February is Heart Health Month and a central Illinois non-profit is providing tips for caregivers and their heart health.

Caregivers often overlook their health in pursuit of caring for those around them but on the WHOW Morning Show Wednesday, Rebecca Wheat told Regional Radio they are trying to promote heart health during this Heart Health Month for caregivers.

According to Wheat, caregivers tend to have at least two chronic illnesses they deal with. She reminds of the golden rule of caregiving - one must take care of oneself before one can care for others. 

The American Heart Association has some tips for caregivers to help with better heart health and Wheat indicates one of the top priorities is a hearth healthy diet and they are welcoming a University of Illinois Extension nutrition educator to talk with caregivers about ways to maintain a better diet.

Caregivers need to prioritize physical activity and Wheat says there are many options locally that have opportunities for caregivers to benefit from. She says for many of the American Heart Association's recommendations, there are local resources available for caregivers.

There are a lot of opportunities also through Community Care Systems. Contact Wheat for more details on her classes and other informative health offerings by calling 309-445-7098. 

Community Care Systems also has an office at the DeWitt Manor high-rise in Clinton at 520 East Main Street. 

Heartland Community College celebrated the opening of a new facility designed for the instruction of state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing programs including Electric Vehicle Technology, High-Voltage Energy Storage, Robotics, Renewable Energy, and Automation. 

Funded in part by a $7.5 million State of Illinois grant from the Rebuild Illinois capital plan, Heartland’s Advanced Manufacturing Center features the State Farm Electric Vehicle Laboratory, the permanent home of the College’s pathbreaking Electric Vehicle/Energy Storage program which launched in 2021. Gov. JB Pritzker was on hand earlier this week to give remarks about one of the two new state-of-the-art facilities opening in Illinois.

Heartland Community College President Keith Cornille touted the advancement in program opportunities offered at the school and what this new facility means for students who will go through it.

Construction of the 45,000 square foot facility began in the fall of 2022. The $17M facility incorporates remodeled space to further support programs such as robotics, HVAC, welding, and digital media, in addition to the newly constructed State Farm EV Lab. 

The Advanced Manufacturing Center project is funded in a public/private partnership with programmatic and financial support from local business leaders. In August of 2023, State Farm provided a $1 million grant to support the 6,278 square foot Heartland electric vehicle/energy storage training facility. 

The Illinois State Police has announced it will conduct several special patrols in March

Troop 5 Commander, Capt. Tim Sweeney, announces the ISP will conduct Alcohol Countermeasure Enforcement (ACE) patrols in Kankakee and McLean Counties in March on the 15th, 22nd, and 29th. 

Officers working the detail will be watchful for drivers who are operating vehicles in an unsafe manner, driving with a suspended or revoked driver’s license, transporting open alcoholic beverages, and most importantly DUI, speeding, and distracted driving.

Capt. Tim Sweeney also announced troopers will conduct Nighttime Enforcement patrols in Kankakee and McLean Counties on March 2nd, 8th, 17th, and 30th. 

Roadside Safety Checks (RSCs) will be conducted in McLean County on March 16th. 

There will also be distracted driving enforcement patrols in Kankakee, Iroquois, Ford,

Livingston and McLean Counties on March 14th and 21st. This allows ISP to focus on distracted driving laws to prevent traffic deaths and serious injury crashes. Distractions can increase a driver’s risk of being in an accident.

Officers will be looking for drivers who disobey Illinois’ distracted driving laws,
especially reading, sending, or receiving text messages or communication, and from browsing the internet. ISP reminds drivers are prohibited from using handheld electronic communication devices and drivers under the age of 19 are prohibited from using any cellphone, even hands-free.

ISP will conduct alcohol countermeasure enforcement patrols in Kankakee and McLean Counties on March 15th, 22nd, and 29th. 

Alcohol and drug impairment are factors in more than 30% of all fatal motor vehicle crashes in Illinois. There is one alcohol-related traffic fatality every 53 minutes in the United States. The ACE program allows officers to work even harder at removing dangerous DUI offenders from the road.

A Clinton child who is headed to see the ocean is getting a police escort on his way out of town.

The child is part of the 'Make A Wish' Foundation and wants to be a police officer when he grows up. Chief Ben Lowers says it would be an honor to enhance the 'wish' of this young person in our community.

Chief Lowers has rallied the Sheriff's Department and the Fire Department to participate. If you hear sirens in Clinton around 1:30 pm tomorrow (Thursday), that likely will be the reason for those sirens.

The DeWitt County Board has been working to sell the Clinton Lake Marina for the last six months and things are picking up momentum as we approach the boating season.

Board Chair Dan Matthews indicates the sale of the Marina was a brief topic at last Thursday's DeWitt County Board meeting and informed the Board there were seven bids that came back from the recent request for proposal (RFP) process.

According to Matthews, this week, the County Board will go through a process to narrow down the proposals to a few for the full board to consider. He indicates with the boating season fast approaching, he hopes to have something in place before then.

Matthews hopes to have the process wrapped up and a recommendation for the full board next month. 

A central Illinois law enforcement official is encouraging residents in his community and others to be mindful keeping vehicle and outside home doors locked.

Springtime weather seems to be here early this year and Monticello Police Chief Rob Bross says the nice weather gets people out and moving and not always people with the best intentions. He indicates Monticello has seen a slight uptick in burglaries to unlocked vehicles.

Chief Bross is encountering a unique situation where residents will have their vehicles burglarized and then go to social media to talk about what happened to them. He is finding people expect police to respond to those posts, something they do not do.

Individuals that have their vehicles burglarized but suspect nothing was taken will sometimes not call in the crime but Chief Bross says just knowing something happened in a certain area of the community can help them with future patrols and investigations.

Chief Bross also points out residents with video doorbells have also become increasingly helpful in investigations. For those that are comfortable doing so, the police department keeps a database of residents with a ring camera for investigations where that video footage may come in handy. 

During the Governor’s budget address, he said that he would like lawmakers to eliminate the one percent sales tax on groceries.

The idea has its supporters, but it also has some in local governments worried about losing out on $350 million in collected grocery taxes each year. Gov. Pritzker says the move is all about affordability.

A law could be made to allow local governments to decide if they wanted the one percent tax to be levied in their communities.

A recently floated bill in the General Assembly could have brought California emission standards for vehicles to Illinois.

One part of that law keeps some diesel vehicles off the road if they are older than 2010. The Illinois Farm Bureau and others quickly opposed the idea and the hearing on the bill was cancelled. Governor JB Pritzker says that adopting those stringent standards isn’t right for Illinois.

The Farm Bureau, Trucking groups and others hailed the quick pullback of the bill from a committee hearing.

Last week was an irregularly contentious meeting of the Clinton Board of Education and parents over the accessibility of playground equipment at Clinton Schools.

The contention of Tyler and Brandy Smith is the district is not doing enough for its students with special needs to be able to have access to playground equipment at its three schools. Superintendent Curt Nettles says he feels for the students who cannot get around and do all the things of their peers, but he notes they do what they need to accommodate those students.

One of the allegations against the school district is that the playgrounds are not in compliance with ADA standards which Nettles explains is often a misunderstood requirement.

The upcoming renovation of the high school football field and other athletic facility improvements in the last few years have come under scrutiny from those advocating for improvements to playground equipment but Nettles points out, those projects have taken several years of planning, and planning for a playground improvement requires equal consideration.

It was suggested to the Clinton Board of Education last week that the district and community work together to fundraise for this effort. Nettles says personally, he does not like that idea because the community already pays taxes into the school system for things like playgrounds and facility maintenance.

There is frustration on the side of the parents that the Board of Education is not communicating with them about this. Nettles says the activity on social media kept the topic on the Board's radar but he also there have been other one-on-one conversations that took place as well.

Nettles indicates he has not been contacted by anyone seeking an inspection of district playground equipment and also points out the district's insurance inspects the equipment a couple of times per year and has seen no major issues that needs correcting in those inspections. 

A DeWitt County schools leader is encouraging its parents to participate in the Five Essentials Survey through the State of Illinois.

On the WHOW Morning Show Monday, DeLand-Weldon Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Tresnak told Regional Radio the Five Essentials Survey is administered by the Illinois State Board of Education in conjunction with the University of Illinois-Chicago.

According to Dr. Tresnak, the district wants to hear from parents on where they can improve.

Dr. Tresnak says he'll be sending out reminders to his families this week to implore them to take the survey. They hope to see around 20 to 25 percent participation in this year's survey. 

Illinois farmer Kenny Hartman serving on the planning committee for this week’s Commodity Classic in Houston.

Hartman, from Waterloo, also serves as first vice president of the National Corn Growers Association. The Commodity Classic runs Wednesday through Saturday in Houston.

DeWitt County has a new website and the DeWitt County Board Chair is raving about the changes made to the site.

On the WHOW Morning Show Friday, Board Chair Dan Matthews told Regional Radio - Board member Pat Ryan put in a lot of work to get the site updated and more streamlined. He calls the update to the site well overdue.

Matthews explains they wanted the website to be much more informative so if you visit the site, you'll notice right away there is more promotion of some of the things happening in DeWitt County.

The new website is mobile-friendly. That is going to be a huge improvement from the former site. Matthews calls it much more user-friendly and indicates you can even sign up for email notifications.

The URL is now, dewittcountyil.gov. 

The March weather outlooks are starting out trending strongly above normal and then things trend back to about average.

Ed Shimon indicates the first few weeks of March are showing a strong signal for above-normal temperatures, which is showing in the weather forecasts for the next few weeks.

According to Shimon, that above-normal temperature trend returns as we get into March and it will carry through the summer and into the fall.

Despite a dry February so far and a dry outlook for the spring, Shimon indicates we should be in good shape from a soil moisture standpoint thanks to a very wet January that replenished the ground with moisture.

Social Security card related transactions are the most common reason people visit Social Security offices but if you need a new or replacement Social Security card, you may be able to complete, or at least start your application on the Social Security website.

