(OLNEY) A low pressure system will slowly move over the midwest over the next few days, while a nearly stationary warm front has stalled out - this means a chance of rain again by tonight, continuing then each day & night for the rest of this week & thru the weekend ahead - stay tuned for weather updates.

(NEWTON) Governor Pat Quinn is set for his budget address to the General Assembly today in the state capital - it's expected the Governor will ask for an income tax increase, plus propose cuts in education & municipal services - the state is currently between $11 and $13 billion short of a balanced budget.

(OLNEY) The State House passed a bill yesterday that would strip impeached elected officials of their pensions - while some wanted a more expansive bill to include all members of the General Assembly, others point out potential loopholes to sidestep the plan - the State Senate will now consider the bill.

(NEWTON) An Amber Alert was issued yesterday afternoon for two boys taken from Decatur, however both the infant and 4 year old were found safe & unhurt early this morning - two suspects were caught by authorities & are currently in custody awaiting their first court appearance - a public tip led to the result.

(OLNEY) An area of low pressure will slowly move over the midwest by tomorrow night - this means rain today & again later tonight - then after a dry period, it's more rain with a warm front lifting up from the southwest on Thursday & Friday - possibly dry over the weekend - stay tuned for weather updates.

(NEWTON) Governor Pat Quinn will go on the record tomorrow to let lawmakers & the public know what they've suspected for quite awhile : that the Illinois budget is in very bad shape : the Governor's 12 noon address in Springfield is expected to be full of proposals & plans - with several statewide stops yesterday, the GOP candidate for Governor, Bill Brady, said the budget will be a hot campaign topic.

(OLNEY) The State's Citizens Utility Board is speaking out against a $130 million rate hike request from downstate Illinois largest utility - CUB says Ameren last year doubled its profit from the year before & last month, a judge recommended the rate request be cut down to $56 million - the decision in May.

(NEWTON) Legislative committees met continuously last week as large amount of bills were approved by the scheduled March 5th deadline - State Senator John O. Jones says over 60 bills were passed out of committee and are now before the State Senate - they deal with topics from agricultural loans to college tuition, from driving privileges to home repair fraud, from a FOID card age change to seatbelt safety, & from sex offender release to veteran topics - look for a lot of debate on these in the weeks ahead.

(OLNEY) The Olney City Council met last night - the Council : awarded a contract to the Illinois Gas Company to bore 16 water services on East Butler Street, not to exceed $6,200 - city crews will be installing a new 8 inch water line on East Butler, between East Street & Lincoln Avenue : awarded a bid to Hahn's Carpet for $2,935 to replace the carpet in the front office, copy room, & the administrative assistant's office at City Hall : noted that the White Squirrel Saddle Club has received a $10,000 grant from the state to help with the development of a horse arena on city-owned property north of East Fork Lake : & approved a Special Use Permit to place a manufactured home at 1019 East Butler Street - this a recommendation from the City's Plan Commission : Council's next regular meeting is March 22nd.

(NEWTON) Education officials are urging all area residents to complete and return the 2010 Census forms this year - while the census questionnaires contain only 10 main questions, it's one of the shortest forms in history, however the importance is huge - the more information that's gathered will result in our area schools & communities receiving the maximum amount of funding available - if census forms are not returned, it means less money to assist our schools & communities in offering the best for one & all - so get those questionnaries filled out & returned, and know that you did your part to help out.

(NEWTON) There will be a meeting of the Jasper County School District's NCLB Parent/Teacher Advisory Committee this coming Thursday night, staring at 7:00, in the Newton Community High School cafeteria - the public is also invited to attend - for more details, call Craig Carr at 783-8459.

(OLNEY) Authorities are investigating a farm accident that claimed the life of a 45 year old man this past Sunday - Madison County officials say he was killed after starting a tractor with a screwdriver - after ignition, the 8-wheeled tractor lunged forward & crushed Scott Wernle at his brother's farm.

REMINDERS :

The Jasper County Farm Bureau is taking a trip to the Fox Theater in St Louis on June 17th to see "Wicked" - cost at $105 for members, $120 for non-members - call for reservations at 783-2733

The West Richland Post Prom Committee will be selling 50/50 tickets at the VFW during this Friday's "taco night" - all proceeds from the drawing will go to the non-profit Post Prom event in Noble

Call now for the State DNR hunter safety course coming up this Thursday night & all day Saturday at the Sunrise Youth Center & Community Building in Newton - for those age 10 & older - call 783-2521

The East Richland Building Trades students are raising funds for another trip to assist those affected by Hurricane Katrina - orders are being taken for a porkburger cookout tomorrow, with bulk orders to be delivered anywhere in Olney - you can still help out, by calling ERHS by 3:00 this afternoon

The next area blood drive : this afternoon from 1:00 until 6:00 at the Olney VFW : another local drive will be Thursday at the East Richland High School from 8:30 til 1:30 : all types of blood are needed