Macon County Health Department and ImpactLife will host a community blood drive in Decatur on Wednesday, October 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with donor incentives offered.
A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.
- Normal IL
Normal highlights park upgrades, honors the 2026 Citizen of the Year, updates a parking garage and reminds residents about Constitution Trail etiquette.
- Parkland College
Parkland College will offer a manufacturing pre-apprenticeship with evening and weekend classes, open to eligible students ages 16–24 starting October 19.
- Effingham County Chamber
The Van Hyfte Grant Lab’s TVHGL Institute is launching a Fall 2026 Lunch & Learn series of three live online classes focused on practical, accessible grant education.
- IDOT District 5 – News Releases (Paris IL)
Westbound Illinois 9 in Bloomington will close Oct. 7 from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. for pavement reconstruction, with motorists urged to use alternate routes and expect delays.
- Effingham County Chamber
First Mid Insurance Group’s Senior Solutions division earns top national Medicare rankings as experts urge beneficiaries to review coverage and avoid fraud.
- Effingham County Chamber
Eastern Illinois University launches Career Week following the Life Design Studio grand opening, offering workshops and a job and internship fair for students.
Westbound Illinois 9 in Bloomington will close Oct. 7 from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. for pavement reconstruction, with motorists urged to use alternate routes and expect delays.
First Mid Insurance Group’s Senior Solutions division earns top national Medicare rankings as experts urge beneficiaries to review coverage and avoid fraud.
Eastern Illinois University launches Career Week following the Life Design Studio grand opening, offering workshops and a job and internship fair for students.
Wright’s Furniture & Flooring has opened a larger Wright at Home store in Effingham, offering expanded design services, flooring, window treatments and furnishings.
Illinois Wesleyan students in Carolyn Nadeau’s “Food, Culture and Society” class explore global food history, identity and activism through hands-on cooking labs.
Michael Luttrell ’93 was honored as the 2026 Distinguished Alumnus for Illinois Wesleyan’s School of Nursing and Health Sciences in recognition of his global health leadership.
The ramp from eastbound I-74 to southbound I-57 in Champaign will close Oct. 6 for about two weeks for erosion control work, with a posted detour and expected delays.
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- Normal IL
Lane reductions on Fort Jesse Road between Towanda Avenue and Greenbriar Drive begin 7 a.m. Monday, October 5, for bridge repairs, expected to end by October 16.
- Provided
- Normal IL
Constitution Trail Illinois Central Branch will close between Locust Street and Cypress Avenue October 5–19 for Willow Street crossing work, with a signed detour.
- Illinois Wesleyan University
Downtown Bloomington’s green North Main Street lights celebrate Illinois Wesleyan University’s 109th homecoming and highlight the city-campus partnership.
- Illinois Wesleyan University
Illinois Wesleyan University launches a $200 million capital campaign to expand student opportunities, advance academic excellence and enhance campus facilities.
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- Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Illinois’ 2026 fall trout season opens Oct. 17 at 60 stocked sites statewide, with an early catch-and-release period starting Oct. 3 at select locations.
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- Illinois Department of Natural Resources
IDNR will host free Building for Wildlife workshops at Dana-Thomas House in Springfield, offering youth-led bat house and birdhouse projects with registration recommended.
- Parkland College
Parkland College’s Dental Hygiene Clinic will host free October sessions for District 505 children 17 and under, with follow-up care and referrals as needed.
- Mattoon Community Unit School District 2
Riddle Elementary fourth- and fifth-graders serve as morning leaders, welcoming peers and visitors, guiding classmates, and reinforcing school expectations.
- Mattoon Community Unit School District 2
Riddle Elementary hosted Family Math Night on Sept. 16, giving K-5 students and families time together with hands-on math games, activities, and take-home games.
- Illinois Wesleyan University
Illinois Wesleyan University and ERDC’s Construction Engineer Research Laboratory have signed an Education Partnership Agreement to enhance STEM education and research.
- Macon County Health Department
Macon County Health Department in Decatur offers walk-in and appointment flu and COVID-19 vaccinations on weekdays, with multiple vaccine options and most insurance accepted.
- Macon County Health Department
Macon County Health Department will host a free child car seat check on Sept. 25, 2026, in Decatur, with technicians helping families choose and install seats correctly.