Area News

       Springfield – With the Illinois House convening committees this week, State Representative Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) announced that      he has been appointed to serve on several key committees. Representative Caulkins is serving as a member of the following House committees: Public Utilities; Energy & Environment; Appropriations – General Services; and Prescription Drug Affordability.      “With the Clinton…

  By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Supporters of legalizing recreational marijuana in Illinois will face stiff opposition this year from leaders of the state’s largest religious denomination. The six Catholic bishops in Illinois issued a joint statement Monday urging lawmakers to reject any attempt to legalize marijuana. “As lawmakers consider this…

      Decatur Trades & Labor Assembly, AFL-CIO, are accepting applications for the Michael E. Shampine Memorial Scholarship. The 2019 scholarship is in the amount of $1,000.00. Established by his union family to honor the memory of Michael E. Shampine, this fund is designed to provide a scholarship to an affiliated union member, or an immediate…

      Jay Scott Macon County State’s Attorney announced Monday (Feb. 4).      Following is the news release of the announcement in his own words:      At the conclusion of my second term as Macon County State’s Attorney in November 2020, I will have served as a prosecutor for almost 34 years, with more than 32 of…

  At approximately 9: 00 PM Friday night, Officers were investigating an audible alarm at a residence in the 200 block of East Grand Avenue. While on scene, information was gained that a subject was inside the residence and may need medical assistance. The subject fired shots inside the residence before officers entered the house.…

Update: At this point in the investigation, the Decatur Police Department can confirm that one Decatur Police Officer was shot during this incident. The officer was shot in his ballistic vest, which stopped the bullet. The Officer was released from the hospital late last night and is currently recovering from his injuries. Additional details will…

       Step back in Decatur’s history to the era of 1915 for an elegant dinner followed by the sizzling true-life entertainment, “A Time to Remember,” based on actual historic Decatur events. The evening is hosted by the James Millikin Homestead, and proceeds benefit the restoration, outreach, preservation and educational activities of the Home- stead. The…

         To prepare for the dangers of winter weather storms, the Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) is urging older Illinoisans and their families to recognize that winter poses a special threat to seniors. IDoA has compiled a list of tips and signs to look out for to avoid serious safety and health complications. The…

The Macon County Animal Control & Care Center would like to remind pet owners to take extra measures during these extreme cold weather conditions. Pets cannot handle being left outside in temperatures below freezing as it only takes minutes for them to develop hypothermia and frostbite. It is also illegal for pet owners to expose…