According to Jack Myers, if a visit is necessary, you can then use our online scheduling tool to book an appointment to complete the process at your local office.

If you need to apply for a SSN and card, start by visiting www.ssa.gov/number-card. 

Once there, you’ll answer a series of questions to determine if you can complete the process online without having to visit an office, start the process online, or start and complete the process at your local Social Security office.

If you start the application online and it is determined you need to come to an office to finish it, you can take advantage of the new Online Self-Scheduling option to select the most convenient office to receive service at. Myers says choose to receive communications and appointment reminders through e-mail or text.

If you do need to visit an office with documents, please note that Social Sercurity can’t accept photocopies.  You will need to bring originals or certified copies. Myers points out in Illinois you still need to visit an office in-person to complete a name change after marriage, but starting the process online will make the process more convenient.

Tiny Toulon, Illinois was a healthcare desert without a hospital or clinic in the entirety of its home in Stark County. 

That's when the Henry and Stark County Health Department, via community leaders and business owners, got involved. RaeAnn Tucker with the Henry and Stark County Health Department talks about how Health Departments are playing a role in alleviating so-called Healthcare Deserts across rural counties in Illinois.

The Henry and Stark County Health Department opened a new location in Toulon, Illinois in December, helping Stark County lose the designation as a Healthcare Desert and the model used to get funding for the location is being highlighted later this year by the Illinois Department of Public Health for Public Health Week in April 2024.

The Illinois State Police is investigating an officer-involved shooting in McLean County from Saturday. 

Just after noon the noon hour on Saturday on Interstate 55 northbound near Lexington, milepost 178,  Illinois State Police troopers responded to a call of shots fired.  

Preliminary information indicates two vehicles had pulled over and were on the shoulder of the interstate.  Upon arrival, officers observed a subject shooting at the other vehicle.  The subject then pointed a firearm at officers.  Officers exchanged gunfire with the subject, who was fatally struck and later pronounced deceased.  

There were no other injuries. 

Illinois State Police Division of Internal Investigation are investigating this incident.

The investigation is open and ongoing. ISP is currently processing evidence and conducting interviews.  

Upon completion of the investigation, all evidence and facts will be submitted for review to the McLean County State’s Attorney's Office.  

No additional information is available at this time.

USDA Rural Development Acting State Director Molly Hammond in her new position for about a month. She says several Illinois communities are taking advantage of the Rural Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure program.

Information on all USDA Rural Development Programs online at rd.usda.gov/il.

Frustration is growing as the crews continue digging for fiber optic internet in Clinton.

City Administrator Taylor Baxter indicates City crews are working to keep up with the demands of these companies. He admits it is indecorous to say but admits the whole process has been an inconvenience.

Crews digging and hitting gas lines was a big issue last year. It resulted in a couple of instances of homes having to be evacuated. While there have not been any significant gas leaks yet this year, crews are still periodically hitting gas lines as they dig. Baxter admits it is a very frustrating situation. 

National FFA Week wraps up today and local chapters have been creating a lot of opportunities for their members, schools, and communities this week. 

In a special live Farm Show heard on Regional Radio at illinoisfarmradio.com, Maroa-Forsyth's FFA Chapter previewed a very busy week.

That is Maroa-Forsyth freshman Emery Bunselmeyer. Freshman Morgan Crouch highlighted their Student Service Auction. 

The service auction will be this evening at Circle South in Clinton. Doors will open at 5:30pm, dinner is at 6:00pm, and the auction starts at 7:00pm.

Tickets for the event will be twenty dollars.

February could end up being a top-five month for average temperatures.

That is according to Ed Shimon, who on the WHOW Morning Show Wednesday, told Regional Radio temperatures will drop a bit starting Friday but another warm-up could be on the way next week before rain rolls through and cools things down.

 According to Shimon, February could end up a top five month for average temperature depending on how a warm-up next week turns out. We could see a record-high on Tuesday.

Closing out February and ushering in March, the trends are strong toward above-normal temperatures.

The remainder of March shows trends to equal chances of above and below-normal temperatures and precipitation but Shimon points out the above-normal signal is not far so there is the possibility the rest of March trends above-normal.

Shimon also notes an above-normal temperature signal remains for the remainder of the year. 

If you make less than $79,000 per year, then you qualify to file your taxes for free via the IRS website via IRS Free File. Cesar Yabor (Sees'er Yah Bore) with the Internal Revenue Service says that Free File is a safe and secure way for Illinois residents to file taxes...

Free File is available through the IRS website, IRS.gov.

For those looking for the best product in Illinois, voters will soon have their say in the fifth annual Makers Madness contest.

Designed by the Illinois Manufacturing Association, the Makers Madness competition highlights the coolest thing made in Illinois. Mark Denzler serves as the I-M-A President and Chief Executive Officer.

According to Denzler, products made in Illinois contribute more than 5-hundred eighty billion dollars to the state's economy each year.

To nominate the coolest thing made in Illinois, visit makers madness IL dot-com.

The Illinois Beef Expo is underway in Springfield. 

The Illinois Beef Association hosted a bull sale on Thursday and will be on the state fairgrounds all weekend. Devin Bollman, Communications and Membership Manager with the IBA says the event is bigger than ever and much of that growth is tied to having more than 700 cattle exhibited by youth from all over the state.

The Beef Expo is open to the pubic and staged out of the Livestock Center and surrounding barns.

The budget blueprint from the Governor has been delivered. JB Pritzker is calling for spending to support early childhood education and asking for funds to continue to care for migrants and asylum seekers who have been bussed here from Texas. Gov. Pritzker is also asking for the General Assembly to end a state sales tax.

The Governor’s budget calls for increasing taxes on corporations and sports betting operations.

The fear of public speaking? A few pointers from Breese-Central FFA’er Cole Bruggeman, who competes at next month’s district Public Speaking Competition.

This is National FFA Week.

As February winds down, an update on the drought monitor with DTN ag meteorologist John Baranick. He told RFD Radio this week that conditions are improving around the state.

The drought monitor is updated weekly at droughtmonitor.unl.edu.

City of Clinton officials are moving forward with a new website after the Clinton City Council approved a new website vendor on Tuesday night.

On the WHOW Morning Show Wednesday, City Administrator Taylor Baxter, following up the Council meeting from Tuesday, told Regional Radio the big selling point with the vendor they approved - Apptegy - was the fact they can help develop an app for the City.

According to Baxter, the City needs a better design for the website. There are several areas the City could make the website more streamlined and provide better imagery for the site.

Baxter says the City website also needs a lot of improvements. It needs visibility improvements for those who struggle to read smaller texts. It needs more organization He calls it being 'blown up'.

Updating the City website is also spurring conversations about re-branding. Baxter explains that has been and is on his radar and believes that will be the next priority after the website is updated.

Baxter indicates City personnel will begin planning for the website with hopes of it being ready to go live by the end of the summer or early fall. 

The University of Illinois Extension is hosting a climate change and farming seminar in Springfield next week.

Extension Director for Logan, Menard, and Sangamon Counties Terri Miller-Casey on the WHOW Morning Show Tuesday told Regional Radio this is an event that will inform farmers on how they can adjust to climate change.

According to Miller-Casey, this seminar is going to offer quite the lineup of speakers from a powerhouse list of groups that will be on hand to present.

That seminar is next Wednesday, Feb. 28 but registrations are due by Thurs., Feb. 22. Visit extension.illinois.edu for more on this seminar in Springfield. 

Senate Minority Leader John Curran says ahead of the Governor’s budget address that too many state dollars are being spent on people not from Illinois or the United States.

So far the state has spent more than $500 million on the growing migrant and asylum seeking population - that has largely been bussed to the state from Texas.

The Governor laid out his plans for state spending and revenue growth and Republicans in the state slammed most of it. JB Pritzker’s continued desire to fund care for migrants and asylum seekers in Illinois caught the ire of the GOP. But House Minority Leader Tony McCombie says the plan put forth by the Governor had a few bright spots.

Those tax increases are largely focused on corporations, businesses and the state’s sports gambling operations.

In a combined State of the State and budget address, Governor JB Pritzker laid out his spending priorities for the next fiscal year and talked about what his administration has accomplished over the past years.

Now the real work begins on the budget and the hundreds and hundreds of proposed bills.

State lawmakers will work through the month of May on all of it.

Constellation, the owner of Clinton's power plant, filed a license renewal application to keep the plant operating for another 20 years.

Leaders with Constellation filed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission application to extend the contract from 2027 to 2047. The plant, which provides over 13 million dollars in annual property taxes, education, and county services, produces carbon-free electricity to power over eight hundred thousand homes. The current contract for the plant could expire in April 2027 unless the Nuclear Regulatory Commission extends the contract. Brett Nauman is with Constellation Communications.

Renewing the plant could provide Illinois with an estimated 1-hundred 79 terawatt hours of additional carbon-free electricity over the contract's lifespan.

The 4 billion dollar plant, surrounded by Clinton Lake, employs over 5-hundred 30 people.

A central Illinois non-profit will be listening closely to the Governor's budget address today to hear his plans for Illinois social service agencies.

On the WHOW Morning Show Tuesday, Tony Kirkman, Executive Director of the Piatt County Mental Health Center, told Regional Radio it will be interesting what the Governor's plan will have with COVID dollars now out of the picture in Illinois.

According to Kirkman, the State of Illinois faces a deficit and he fears a cut to social services. 

Despite the maneuvering in the budget, Kirkman is optimistic about some legislation that could come up in the new legislative year that could help him pay his staff and not lose money. 

While the State of Illinois committed to using tax dollars from adult use marijuana sales to fund groups like the Piatt County Mental Health Center but Kirkman says he's seen as many of those dollars as schools have seen lottery dollars.

A Clinton family is continuing its advocacy for playground equipment advancements to be more accessible to students with special needs at the Tuesday night Clinton Board of Education meeting.

