot will, and already is, advertising locally grown produce they'll have on its shelves. You can keep up with what they have by stopping into 205 East Washington Street in Clinton or finding them on Facebook. 

Last month, the Neighborhood Care Center of DeWitt and McLean Counties hosted its first-ever gala fundraiser.

The event was a huge hit according to Mandi Ries, communications coordinator for the Neighborhood Care Center, and reports the gala was a huge success and felt they did a good job making it fun and unique for those who paid to come out.

For the Neighborhood Care Center, the dollars raised from last month's event in Heyworth will go right back into its budget to invest in people in the community. Ries says they are steadfast in believing God will provide for their needs financially and otherwise. 

According to Ries, the night had a lot of purposes for them but one of them was to bring the two networks together and demonstrate the reach each center has.

Ries looks forward to having another gala next year, likely back in Heyworth. She says they are already looking at dates for the event and are planning for another April event. 

Governor JB Pritzker has floated the idea that about a billion dollars is needed to rebuild and replace two prisons - one in suburban Will County and another in Logan County.

There has been worry that the woman’s correctional facility in Logan County would be torn down but not rebuilt in the same area and now a recent IDOC report says it prefers the woman’s prison to be moved to Crest Hill and built next to a new Statesville Correctional facility. Governor JB Pritzker says a long process still needs to play out before any prison closes and jobs and prisoners are moved from one part of the state to another.

Logan currently serves as one of the state’s two prisons from women. Much of its structure dates back 90 years ago.

The Mississippi River impacted by low water levels last summer and fall. Are things improving this spring?

Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford speaking to the RFD Radio Network this week.

The American Red Cross is in need of blood during the summer months at least as much if not more than during the rest of the year, according to the head of the agency. 

As a rule, donations fall off between May and August, but there are numbers that indicate they are seeing the lowest number of donors in the last 20 years or so. Red Cross Executive Director Beth Elders says they need more people to donate as often as they can.

She says it’s important that donors make an appointment to give now before heading out for summer activities to help maintain a stable blood supply in the coming months. You can find information about how to donate here: www.RedCross.org

The Bears have a plan to spend $2 billion of their own money on a $3.2 billion stadium to be built on the lakefront in Chicago. 

But it also needs as much as $1.5 billion more in infrastructure spending to address future traffic and other concerns. The NFL team figures the state can extend a Chicago hotel tax for decades to come and find more than a billion dollars in other spending to cover the rest. 

Speaker of the House Chris Welch, a Democrat from suburban Chicago, says he told the team last month, this isn’t a great time to ask lawmakers for billions in handouts.

Bears President Kevin Warren said last week, he wants to see lawmakers in Springfield to approve the funding part of this plan by the end of the current spring session.

The Battle Cross Crusaders program from Clinton will be organizing its 11th World War II veterans Drive By Honor Parade to honor Green Valley US Army WWII veteran Richard Lohnes for his 106th birthday on Sunday, May 5 at 3 pm at the Green Valley Fire Department.

Lohnes served as the Green Valley Fire Chief for 26 years and was a volunteer fireman for 32 years as well.

After the honor parade, everyone is invited back to the firehouse and Lohnes will be presented the Quilt of Valor, and a patriotic mural signed by all participants immediately after the honor parade, among a few other gifts from Battle Cross Crusaders. 

They are also working with Operation Song, a patriotic group of Nashville songwriters to have a free song written to Lohnes service which will be played after the Honor Parade and all parade participants are invited to hear it for the first time with him.

T/S Dick Lohnes served in North Africa, as a member of the 756th Tank Battalion that liberated Casablanca in November 1942.

The 756th, an independent light tank battalion, was assigned to different commands but for most of the war was attached to the 3rd Infantry Division.

From Casablanca, they went into Italy after landing at Salerno and were with the first Allied unit to arrive at Monte Casino, and participated in all phases of the drive on to Rome.

Then followed an amphibious assault on the south coast of France on August 15, 1944.

They pushed north through France along the Rhine Valley, reaching Strasbourg on November 26. The battalion experienced heavy fighting early in '45 in the Colmar Pocket, then crossed the Rhine into southern Germany in a successful seizure of the German Siegfried Line.

Followed by the capture of Nuremberg, Munich, and Hitler's personal retreat The Berchtesgaden.

Lohnes's unit was preparing to go into Salzburg, Austria, when the war in Europe ended on May 8, 1945 (V-E Day).

From Casablanca to Salzburg the 756th had traveled approximately 5,000 miles, and from October '44 to May '45 was almost continuously engaged in combat, except for one ten-day period in Italy when it was relieved after suffering heavy casualties.

May is National Eggs Month and a University of Illinois Extension nutrition educator is working to dispell some of the myths around eggs that have taken form over time.

Eggs can be a contentious topic among some health advocates but Caitlin Mellendorf at the University of Illinois Extension in DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt Counties says research shows eggs are extremely nutritious.

According to Mellendorf, advancements in research around eggs are showing that they are very beneficial despite the sometimes perceived risks with cholesterol. She points out research advancements have shown that the cholesterol risks are actually not as detrimental as once thought.

A common question surrounding eggs is the white eggs versus brown eggs and the difference between them. Mellendorf says the nutritional value of a white egg to a brown egg does not change.

Mellendorf says eggs have a lot of versatility and can be prepared or incorporated into meals in a lot of ways. For tips on how to do that, visit extension.illinois.edu/dmp for more from her and other experts at the Extension. 

It's not unusual to see an uptick in domestic disturbances as the cooler spring transitions to summer.

What is concerning is a trend within some of these calls. Monticello Police Chief Rob Bross on the WHOW Morning Show Tuesday told Regional Radio they are seeing an increase in stalking.

According to Chief Bross, in addition to increases in stalking, the department is seeing an increase in domestic calls, something he notes can be typical for this time of the year.

Chief Bross points out, other domestic occurrences they encounter is a dispute that has spilled over from social media, whether it be kids or adults, and they sometimes get called to intervene. He notes law enforcement intervention is not always necessary for those issues.

If you're involved in a domestic violence situation and would like help working through your situation, Chief Bross directs Piatt County residents to contact Willow Tree Missions in Monticello.