News Progress

•March 16, 2016•

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that Illinois’ unemployment rate in January rose 0.2 percentage points to 6.3 percent and nonfarm payroll jobs increased by +1,500, based on data released by IDES and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Illinois’ average job growth since employment recovery began in January 2010 remains significantly below the national average, and employment will not recover from the 2007-2009 recession until May 2016, according to IDES labor market analysts. The nation is currently 3.5 percent above its prior peak level of employment.

“When you compare job growth to most other states across the nation, Illinois has persistently lagged the national growth rate throughout the recovery period,” said Jeff Mays, Director, IDES. “Even with the upward revision to the 2015 jobs figures, we went from no growth to very low growth. At the same time, the nation grew twice as fast.” Read More

•March 16, 2016•

Millikin University’s student-run radio station 89.5 WJMU The Quad received its first Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) Award at the 76th annual IBS Conference held March 4-6 in New York.

Millikin graduate Mallory Wiedenkeller, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication in December 2015, won the IBS Award for Best Radio Documentary for her “Online Friendship” production. Senior Eric Shafer, a communication major from Springfield, Ill., was an IBS Awards finalist in the Best Show Promo category for his “90s on Tap” promotional segment piece.

IBS Awards finalists represent the top three to five percent of work submitted in their category to the National IBS from the previous year. This is the third consecutive year that WJMU has been represented by a finalist nominee and the first win for WJMU in the station’s 45-year history.

“When we create programming that can get nominated for awards it says a lot about the students and how efficient they are with their work,” said Sam Meister, lecturer of communication and WJMU faculty advisor. “We’ve had a great executive board for the last three years, and once those executive board students know their jobs then we can further develop the quality of production. We’ve got a lot of great resources and great support from the administration.”  Read More

•March 16, 2016•

A Leah Dolan benefit is Saturday, April 23, at New Life Church in Sullivan. Dolan has been diagnosed with stage four cancer and is receiving treatment.

The benefit begins at noon and concludes at 7:30 p.m.

Included in the activities that day are inflatables, Andrews Family Magic show, bake sale, cake walk, silent auction, regular auction by auctioneer Frank Ellison, food stand, DJ & music by local singers from area churches, face painting, hairchalk and more. A concert by David and the Giants will be 6-7:30 p.m.

Donations may be made payable to Faith Lutheran Church, PO 109, Sullivan, IL, 61951.  Indicate “Leah” on check memo,or, gofundme.com/fightingforleah. Auction and bake sale items will be appreciated.

•March 16, 2016•

Nearly 32,000 residents are owed an estimated $2.7 million after they purchased a product or service from telecom giant Sprint but did not receive the rebate that incentivized the sale, treasurer Michael Frerichs charged in a lawsuit announced today.

Frerichs pursued the lawsuit after the telecommunications giant and its clearinghouse partner, Young America Corp. of Minnesota, kept the rebate money. The treasurer’s office has the ability to sue because rebates are considered unclaimed property if not paid within five years and must be surrendered to the state treasury. These purchases were made between 2003 and 2005.

“It is frustrating and wrong when these large companies with deep pockets and corporate attorneys break their promises, keep money that is not theirs, and dare people to file a lawsuit,” Frerichs said. Read More

•March 16, 2016•

A project by Archer Daniels Midland is underway to pipe anhydrous ammonia from New Orleans area production facilities to Decatur and a distribution terminal in Dalton City.

The Moultrie County Board heard a report from NuStar who operates the pipeline intended for the extension in to Moultrie and Macon counties.

During the county board planning and zoning report chair Todd Maxedon moved a variance request to allow John Denning to build one foot from the east property line at 1 Leisure Acres be approved which it was.

Kay C. Nalbach/NuStar Pipeline Company requested a 10 acre site outside Dalton City be changed from Ag-1 to I-2 to allow construction of the terminal which will contain four to five 90,000 gallon bullet tanks and a two bay truck loading facility.

Gary Hannig of Morrill and Associates explained that ADM had approached NuStar to extend the existing Ammonia pipeline in Shelby Co, 44 miles to Decatur. Read More