It was an uncharacteristically contentious meeting. Tyler Smith and his wife Brandy presented to the Board of Education last summer about upgrading Clinton School's playgrounds for their elementary-aged student. Smith returned to the Board Tuesday and had several pages of research he had done on the improvements they hoped to see.

Smith's advocacy hasn't been exclusive to Clinton schools either. He indicates they have been in contact with the Village of Wapella and the City of Clinton about its playgrounds as well.

The press Smith referenced is where the meeting started to turn somewhat contentious. Board President Dan Matthews told the Smiths there were no promises made to them regarding the playground improvements.

A story taken up by a Champaign area news outlet in the fall was what Smith describes as action taken out of frustration because they were not being heard by the Board of Education.

Superintendent Curt Nettles was frustrated by the story that was published by the news outlet and explained there was an entire interview and conversation that was had and only a few of his comments were portrayed.

The Smiths say they were frustrated because they presented in August of last summer and did not hear anything back from the Board.

Sandra Baker is the Board's Treasurer and told the Smiths there were very few communications to the Board and pointed out Assistant Superintendent Drew Goebel went right to work to research the requests they made last summer.

Smith accused the Board of not having ADA-compliant playground equipment and indicated they have contacted the Department of Education.

Matthews cautioned the Smiths about what they were doing noting the playground equipment could be shut down because of the lack of compliance and zero students would have access to it.

Smith says it was frustrating to be at the August meeting last summer, have a tentative budget put on file, and then no playground equipment be discussed further for the budget after that.

Matthews cut off the discussion after that. Nettles read a prepared statement at the end defending where the district is at with its current playground equipment and surveying he has done on the issue.

According to Nettles, the cost could be north of $ 1 million, and based on conversations with other superintendents he knows and had conversations with, none had anything being proposed.

Nettles feels the portrayal of the Board of Education on social media has not been accurate and vouched for the Board and its desire to do what is best for facilities.

Nettles did say anyone who did show up to do any inspections he would work with but would not tolerate anyone being unsupervised on the district's property doing any inspections. 

Central Illinois FFA Chapters are highlighting their programs during National FFA Week.

On a live noon Farm Show members of the Clinton FFA chapter told Regional Radio they will be hosting a Chicago FFA chapter in a unique opportunity to teach them about rural agriculture. Clinton FFA Chapter Vice-President Conley Schick shared this opportunity with Regional Radio

The Clinton FFA Chapter is very excited about this opportunity to share agriculture with a different part of our state. Clinton FFA Chapter President Davis Howell shares his excitement to learn more about urban agriculture through this experience.

Jolee Maharas from the Heyworth FFA Chapter explains each FFA student keeps record books, or SAEs. Those are kept throughout the year and can be used to advance a student throughout their FFA career.

According to Emma Quinton, her SAE is training her donkeys to interact with humans and ultimately hopes to see them become kid-friendly. 

The celebrations do not end today, as dress-up days and after-school events last until Friday for the Clinton FFA Chapter.

The Clinton YMCA is not only shifting the flag football season to a new time of the year, but it will also have a new location to play its games.

On the WHOW Morning Show Monday, Clinton Y Executive Director Rennie Cluver told Regional Radio the program moving to the spring offers the Y the chance to bring in the high school football program to mentor and teach the kids.

A couple of additional changes including games being played on Sundays to hopefully allow more kids the chance to play and not having conflicting activities. They are also excited to announce they will be playing games at 'Prairie Passage Greenspace' - the green space to the north of the Warner Library at the old junior high school.

Sports programming has taken a big step forward so far this year and Cluver believes having someone stable in the youth and adult programming position is a big part of that. He credits Melinda Akers for pursuing the vision of the Y and taking up the mantle left by David Torbert.

Follow the latest with the Y and its programs - for both youth and adults - by following them on Facebook. You can also visit clintoncommymca.org. Call 217-935-8307 or stop in at 417 South Alexander Street.

The City of Lincoln is getting its latest budget together in preparation for the new fiscal year on May 1.

Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch indicates the budget committee of the City Council will be sitting down with the department heads in Lincoln to prepare a new budget.

In the last few years in Lincoln, employee salaries have become a hot topic. This is because of the labor shortage and trying to offer a competitive salary to find and retain workers.

According to the Mayor, most of those discussions were had last year but they are looking at other employees salaries that weren't addressed last year.

Mayor Welch indicates the biggest emphasis when it comes to budgeting is roads. He explains community members want nice roads and unfortunately, there isn't the funding to address all the city's roads in a given year.

The upcoming budget will be passed in April and take effect on May 1. 

DeveloperforHire.com's recent study uncovered that, by the end of 2024, Illinois may be among the top 5 hotspots for remote workers nationwide. The research, taking various factors into account indicates that Illinois consistently ranks in the top 15 with an overall average across the criteria in the Top 4. Michael Johnson is one of the researchers behind the rankings..

Despite its lower ranking in Outdoor Beauty, Illinois, particularly Mattoon, is a work-from-home sweet spot with its attractive move-in incentives. With remote working set to double between 2023 and 2025, Illinois is well-positioned to attract this new working wave according to the Developer for Hire research.

The Governor is preparing his combined state of the state and budget address for Wednesday.

Republicans are urging JB Pritzker to eliminate wasteful spending – and according to House Minority Leader Toni McCombie the budget should address the moral priority of spending on Illinois citizens.

Pritzker has recently pledged and additional $182 million to address the continued care of migrants and asylum seekers who have largely been bused to Chicago by the Republican Governor of Texas.

National FFA Week underway. Mindy Bunselmeyer is the executive director of the Illinois FFA Center.

National FFA Week runs through Saturday.

With tax filing season underway, the Better Business Bureau leaders want the public to avoid tax scams.

Often, tax scams involve a phone call in which scammers pretend to be a part of the Internal Revenue Service. The goal is to get the public to act quickly and to submit a payment over the phone. Don O'Brien is a scam investigator with the B-B-B.

According to the Federal Trade Commission data, U.S. adults lost 10 billion dollars to scams in 2023, with over four billion related to tax scams.

To file a complaint about a preposterous I-R-S agent, visit B-B-B dot-org.

A former state senator and one-time candidate for Governor will remain in jail after a guilty plea made last week in a federal corruption trial.

Republican Sam McCann has been ordered to remain in custody prior to a June sentencing. Before the hearing – McCann had posted a video to Instagram detailing an alleged plot the FBI wanted him to lie about.

McCann’s lawyer says his client doesn’t remember making the video while driving to court last week. He pleaded guilty to nine federal counts – 8 of the counts could each carry up to 20 years in prison. He will be sentenced in June.

With tax time upon us, local authorities say local residents will be inundated with scam attempts.

Clinton Police Chief Ben Lowers says digital attempts at scamming the public have become as common, if not more so, than phone scams. With that in mind, he implores the public to be very skeptical of any electronic communications demanding personal information.

With the explosion of Facebook marketplace in the last few years, Chief Lowers says they encounter somewhat frequently individuals who made a transaction through Facebook, and the product either did not exist or was not what it was advertised to be.

Chief Lowers encourages using cash to purchase things on sites like Facebook Marketplace and others. He says that's one of the best ways to keep yourself from being scammed.

Online scams have not only taken over Facebook advertisements but also email and text messages are no longer immune to scam attempts. Chief Lowers says we need to be very vigilant in the links we click on when online. 

This Wednesday, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is slated to address the Illinois General Assembly for his annual State of the State and budget address and a local lawmaker is still curious what the Governor may say.

While she has somewhat of an idea of what the Governor will say, State Sen. Sally Turner anticipates the migrant crisis in the Chicago area will be his top priority and if downstate Illinois will be asked to financially help in the planning for these individuals.

The Lincoln Republican believes instead of sending state dollars to help Chicago with this crisis, we should be addressing our own shortcomings.

Additionally, Sen. Turner believes one issue that seems to have fallen out of the attention of the public is the pension crisis. She explains while the State did pay more on it last year, they could have done more instead of funding "pork projects".

Last week on Regional Radio, we heard from Sen. Turner on her focus and Illinois Republicans' focus on small businesses in Illinois. She hopes to see some of those initiatives taken up in the new legislative year. 

When it comes to scams, the trendlines are always moving.

That's why you must stay up to date on the latest in scam trends. Jack Myers at Social Security encourages you to follow reliable news sources if possible and stay connected with your local law enforcement agencies as they often put alerts out on their social media.

According to Myers, phishing is what it is called when scammers attempt to trick people into providing personal information. Scammers will attempt to contact you via phone, e-mail, text, or other messages to gain your information.

Make sure you understand the latest trends at www.ssa.gov/scam and again, Myers stresses make sure you're following reliable sources for the latest in scam trends near you. 

An Illinois Congressman wants stricter penalties for artificial intelligence robo calls.

Democrat Eric Sorensen collaborated with Republican Congressman Juan Ciscomani (CIS-oh-manny) to create the QUIET Act. The Act stands for Quashing Unwanted and Interruptive Electronic Telecommunications. Here's Congressman Sorensen.

Recently, scammers used A-I to portray President Joe Biden's voice, encouraging people not to vote in the primary election.

The bipartisan Act builds on the back of the TRACED Act, passed and signed into law in 2019.

The hot summer fair season is the furthest thing from the minds of 4-H families with more snow rolling through central Illinois this week but it is not lost on organizers at the U of I Extension in DeWitt County.

4-H Coordinator for the University of Illinois Extension in DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt Counties, Kendra Wallace indicates they are actively recruiting judges for the upcoming fair season.

Wallace notes this time of the year are a lot of paperwork items that she has to do to get ready for the fair but notes, fair season will be here before we know it and she looks forward to another great fair season in DeWitt county.

Find out more by visiting extension.illinois.edu/dmp.

Clinton High School is partnering with the organization 'Who We Play For' to offer EKG screenings for high school students.

