Macon County, Decatur | featured news

Prosecutors on Tuesday dropped an attempted murder charge against former Macon County Sheriff's deputy Markes Rodgers as part of a deal in which he pleaded guilty to aggravated discharge of a firearm.

DECATUR — Dog Haus, a California-based fast-food chain that sells gourmet hot dogs and burgers, is introducing its Decatur location near Airport Plaza with a hot dog giveaway event on Feb. 10.

DECATUR — Macon County Sheriff Howard Buffett is preparing to donate up to $1.4 million to the county to pay for everything from new software at the Macon County Jail to autopsies for people who die of suspected drug overdoses.

Gov. Bruce Rauner and his Republican primary opponent, state Rep. Jeanne Ives of Wheaton, faced off in front of the Chicago Tribune editorial board on Monday. The first-term governor and his opponent talked for more than an hour about a…

Farm Progress Show Manager Matt Jungmann is the newest appointee on the Illinois State Fair Advisory Board, a position that will allow him to advise on matters concerning the annual Du Quoin and Springfield state fairs and fairgrounds operations.

DECATUR — When Tom Willfong returned home nearly 15 years ago after serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, he found few people in Macon County who were able to understand his experience.

NORMAL — Illinois State University researchers have received a nearly $300,000 federal grant to continue work on a portable device to allow criminal investigators to test evidence in the field.

CARBONDALE — The Carbondale Chamber of Commerce has publicly endorsed Southern Illinois University Carbondale Chancellor Carlo Montemagno’s plan to eliminate the university’s 42 departments and reorganize degree programs into newly established colleges and schools.

ANNA — It was late Christmas Eve, and 16-year-old Kyle McMahan was driving home from his girlfriend's house when something caught his eye off the southbound Interstate 57 exit into Anna.