
Community leaders shine light on Decatur during annual Chamber Business Breakfast
DECATUR– Business and community leaders came together during the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce’s annual business breakfast Thursday morning to recognize Decatur’s many successes and to map out a plan for the future. During the breakfast, Mayor Mike McElroy delivered his annual address, new Decatur City Manager Tim Gleason addressed the crowd, and Ryan…… Continue Reading

Congressman Davis to reintroduce Opportunity Knocks Act
DECATUR– Congressman Rodney Davis says he plans on reintroducing a bill that he says will allow the unemployed make themselves more desirable for prospective employers without sacrificing their unemployment benefits. Davis was at Richland Community College Wednesday afternoon to present the Opportunity Knocks Act, which would allow for the unemployed to work with community…… Continue Reading

Former Bomber Kandie Bloch-Jones Earns Big Ten Honor
Bloch-Jones Named Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week High jumper wins first career Big Ten outdoor track & field honor ROSEMONT, Ill. – Fighting Illini women’s track & field high jumper Kandie Bloch-Jones has been named the Field Athlete of the Week for Big Ten Women’s Outdoor Track & Field, it was announced today.…… Continue Reading

Decatur teen pregnancy rate down nearly 50% since 2007
DECATUR– In 2007 Decatur and Macon County led the state in teen birth rate at 17%; but after 7 years of consolidated efforts by the Macon County Health Department and the Teen Health Coalition, that number has dropped almost 50%. Numbers released by both groups on Tuesday morning show that Decatur’s teen birth rate…… Continue Reading

Downstate Illinois ‘poor for trade’ according to new report
SPRINGFIELD– Downstate Illinois doesn’t get high marks from foreign trading partners in a report released today (Tuesday) by the governor’s office. The state’s largest foreign trading partners gave Gov. Bruce Rauner their confidential views on how attractive the state can be for foreign businesses. While almost all had the same concerns about the state’s…… Continue Reading

Chamber expecting ‘big things’ from Thursday’s business expo
DECATUR– Nearly 80 local businesses have begun setting up their booths inside the Decatur Civic Center in preparation for the annual Chamber Business Expo. The expo will be held on Thursday from 9 am until 2 pm, preceding the expo will be the annual State of the City address from 7 until 8:30 am,…… Continue Reading

St. Teresa Mega Raffle Winners Announced
The 20th Annual St. Teresa High School Mega Raffle was held Friday May 1st at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Decatur. Dave Fiorenza of Libertyville, Illinois was the Grand Prize Winner of $100,000. Below is the complete list of all the prize winners ST. TERESA HIGH SCHOOL MEGA RAFFLE WINNERS 3154 tickets sold…… Continue Reading

ADM announces 1st quarter financial numbers
CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2015. The company reported adjusted earnings per share1 of $0.77, up from $0.55 in the same period last year. Adjusted segment operating profit1 was $883 million, up 12 percent from $789 million in the year-ago period. Net earnings…… Continue Reading

New council members sworn in; work begins on Ashley Furniture
DECATUR– Work has begun on the site at the Mound Center that will soon be home to a 35,000 square foot facility that will house an Ashley Furniture store, and city staff couldn’t be more pleased. “This has been one of the most successful shopping districts for Decatur in recent memory and we think…… Continue Reading

Agricultural Department names new State Fair leader
SPRINGFIELD– A professional event planner who was born on a western Illinois farm and spent years showing livestock at the Illinois State Fair is the next director of the annual agricultural showcase. Patrick Buchen was named Monday as manager of the state fairs in Springfield and DuQuoin. The 63-year-old Buchen was previously executive…… Continue Reading