High school students can get screened on Tuesday, April 30 from 8:30am to 2:30pm  at the high school. Screenings are $20 per student and pre-registration is required.

EKG screenings are a great way to detect issues that could lead to Sudden Cardiac Arrest- the number one killer of student athletes.

For more information, contact the school nurse,  Jill Martin at jmartin@cusd15.org.

A facility for its community law enforcement is nearing completion for a DeWitt County community.

Farmer City has been excited about a police gun range they are building and it is nearing completion. City Administrator Sue McLaughlin explains it has been a real community effort to make this happen.

McLaughlin is excited about the potential this facility could have. She indicates they hope to see it become a training facility for law enforcement and then perhaps see it become a recreational range for the public.

Because a lot of law enforcement agencies have trouble finding ranges for training, McLaughlin anticipates the demand for the facility to be very high, very quickly.

McLaughlin is very proud of how the community came together to make this vision a reality for the community. 

A central Illinois lawmaker says small businesses will be a priority for conservatives in the general assembly in the new legislative year.

On the WHOW Morning Show Thursday, State Sen. Sally Turner told Regional Radio there are several bills focused on small businesses in Illinois.

According to the Lincoln Republican, there's also a measure she is watching closely that deals with reporting small businesses are going to have to do through the Secretary of State. She notes this is a federal mandate. 

Sen. Turner says there are over 8,000 bills that are expected to be filed in the new legislative year. One of interest for those in the ag community is a bill for estate taxes.

While over 8,000 bills sound like a lot, Sen. Turner notes many are crossover bills where they are the same legislation being pushed in the House and the Senate. She adds they are anxiously awaiting to see what the Governor is going to have to say in his State of the State and budget address next week. 

Teamsters’ union employees who have authorized a strike against IDOT were holding a protest in front of it’s headquarters on Wednesday.

The union has been working without a contract since last summer. Teamsters’ Local 916 President JP Fyans says they aren’t on strike yet – but if they did - progress on rebuilding the states transportation network would grind to a halt.

A major sticking point in negotiations surrounds moving union members to a different health care plan that members says equals a pay cut.

The Illinois Department of Veterans Affair has a new logo. Veteran Jessica Savage, a former IDVA employee was part of the team that design the new look for IDVA and IDVA Director Terry Prince says the new look has a lot of meaning for Veterans...

The new logo will be presented across the agency including printed materials starting immediately with a star as the prominent new design element in the logo.

Sign-ups are underway for the Kenney Fire Department's annual Good Friday blood drive on March 29.

Kerry Coles with the Kenney Fire Department indicates giving blood is a very selfless act that doesn't take hardly any time at all and has a great impact at a time when blood is in high demand.

Impact Life will take on its second year working with the Kenney Fire Department and Michelle Trunnell with Impact Life stressing that donations made to them stay local.

Kenney Fire's Fritz Robinson indicates they started this annual blood drive as a memorial drive with simple hopes of a modest start but it quickly became so popular it takes up the entirety of the Kenney Fire Station.

KC explains there are many perks to being a blood donor. The pre-screening process is actually a mini-physical and they've seen examples of people that have sought medical attention because of a revelation at the screening process they were not aware of.

Trunnell says the process of giving blood from start to finish is roughly 45 minutes. She outlines the check-in and registration process...

Coles hopes to see first-time donors come out this year. He notes there is a majority of people that do not donate blood simply because they are not asked or they have a stigma around the process.

To learn more about giving blood with the Kenney Fire Department on Friday, March 29, find the Kenney Fire Department on Facebook. 

If you are an artist in the great Decatur and Macon County area, a non-profit would hope you'll consider a couple of opportunities coming up to showcase your talent.

Jerry Johnson is the Executive Director of the Decatur Area Arts Council and indicates they have three opportunities in 2024 where they need artists and hope artists will consider participating.

Johnson says they also showcase an artist each month in its Anne Lloyd Gallery at its facility in downtown Decatur. This month they have an artist that is showcasing the beauty of Yellowstone National Park.

Visit decaturarts.org for all the opportunities for local artists and other group programs that engage all sorts of arts. You can also follow the Arts Council on Facebook and Instagram. 

High school girls have a new sport to play.

As the IHSA announces that they have officially sanctioned girls flag football. Juliana Zavala, the Chicago Public Schools senior manager of girl’s flag football says she grew up a football fan and wanted to play but didn’t have an opportunity. When she heard the IHSA would sanction the sport she was beyond excited.

Over 100 schools in the state have committed to fielding teams this fall and another 40 are expected to join after that.

An IHSA State Final will be held on October 11 and 12.

In 2023 the office of Illinois Treasurer Michal Frerichs returned nearly $276 million dollars to Illinois residents via the ICash Program. 

ICash takes unclaimed property from a variety of sources and returns it to its rightful recipients, be they the person intended to receive the money or property or their next closest family member. To see if you have money, Treasurer Frerichs recommends going to the ICash website...

Unclaimed property from Safety Deposit boxes, life insurance policies or uncashed checks are typically what the ICash Program returns to Illinois residents though there is property sometimes recovered from Safety Deposit boxes. 

That property is auctioned off throughout the year with the cash value of the property earmarked to be returned to the rightful owner. 

The State of Illinois does not keep the money nor can it use the money.

While he's for spending more money on border security, one Illinois lawmaker calls Republicans' move to impeach the Homeland Security Secretary a 'bad precedent.'

For the first time since 1876, Republicans in the House of Representatives voted to impeach Alejandro Mayorkas in a late Tuesday night vote. The House G-O-P says the problems at the Southern Border lie on Secretary Mayorkas' shoulders. But for Illinois congressman Eric Sorenson, that's not the case.

The impeachment vote split amongst party lines.

The next plan for state spending by Governor JB Pritzker will be revealed in a week. He’s set to deliver his state of the state and budget speech on the 21st. Pritzker isn’t willing to give any specifics yet – but says the budget will reveal what the state values.

Pritzker will address the General Assembly next week.

If severe weather hits and results in major power outages, you may see a new piece of equipment come to town in the aftermath. 

Ameren has added two specially designed Mobile Command Center trailers to its fleet to coordinate crews and materials. They will be used to complement the company's emergency preparedness fleet of equipment, which includes storm material trailers and mobile substations. Ameren Illinois spokesman Brian Bretsch says these new units include drones.

The 24-foot-by-8-foot trailers can be pulled behind an Ameren utility truck and are climate controlled and equipped with high-speed internet access, computer workstations, a generator, technology for viewing real-time drone footage of storm damage and an awning to provide outside cover.

The Clinton Chamber of Commerce moved back its annual dinner on the calendar this year and it is quickly approaching.

On the WHOW Morning Show Tuesday, Executive Director Janice Peterson says the final days to get tickets for the Saturday, March 2 event is this week.

Peterson reminds member businesses those votes need to come in today (Wednesday) for the annual awards. 

For Chamber members, tickets are $50 per person or $90 for two. A table of eight is $360. Peterson notes tickets are available for non-Chamber members but they are a little more expensive. 

Visit clintonilchamber.com for more. You can call the Chamber at 217-935-3364 or stop into its office at 100 South Center Street on the Clinton Square. 

A project that Farmer City officials hoped would get done last year will finally get done this year.

On the WHOW Morning Show Tuesday, Sue McLaughlin, City Manager for Farmer City told Regional Radio they have several areas targeted for summer street work.

As McLaughlin mentioned, the project was scheduled to be done last year but because bids came in higher than anticipated, they received better bids this year and will take care of those areas this summer.

According to McLaughlin, the City evaluates all its roads and has tried to make the most of its own funds on top of motor fuel tax money.

McLaughlin indicates residents in the impacted areas will receive notices of the work happening around their neighborhoods. She anticipates those will go out in late April or early May. 

Valentine's Day is approaching, and scammers want to exploit those looking for love.

According to the National Retail Federation, consumer spending will reach nearly 26 billion dollars for Valentine's Day - and scammers want their chunk. Don O'Brien, a scam investigator with the Better Business Bureau, wants consumers to look out for romance scams.

According to O'Brien, scammers looking for love online use phony profiles to siphon money from those believing they found a good partner. If you are a part of a romance scam, you can file a complaint by visiting B-B-B dot-org.

The Governor isn’t offering many details about his planned budget address, but that’s not stopping Republicans from getting ahead of the speech and calling into question any additional state spending.

State Rep. Norine Hammond says the state could be facing a nearly $900 million deficit, and if that’s the case, the Governor shouldn’t offer up any new spending.

Governor JB Pritzker will deliver his budget address next Wednesday.

If you spend time on social media, chances are you’ve seen an ad asking, “Do you have ADHD?” 

The self-diagnosing quiz you are directed to often provides viewers with misconceptions about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder before they ever see a medical provider. Kyle Boerke, director of Behavioral Health Outpatient Services for OSF HealthCare, hopes to provide clarity. He says ADHD starts in childhood, not in adulthood.

He adds that there’s no official test for ADHD. It’s a whole set of symptoms that include how it’s impacting your daily functioning and for how long. If you’re an adult and think you have ADHD, Dr. Boerke says seeking medical attention by a professional is the best first step.

City of Clinton officials continue to closely monitor the crews that are seemingly everywhere in Clinton right now digging for fiber optic internet companies that are coming to the community and establishing infrastructure.

At last week's Clinton City Council meeting, Commissioner of Public Property, John Wise told the Council City crews continue to try to keep up with the demand for marking city lines as these crews continue their work.

Commissioner of Public Safety, Dan Ballenger told the Council they are getting good compliance when an issue comes up. He credits Steve Lobb for taking care of those issues when they come up.

When these crews started popping up in 2023, they were hitting gas lines at an alarming rate. At several points, the City of Clinton took action to ban a couple of the line-digging companies. Hit lines would impact whole neighborhoods and even forced the evacuation of homes on a couple of occasions. 

Come out to the Clinton Eagles this Sunday and help support your local fire departments while enjoying a good time watching the Daytona 500.

On the WHOW Morning Show Monday, Kerry Coles told Regional Radio the Kenney Fire Department is one of three departments that benefits from the annual Daytona Race fundraiser at the Eagles in Clinton.

According to Coles, this year the Eagles will be spreading awareness for a campaign they are starting that promotes a sticker that you can put on your vehicle that gives notice to first responders that an individual in the car may have a special health need.

Troy Lashbrook with the Kenney Fire Department says the funds raised from the annual Daytona fundraiser help purchase things the fire department's budget cannot afford but they still need.

Coles describes the event as very relaxed. While generally a members-only establishment, the Eagles are open to the public for the day and he encourages stopping out and supporting their cause.

Things get underway at the Eagles at noon. You can learn more by finding the Clinton Eagles on Facebook. 

It's the 52nd WIU Ag Mech Farm Expo this weekend. An event completely organized by students says sophomore Avery Isringhausen from Vandalia.

The Expo is on Saturday and Sunday at WIU’s Western Hall in Macomb.

It's been just over a month since the Smoke Free Illinois Act officially expanded to ban Vaping Products alongside traditional smoking products in public places. RaeAnn Tucker with the Henry and Stark County Health Department says that County Health Departments across Illinois are now working on promoting compliance....

Local Health Departments have the power to issue fines for businesses that do not work to enforce the Smoke Free Illinois Act.

Not all hourly workers make the same wage in Illinois. Those who work in restaurants and receive tips are paid less. And a group of lawmakers want the state to end the tipped minimum wage, instead having all workers be paid the same amount of money. Democrat State Senator Lakesia Collins spoke at a rally for impacted workers.

The sub-minimum wage is $8.40 an hour. If a change to wages were to take effect, workers would still be able to collect tips.

February is Heart Health Month in Illinois and around the country and one aspect of heart health that gets overlooked is the effect of too much sugar in your diet. Sara Umphleet is an award-winning dietitian for OSF Healthcare locations in Central Illinois and she says there are healthy levels of sugar for both men and women...

There is no need to get rid of all your sugary drinks and snacks, according to Sara, just cut back to a healthy level, especially if you have a family history of heart problems.

Last week on Regional Radio, we highlighted Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month for February, and today, we hear from experts on parental involvement and its role in keeping kids safe online.

Monticello Police Chief Rob Bross implores parents to keep track of kids' online activities. He points to a recent situation they encountered where there was a good line of communication between parent and child and kept something bad from happening to a young person.

Director of Services at Willow Tree Missions in Piatt County, Andrea Kocher encourages youth who may find themselves in a tough spot because of a decision they made online to seek help with an adult they trust. She says this also applies to an abusive relationship a teen may find themselves in. 

You can find help through Willow Tree Missions by calling 217-762-2350 or visiting willowtreemissions.org. They also have offices at 100 East Washington Street in downtown Monticello. 

A DeWitt County school leader is focusing on modernizing the district. 

Dr. Hillary Stanifer is the Superintendent of Blue Ridge Schools and points to a couple of initiatives they are focused on to modernize. One is the district's app for better communication and the other is a more modern way for potential applicants to apply for their job openings.

According to Dr. Stanifer, not only does modernizing the district mean more streamlined communication methods but also a more modern look. She explains they are updating the district's track facility and have taken on a more modern look to the entryway and facade of its high school building.

Dr. Stanifer points out this is somewhat of a continuation of work they have already done. She reminds of the revised mission statement they did last summer as well as the rebranding from last year as well. 

Tax season is upon us and Social Security has some reminders for those who receive benefits.

Jack Myers with Social Security indicates you may have to pay federal income tax on Social Security benefits. Whether or not you do depends on your combined income. Your Combined income includes your adjusted gross income plus your nontaxable interest plus half of your Social Security benefits.

Myers lays out the thresholds for income based on your marital status and the percentage of your benefits that are taxable. 

If you are married and file a separate tax return you probably will pay taxes on your benefits. Myers explains if you received SS benefits in 2023, you should have gotten an SSA-1099 in January.

Federal tax withholding from Social Security benefits is voluntary.

Myers points out if you choose voluntary tax withholding, the IRS allows Social Security to withhold at either 7%, 10%, 12%, or 22%. If you choose voluntary tax withholding, the SSA-1099 that we send to you - and the IRS - will reflect the amount that was withheld throughout the year.

If you’ve misplaced your 1099 or don’t recall getting it, you can get a replacement through your mySocialSecurity account www.ssa.gov/myaccount. 

You can request a W-3V form by completing a form W-4V which is available in the forms section of our website www.ssa.gov/forms. You can also call 1-800-772-1213 or visit an office to request a W-4V. 

It's been just over a month since the Smoke Free Illinois Act officially expanded to ban Vaping Products alongside traditional smoking products in public places. RaeAnn Tucker with the Henry and Stark County Health Department says that County Health Departments across Illinois are now working on promoting compliance....

Local Health Departments have the power to issue fines for businesses that do not work to enforce the Smoke Free Illinois Act.

Illinois American Water is asking the Illinois Commerce Commission to approve a $152-million rate hike, but a utility watchdog questions its necessity. 

The Citizen’s Utility Board calls the request “severe and greedy,” saying the company is pushing for an excessive profit rate for its shareholders. According to the water company, CUB spokesman Jim Chilsen says the average customer could see a $24 a month hike in their water bill and about $5 monthly for wastewater.

Last Thursday, Illinois American Water filed a request to increase rates by about 39.5 percent. In the request, the utility proposes increasing its Return on Equity (ROE), or profit rate for shareholders, from 9.78 percent to 10.75 percent. 

The rate case, Docket # 24-0097, will take approximately 11 months to complete. You can offer your opinion on the request at: https://www.icc.illinois.gov.

With a stretch of very nice weather, a lot of folks have taken advantage of getting out and getting some light yardwork taken care of. 

With a couple of small piles of brush popping up on community curbsides, Clinton Commissioner of Public Property Ken Buchanan reminds brush pickup will resume again in March.

The Council held its first February meeting Tuesday night. It meets again on Tuesday, Feb. 20. 

The Warner Library's annual tax aid program through AARP is annually very popular and this year is no exception.

Emily Dunham with the Warner Library in Clinton indicates this is a program open to anyone of any age of any income bracket. AARP trains volunteers from DOVE who do those tax returns at the library.

Dunham stresses if you are going to take advantage of this program, you need to make your appointment by stopping into the library. You can visit them at 310 North Quincy Street in Clinton. 

April is annually the biggest fundraiser for a central Illinois non-profit and its leadership has been working the last few years to expand the reach of the fundraiser.

Cheeseburger in Paradise is Community Action's biggest fundraiser. Director of Agency Impact, Breann Titus explains the fundraiser can bring in anywhere from $25,000 to $50,000 and it helps with programming its grants do not cover.

According to Titus, they have sought in the last few years to break the stigma that the event is a Lincoln/Logan County-only event. She explains they have promoted to businesses in their agency area the impact they have on the community in hopes of gaining more support and more people from outside Lincoln to attend.

Cheeseburger in Paradice comes up on Saturday, April 27 at the Lincoln Banquet Center. There are still tickets and tables available but Titus indicates they do go fast so she encourages getting on the Community Action website, capcil.info for all those details. 

It might be a little warmer for an annual event in Argenta but that won't slow down the activities.

The 8th annual Argenta Ice Fest is this weekend and Ron Grider is optimistic they will be able to host the annual event that has a little something for everyone throughout the community. 

Grider says the community has always been great about organizing to help out with the event. He encourages getting to Ice Fest early to see the ice carvings before they melt. 

A lot of community and area businesses have stepped up to be a part of this year's festival. Grider says there is truly something for everyone in Argenta this weekend.

Find the Argenta Ice Fest Facebook page for all the details on this weekend's events plus any updates on how the weather may impact the weekend's plans. 

A spokesperson for the American Red Cross in St. Louis says a nationwide blood shortage still exists. 

The agency is putting out a call for blood donors, as the plea for help about a month ago came right before much of the country got hit with inclement weather that resulted in the cancelation of blood drives from coast to coast. Sharon Watson, spokesman for the American Red Cross, says it was a bad January for them.

You can find a list of area blood drives by following the link: www.redcrossblood.org

The Clinton City Council heard from the City Tree Commission at its meeting this past Tuesday night.

Edith Brady-Lunny presented on behalf of the Tree Commission and indicates they are hosting the annual tree-planting event in April for National Arbor Day. She put in a bid to have the city's arboretum renamed for Carol McFeeters-Thompson.

If the City gives the idea the thumbs-up, Brady-Lunny hopes to see temporary signage created to have the area renamed and recognized and then work to have permanent signage honoring McFeeters-Thompson.

Initial feedback from the City Council seemed to fully support the idea.

Also at the Tuesday night Clinton City Council meeting:

>>The Council approved the purchase of real estate at 812 West Leander Stree for $26,600. 

>>The Council approved the subdivision plat for the Park Lane West Subdivision

Join a Clinton High School program for a night of trivia and support its efforts to compete later this year.

Skills USA is a program at Clinton Junior High School and Clinton High School and freshman Destiny Jones explains the program is a great introduction to a variety of skills that you can then develop to use to compete against other chapters.

This Saturday, the Clinton High School chapter of Skills USA is hosting a fundraiser that will allow the group to go to State in Peoria and if they can qualify, head to Atlanta, Georgia. Jones says they qualified for nationals in Atlanta last year.

Jones joined Skills USA last year at Clinton Junior High School and says it has been a very enjoyable experience for her.

Jones invites community members and students to this event on Saturday at 6 pm. 

Fred Knap is the Skills USA Facilitator at Clinton High School. Contact him for more details on the Saturday night event in the commons of Clinton High School. His email is fknap@cusd15.org. 

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and a group of frontline professionals say technology is taking this issue to a new level.

With the emergence of technology, teen dating violence has evolved in recent years. On the WHOW Morning Show Wednesday, Andrea Kocher, Director of Services at Willow Tree Missions in Piatt County, told Regional Radio there are still some fundamental ways teen dating violence plays itself out.

Dep. Lindsey Bross is a school resource officer with the Piatt County Sheriff's Department and indicates this is a very real issue among youth today. She explains the advancements in technology and more specifically, social media, make teens especially susceptible to this.

Kocher indicates this is becoming problematic in getting individuals help because of the control over the devices and accounts an abuser has.

Even more concerning for authorities is the fact AI (artificial intelligence) and other forms of material altering methods are making this issue even more concerning. Dep. Bross explains they see a lot of times where images are altered to humiliate a person.

Parents monitoring their kid's online activities is one of the keys to ensuring their safety. We'll hear more on that in the days ahead on Regional Radio.

State Ag Pest Survey Coordinator Kelly Estes highlighting a University of Illinois annual report evaluating field crop disease and insect management.

You can find the report at go.illinois.edu and by searching Field Crop Insect and Disease Applied Research.

The University of Illinois received a $1-million gift for wheat-related research. The donation is from Siemer Milling Company in Teutopolis says German (air-mahn) Bollero, who serves as Dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the U of I.

The gift was announced at this week’s Double Crop Farmers Forum in Mount Vernon, hosted by the Illinois Wheat Association and Illinois Soybean Association.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Amateur Trapshooting Association have signed a contract extension that clears the way for the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta to host the ATA Grand American through 2036.

It’s the largest and oldest shooting event of its kind says ATA’s Lynn Gipson. The Grand American was moved to the Sparta location in 2006.

The event has an estimated economic impact of $25 million to $30 million annually.

The 2024 Grand American is set for July 31 to Aug. 10. More than 4 million targets will be thrown during the event.

The 1,600-acre World Shooting Complex is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday each week. Activities include trap and skeet shooting, sporting clays, and other sporting activities. The site also features more than 1,000 campsites and fishing opportunities.

Super Bowl TV ad in 2023 and Super Bowl TV ad in 2024. That’s quite the bookends for the “We are the 96” campaign says Illinois Farm Bureau Consumer Engagement Manager Gracie Pierson. And the effort was much more than just the big game stuff.

The Illinois Farm Families coalition features Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Beef Association, IL Corn Marketing Board, Illinois Pork Producers Association, Illinois Soybean Association and Midwest Dairy.

The Illinois State Fair has another music act booked for the Grandstand.

State Fair Manager Rebecca Clark says county fans will enjoy Tuesday night at the fair.

Tickets for all Grandstand acts will be sold through Ticketmaster.

There are 25 fellows in the Illinois Ag Leadership Foundation Class of 2025. They’ll be in Springfield this week says the foundation's Mellisa McMillan.

The group will also hear from Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello and former director Becky Doyle, a member of the first-ever ag leadership class in 1984.

US Senator Dick Durbin says a bipartisan bill in Congress to address the crush of migrants and asylum seekers at the US Southern Boarder isn’t perfect but it’s what the county needs right now.

That bill now faces an uncertain future as Republicans are walking away from supporting it after former President Donald Trump has spoken out against it.

The DeWitt County Genealogical Society is hosting a workshop at the Warner Library next Saturday on techniques for DNA test results.

On the WHOW Morning Show Tuesday, President of the DeWitt County Genealogical Society, Terri Lemmel told Regional Radio the workshop will help those who have gotten their DNA results and what they need to do next.

Lemmel encourages those who attend to bring a laptop or tablet with them to follow along with some of the things she will present. She indicates they will have both an in-person and online option.

According to Lemmel, there is a misconception she encounters a lot around getting your DNA results. She explains there is a lot that goes into getting the entirety of your genealogy report.

Lemmel points out the Genealogical Society has its own space at the Warner Library in Clinton and hopes if you are seeking to put together your family tree, you'll consider utilizing the resources they offer that can help.

Find the DeWitt County Genealogical Society on Facebook or visit DeWittCountyGenealogicalSociety.com. To RSVP to next Saturday's workshop, email Lemmel at dewittcgs@gmail.com. 

A central Illinois school district is joining many others by implementing a program that helps equip teens with the tools they need to deal with and help those battling a mental health or emotional health crisis.

Issues of mental and emotional distress have drastically risen in youth in recent years and Warrensburg-Latham Schools recently began implementing 'Teen Mental Health First Aid', a program that several schools in central Illinois have begun to introduce to combat mental and emotional health issues in its student body.

Principal of Warrensburg-Latham High School, Allison Nolen indicates this was something she was very excited to bring on at the recommendation of Superintendent Cheryl Warner.

According to Nolen, they survey students about where they are from a mental and emotional perspective. She feels it gives staff a good idea of where they need to focus for the program.

Adrian Moody is the high school counselor and says they are currently in the middle of training students. Training helps students be able to effectively talk to peers and when to tag in a trusted adult.

According to Moody, students do follow-up surveys after each session. She explains this gives students a chance to volunteer when they need help and it can be assistance in any area.

The program will continue to be rolled out as more students get trained. Nolen says one thing they are trying to stress to students is oftentimes, mental and emotional health challenges will roll into other areas of their lives, including academics. 

Women in the Champaign-Urbana, Decatur-Forsyth and Lincoln areas will soon have increased access to obstetrics care through a new collaboration on select services between OSF HealthCare and Advanced Women’s Healthcare in Bloomington.

At OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center in Urbana, a team of OB/GYNs and certified nurse midwives from Advanced Women’s Healthcare will see patients for well-woman, prenatal and postpartum care at the medical office building on the OSF Heart of Mary campus (1405 W. Park St.). This is in addition to the existing team at the clinic, including nurse midwife Kelli Daugherty, APRN, who sees patients in Urbana and Danville.

Dele Ogunleye, MD, (DELL-ee // OH-gun-lee) obstetrician and gynecologist, and Brittany King, APRN, will see patients initially, with three other certified nurse midwives (Lindsay Bustle, CNM, Laura Muehling, CNM, and Lilly Ott, CNM) joining the team in the coming weeks.

Clinics with Advanced Women’s Healthcare providers and OSF Mission Partners (employees) will also serve patients in Forsyth (845 US Route 51), with an expected opening in February, and in Lincoln (602 Woodlawn Road), with an expected opening in April.

Services at OSF Medical Group – Obstetrics & Gynecology will include typical care offerings at OSF HealthCare locations, such as well-woman visits, prenatal and postpartum care, pelvic floor disorder treatments and general gynecologic care.

The expanded clinic serving the Champaign-Urbana area is expected to begin February 12. Hours will be Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

HIGH HONOR ROLL

SENIORS

CORTEZ, ANIYA E.
COX, ASHLEY M.
DALTON, NOAH E.
DOUGLAS, ADDISON R.
FABIAN, JULIANNA T.
FOSTER, AMBER D.
FRIESLAND, KELSEY N.
GRAVES, DAWSON W.
GUERRERO, LESLEY M.
HELFAND, ALYVIA A.
HOLT, CHYNEAH R.
HUMBLE, HEIDI B.
KOEPPEL, MAKAYLA R.
MICHAEL, BIONCA L.
MOSER, DREW E.
RAMIREZ, KARLA A.
REEVES, BROOKE L.
REYNOLDS, CARLY K.
STANEK, MIRANDA
TAYLOR, KYNDALL R.
WHEELER, DENSIL L.
YOUNG, ELLIE S

JUNIORS

BALL, JAMES L. JR
BARRINGER, JOHN A.
BEEBE, ADYSON V.
BELL, DALTON K.
BROWN, AVARIE M.
CAHILL, LYDIA G.
CAMPOS CAZORLA, GISELA
CICENAS, ALEXANDER E.
DUKE, GRACE R.
EARLE, CARLEY
FILKIN, REGAN K.
GOEBEL, KATE E.
HARRIS, KADEN M.
HEMPHILL, AMERIE T.
HERNANDEZ, LUZ I.
HITCHINGS, ASHER S.
HOLLAND, SOPHIA M.
HOWARD, JAQILYNN C.
MORRISON, BRIELLE A.
RODRIGUEZ, AUDREY M.
SCHICK, CONLEY A.
STEWARD, ELLA A.
THRASHER, TALAN S.
WEST, MCKINLEY G

SOPHOMORES

ATTEN, EMILY C.
BAKER, ELAYNA W.
BAZER, EMILIE E.
BOW, ALEXIS C.
BRINKOETTER, SIENNA H.
BROWN, PAISLEA M.
CLUVER, LILAH G.
COLE, MADISON M.
DANIELS, PARKER D.
DEMPSEY, CLARA J.
FATH, JAYLENE S.
FENTRESS, RILEY M.
GOERGEN, SLOANE M.
HART, EMMA T.
HAYNES, ALIVIYAH M.
HILTON, ARIANNA N.
KORITZ, ABEL J.
MANNING, JACKSON J.
MILLS, LEAH E.
MORGAN, MCKEGAN E.
MOSER, ABIGAIL D.
NEWBERG, LOGAN J.
NOTARO, REED C.
PINE, RYAN W.
POTTS, ZACKARY T.
RAUCH, AIDEN J.
REXSHELL, OWEN P.
RHODES, NOLAN E.
SCHICK, MABREY A.
SMITH, AVERY L.
STAMP, RUSSELL U.
THOMPSON, ANELISE I.
TURNEY, JARRETT W.
VAN ZEE, ABBY J.
VISINIA, LEILANI L.
WILSON, BROCK J.
WRAGE, HALLE E.
WRIGHT, DYLLON  R

FRESHMAN

APPLE, LOLA C.
BENSON, JOURNEE L.
BLACKLIDGE, MAKAILAH A.
BOSTIC, COLLIN I.
CARTER, BRILEY R.
CHRISPEN, SHAWN M.
COTHERN, CARTER W.
DILLON, CARSON D.
DOUGLAS, GRADY M.
DROKE, JUSTIN O. JR
FATHEREE, AVERIE R.
FINCH, KOLTEN H.
GOEBEL, BENJAMIN D.
HARDWICK, KEARINGTON L.
HARWEGER, CURTIS A.
HEINLEN, JACOB F.
HILL, ELLA A.
HOLLAND, ALEXANDER M.
HOLLAND, AUDREY L.
HUMBLE, HADLEY R.
IRVIN, BRAYDEN R.
JONES, NICODEMUS D.
LORD, JOIELLE P.
MCGLASSON, WYATT A.
MCKINSEY, PAYTON A.
MOORE, CAMRON M.
MORGE, PATRICK E.
NICHOLS, ALAINA M.
NICHOLS, COOPER D.
PARRISH, KHLOE E.
PERHAY, ISABELLA J.
PROTHERO, SAWYER D.
RAMIREZ, ISRAEL
SCHICK, PAISLEY A.
STANEK, MASON A.
TOOHILL, AUDREY L.
TRIMBLE, SETH R.
TROUTT, SIRENA E.
WADDELL, MADISON F.
WATERS, HUDSON D.
WHEELER, MICAH A.
WHITESIDE, TANNER R.
WILHAM, HALEY M.

A HONOR ROLL

SENIORS

ARMSTRONG, ASHLEY L.
BARTON, KYLIE J.
CLUVER, BROOKS W.
CORNWELL, KAYLEE M.
DEAVERS, ELIZABETH R.
DOWNS, ISABELLA M.
GRAHAM-INGRAM, TRENTIN A.
HERNANDEZ, XAVIER
HOWELL, DAVIS J.
KORITZ, ADELINE L.
LARSON, NORA E.
MESSENGER, MATTHEW R.
MILLS, SARAH S.
NEWBERRY, BROCK C.
PATTERSON, CONNOR W.
POTTS, TRISTIN T.
QUICK, ZOE E.
ROBERTS, CURTIS D.
SKANDERA, PAIGE N.
STEPHENSON, ISIAH T.
TOOHILL, AIDEN J.

JUNIORS

AKEMAN, JADON I.
ANAYA, NOEL B.
ANDERSON, TAYLOR
BOYSEN, NOAH X.
BREWER, ADDISON B.
BUGNER, TIMOTHY D.
ETTIEN, BRODIE L.
FINCH, BRADEN F.
GODBEY, TAYLOR L.
HELFAND, ALANIA G.
JILES, CHRISTIAN R.
LEIMBACH, EMELIA L.
LEONARD, MADDISON L.
MANDRELL, CYNTHIA M.
MARTIN, MARGARET J.
MOORE, ALEXANDER J.
PASTORE, PIPER G.
POWELL, HANNAH E.
PROTHERO, ADDISON A.
ROBERTS, ADAM D.
SCHACKMANN, WYATT A.
WEBB, JACK D.
WEST, TEEGAN A.
WILLIS, WYATT G.
WOOD, ALEXANDER S.

SOPHOMORES

ADAMS, LINCOLN J.
AHLERS, FAITH R.
ANDERSON, CARLY
COSTELLO, MASON R.
DURBIN, KIERRA E.
GOAR, OLIVER L.
GRAVES, KEATON R.
HAND-SPELLMAN, EMALEIGH E.
HOFFMAN, ISABELLA N.
HUNTER, SKYLEA L.
KEAGLE, NATALIE S.
KILSON, NOAH J.
KOYAK, MILEY J.
LYONS, REESE E.
MENDOZA, MIGUELANGEL
MINER, NOAH S.
NAPE, JOSHUA
REMPE, AUSTIN T.
RHOADES, BAILEY R.
SMOCK, JONATHAN M.
STEWART, JOLEENA V.
TIMMONS, WYATT J.
WALKER, GABRIEL R.
WILLIAMSON, SAVANNA P.
WOODS, MARK T.
WUNSCH, ETHAN M.

FRESHMEN

ANGEL, VAN A.
BLAKELY, JOSIE A.
BOSTIC, CARTER J.
BRAGG, DELAINI J.
BURTON, WYATT C.
CARTER, ETHAN W.
CASAREZ, DAEVINY J.
COSTA, CHRISTIAN A.
DEERWESTER, LILA L.
DEVALLE, HOLLAND
DEVORE, VANESSA A.
DOUGLAS, ASHTON M.
GODBEY, HAILEY L.
GUNDY, BRIANNA M.
HEWERDINE, JACOB T.
JONES, CAITLYNN R.
JONES, DESTANEY L.
MILLER, LAYNE D.
NAXI, DIANA M.
OLICHWIER, GRETCHEN D.
RAMIREZ, KAILEE
REED, OLIVER M.
RETZER, SEAMUS P.
RYAN-HAWKINS, OLIVIA M.
SIMMONS, JAYDON M.
SMITH, JAYSEN M.
STAMP, SUEZETTE L.
SUMMERS, ADDISON G.
THOMS, DALTON J.
UTTERBACK, GRIFFIN R.
VELEZ-NOBLE, JOZLIN E.
WHITE, BRIGGS M.
WOOLDRIDGE, SAMUEL G.
WYATT, CADENCE B.

B HONOR ROLL

SENIORS

BASS, NOAH D.
CARTER, MACY M.
CHISU, FEDERICO
CHITWOOD, AVERY M.
FATHEREE, JORDAN M.
FOEHR, LEAH M.
FULMER, ETHAN M.
HALL, ASHLEIGH
HEREDIA, HANCY I.
HOOKER, JONAH A.
HUSTED, LAUREN A.
JILES, GAVEN A.
MCINTIRE, PORTER R.
MOLITORIS, MACKENZI L.
NICHOLLS, BRIANA K.
PARSON, CARLYE A.
POLLOCK, KRISTIANNA H.
QUINONES, AUSTIN J.
SLOAT-SHANNON, TRENTN L.
SPAUGH, DAKOTA M.
STAPLETON, RYAN N.
SUTTON, ERIC
VILLANUEVA, MIA G.

JUNIORS

ADAMS, RILEY B.
ARMSTRONG, NATHANIEL J.
BALES, TYLER J.
BARNES, SIERRA E.
BROWN, ANDREW J.
CONSTANCE, WYATT G.
DAM, AIDEN S.
FATHEREE, NATASHA L.
FLORES, SHIRLEY
FORD, KAYLEE R.
FORTUNE, AUSTIN A.
HALE, MELISSA R.
HENDRIX, LILLIANNE D.
HIBBARD, KRISTIAN T. III
HUMES, ARIANA J.
JAMESON, COLIN D.
KRIT, KENEDY R.
LORD, AMIA B.
MADSON, AMELIA D.
MCCUE, BRANNON J.
MILTON, DELANEY M.
MONKMAN, IAN G.
NICHOLLS, CADEN J.
RETZER, MARK E.
REYNOLDS, JONATHON A.
RICH, JOESEF J.
RINGER, DUSTIN R.
RODRIGUEZ, ADRIAN
ROE, JADELYNN J.
SANDERS, EMMA
SENTERS, DESTINY E.
SOBERALSKI, ELIJAH M.
THAYER, DAWSON E
TREAKLE, IVORI B.
VELEZ-NOBLE, ALEXIS E.
WAGERS, RYLAN J.
WALKER, COLTON J.
WALSTON, LOUIS E.
WESTBROOKS, ANTHONY A.
WILLIAMS, EMMA M.

SOPHOMORES

ALEJANDRO, MARLY
ALEXANDER, JACKSON F.
ATCHISON, NATALIE D.
BASS, JOSHUA K.
BATESON, JOSHUAH D.
CARTER, CAMERON J.
CLARK, SANDRA
DASH-WILLIAMS, JORDAN K.
DAUGHTREY, KEAGAN A.
FENTRESS, COLE C.
FITCH, LUTHER L.
GENTRY, GRAYSON K.
GENTRY, JOHN R.
GUERRERO, EILEEN
HARRIETT, TRINITY J.
HARVEY, SHANE P.
KOYAK, MADDISON J.
MESSENGER, SARAH E.
PARSON, JESSIKA-LEE I.
REYNOLDS, JAXON L.
RILEY, ADRIEN M.
SCOTT, PHOENIX J.
TAYLOR, KIMBERLY A.
TAYLOR, SABLE
VELAZQUEZ, ASHLEY
WEBB, SOPHIE L.
WHITLOCK, JAKOBE M.
WOODS, TRISTAN  M

FRESHMEN

BAKER, LUCAS A.
BATESON, AVONLEE M.
BIALESCHKI, LOGAN J.
CORNWELL, MITCHELL D.
DALLAS, ALORAH R.
GAZELLE, BENJAMIN L. JR
HAYES, KYE M.
HEREDIA, SAMUEL Y.
KAUFMAN, ROWEN J.
KLEIN, GAVIN J.
LOVELL, LOGAN E.
NECESSARY, KENDALYN D.
OBRIEN, ALEXANDRIA H.
PARRISH, KATE A.
RETZER, JOSEPH A.
RIDER, SOPHIE M.
ROE OCHELTREE, VIOLET A.
SANDERS, JADYN D.
SHANHOLTZ, MORGAN L.
SICKLES, SIERRA N.
SLAY, GABRIEL M.
WHITEHOUSE, KAYLN M.

The University of Illinois Extension is introducing a couple of new programs at its locations in DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt Counties.

On the WHOW Mornings Show Monday, 4-H Coordinator Kendra Wallace told Regional Radio a dog care program has started up. The hope is this will turn into a dog obedience club as dog obedience is still a part of 4-H.

The other program is a chess club that meets at a couple of locations in DeWitt County. Wallace says there's already a good deal of interest in this club.

While getting a new program up and going can be a lot, Wallace feels it is worth it because the response has been so positive.

Extension.illinois.edu/dmp has more information on these programs and many more for not only youth but adults. 

Students in a Piatt County school district recently heard from an expert in online security.

Retired law enforcement officer, Det. Rich Wistocki came to speak to students recently regarding youth and online security at Bement schools. Superintendent Mary Vogt says the nationally known expert in online security has created the hashtag - I don't owe you, Jack.

According to Vogt, Wistocki checked in with the district after his visit if they would participate in a campaign he had started for a t-shirt design, and to the surprise of the Bement community, one of its students was the winner of that contest.

Det. Wistocki has a great program that he gives to adults and kids. Vogt says one of the standout parts of his presentation is the fact there are apps and games that kids are on that she and other adults have not ever heard of.

Vogt had her eyes open to the fact so many games kids play have predators lurking and they will engage kids as young as ten years old and have them enter a different chat room that their parents don't know about. 

Illinois FFA state officers entering the final stretch of their terms. Illinois FFA Treasurer Ben Bremmer says it’s been a great experience.

Bremmer hails from Pearl City. He will be attending the University of Illinois next school year.

Generations of Southern Illinois University Carbondale law students are expected to benefit from a $10-million gift announced this (Monday) morning by John and Jayne Simmons. 

The couple, who launched AltonWorks a few years ago, were on hand for the announcement at SIUC. This is the largest gift SIU Carbondale has ever received. John Simmons spoke on what it means to him.

The law school is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. In honor of this gift, the law school will be formally named Simmons Law School, pending approval from the SIU Board of Trustees in April. John Simmons, a native and resident of Alton, is an SIU Edwardsville graduate, member of the SIU Board of Trustees, and chairperson and founder of Simmons Hanly Conroy law firm.

Early outlooks this spring are looking incredibly encouraging.

It feels like it has been years since we've had a normal spring but this year just might be different. Ed Shimon at the National Weather Service in Lincoln tells us the outlooks are very encouraging.

Getting to the later spring and early summer, above-normal temperatures persist and Shimon indicates things are looking favorable for a potential early planting season.

January saw well above average rainfall which allowed for soil moisture across most of the state to be almost entirely replenished. 

A central Illinois non-profit is raising money to help a pair of displaced Ukrainian families.

Jerry Johnson is the President of the Decatur Rotary Club and told Regional Radio on the WHOW Morning Show Friday they have been raising money for a few weeks to help a pair of single mothers displaced by the conflict in Ukraine.

According to Johnson, Rotary International has helped lead the charge to find stability for Ukrainians displaced by the conflict with Russia. He explains the Decatur Rotary Club put together a committee to find a couple of families to help.

Johnson indicates the Decatur Rotary Club is very pleased to report they are over halfway to their goal of raising $100,000 to help these families.

Johnson points those wanting more information to visit decaturrotary.org. You can also follow the Decatur Rotary Club on Facebook. 

More input being sought on broadband coverage in Illinois, especially in rural areas. Illinois Farm Bureau Director of Business and Regulatory Affairs Bill Bodine says key feedback involves residents conducting a simple speed test.

Again the website is beadchallenge.org.

Financial education helps people learn about savings, credit, and loans. It also helps prepare for life changes and the unexpected. Financial knowledge is an important part of retirement planning - so how prepared are adults in the United States for their retirement?

Jack Myers with Social Security explains the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) conducts polls on how retirement savings affect people’s financial well-being. In a poll conducted during the pandemic, 85% of respondents confirmed that some aspect of their personal finances was causing them stress. 

Myers has seen other polls regarding retirement savings that suggest Americans are behind when it comes to saving for retirement. He believes it is fair to say that saving for retirement and financial well-being in general are significant sources of stress. Much of that is due to uncertainty and lack of financial education.

The Social Security website has some great information to help you learn about the Social Security portion of your retirement plan. Myers indicates Social Security benefits shouldn’t be your only form of income in retirement but for most people, they are an important part of your retirement plan. 

Through your mySocialSecurity account at www.ssa.gov you can find personalized estimates of what your retirement benefits will be at different ages. 

Myers says you can even see how additional years of earnings will affect those benefits if you are considering different retirement dates. You’ll also learn about whether or not you’ll have to pay federal income taxes on your retirement benefits and how working after you start collecting your benefits will affect them.

If you are a board game enthusiast or are just curious about how board games get developed, a program this Thursday in Bloomington will surely pique your interest.

Candace Summers with the McLean County Museum of History hopes you'll consider visiting them this Thursday for a board game development seminar. It is a part of the Museum's 'Lunch and Learn' program.

Summers believes we're amid a board game renaissance - as many people are rediscovering the joys of board games.

That program comes up again this Thursday, Feb. 8 at 12:10 in the afternoon. Summers also notes, if you cannot make the program in person, they are going to livestream it to the Museum's YouTube channel. 

Visit mchistory.org for more. 

Last year, the Clinton American Legion tried out some new things and as we head to 2024, its leadership is reflecting on those things and how they can be better in the year ahead.

Josh Thielen with the American Legion indicates the big initiative they took on was the Fourth of July celebration. He felt that was a huge success and looks forward to bringing it back again this year.

The Legion also introduced a Christmas event this past year that Thielen admits did not start the way he had hoped but is optimistic it can be successful if they continue to try it.

2023 was also another busy year for the Honor Guard, something the Legion partners with other community veterans groups to do for the fallen soldiers among us.

He hopes you'll keep up with the latest at the Legion by finding them on Facebook and reaching out with any questions or suggestions. 

January 2024 ran back what was a rarity last January.

It was a year ago we informed you that January offered zero mostly sunny days in 2023. Ed Shimon at the National Weather Service in Lincoln indicates it happened again in 2024.

January was, however, very wet. Shimon points out, any lingering drought is eased in most parts of the state.

The outlooks for the spring are looking very favorable for the upcoming planting season. We'll have more with Shimon on that next week on Regional Radio. 

The two-day Mid-West Truck and Trailer Show is today and tomorrow at the Peoria Civic Center. It’s organized by the Springfield, Illinois-based Mid-West Truckers Association. Don Schaefer is president of the group.

A complete rundown at midwesttruckshow.com.

Over 200 Illinois farmers and agri-business professionals are attending the CattleCon 24 event this week, the convention and trade show for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. RFD Radio’s Rita Frazer talks with Josh St. Peters, Executive VP of the Illinois Beef Association in Orlando.

Wheat farmers and double crop bean growers are set to gather in southern Illinois.

The Illinois Wheat Association will hold their annual double crop forum on Monday. Megan Dieken, the association’s Executive Director, says the event is strongly focused on giving farmers more resources to grow higher yielding wheat and soybeans.

All the details can be found on Illinois wheat dot com.

A central Illinois law enforcement official is celebrating legislation is being pulled back that would have handcuffed law enforcement on traffic stops.

DeWitt County Sheriff Mike Walker tells Regional Radio, legislation out of Chicago would make traffic stops much more difficult.

The Sheriff and his peers in law enforcement across the state are breathing a sigh of relief as it is announced that this proposal is off the table.

The Sheriff says laws like this oftentimes reflect on the deteriorating public trust in law enforcement but reminds, it is a very small number of officers that make the headlines that paint law enforcement in a bad light. He continues to appreciate the support his staff has locally in DeWitt County. 

A timeless classic in the world of sweet treats will soon be available for purchase. 

It is Girls Scout cookie sales season and on the WHOW Morning Show Wednesday, Crystal Morris with the Clinton Girl Scouts told Regional Radio, sales start this Friday and will last for six weeks. Sales are now not only in person but also online.

According to Morris, Girl Scout cookie sales are the biggest fundraiser of the year for the troop. She indicates it can be a huge boost for girls in the program who may struggle to be able to afford opportunities offered by the Scouts.

The Girl Scouts offers several opportunities throughout the year but one of the biggest items on the list of things the cookie sales supports is the end-of-the-year activity for the Girl Scouts.

The Girl Scouts also use some of the proceeds to give back. Morris says it is heartwarming to watch the generosity of the girls play itself out.

Anticipate seeing the girls out at local parking lots in your community. Morris says locally, Dave Jackson is very wonderful to work with and appreciates his support in allowing the Girl Scouts to set up at the front of his store on Saturdays. 

If buying a box of cookies is not something you want for yourself, Girl Scouts leaders hope you'll consider a box share option where you purchase a box of cookies for a first responder or 9-1-1 dispatch worker. 

It’s been awhile since we’ve had to deal with saturated ground, but some parts of Illinois are finding that now says Freese-Notis Weather meteorologist Paul Otto.

Most of Illinois should see a dry start to February.

Early detection of various health issues is key to effective treatment. 

For women, screenings for breast cancer, cervical cancer, colon cancer and osteoporosis are advised, so an expert with OSF HealthCare says you need to talk to your provider about what screenings are right for you and when. For example, OSF Chief Medical Officer Dennis Sands says the HPV vaccine should be considered before one becomes sexually active.

For more information on women’s health visit osfhealthcare.org/women

Kaskaskia Broadcasting, Incorporated, owners of  Clinton radio stations WHOW and WEZC Radio along with their on-line daily newspaper dewittdailynews.com, today announced several changes and promotions effective immediately.

Long-time station manager and farm broadcaster Jared White, left the company for other opportunities effective January 27th.

With his departure, long-time WHOW Morning Show host, news and sports reporter Seth Laurence has been promoted to Program Director.   Laurence will oversee programming for both stations, train new part-time employees, and schedule sports broadcasts on both stations thru-out the year.

WHOW part-time announcer Carter Hitchings has been given additional duties as interim farm broadcaster.   Hitchings is a 2nd year ag major at Richland Community College in Decatur and will be covering farm meetings and events in-person.  From that content, Hitchings will be producing the daily Morning and Noon Farm Shows.

A nationwide search has begun for a full-time farm broadcaster.