Daily
Decatur
Tuesday, January 6th, 2026
Good morning, Decatur. Here's your local news at a glance for Tuesday, the 6th of January.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Decatur will host Night to Shine, a prom-like event for people with disabilities, on Friday, Feb. 13 at GT Church from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Organizers from First Christian Church, Macon Resources, and the National Tim Tebow Foundation are seeking volunteers, donations, and sponsors — check Facebook for details. Now Decatur
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Illinois law protects gift cards by requiring store cards remain valid for at least five years and forbidding post-purchase fees; consumers can sell, trade & donate unused cards to support local charities. Now Decatur
- ➤ Kyle Karsten and Amy Bliefnick of Macon Resources Inc. joined co-hosts Michael Breheny and Megan Breheny-Bennett on Soy City Buzz on Monday, Jan. 5 to discuss the company's impact and upcoming events. Now Decatur
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ On Monday, Jan. 5, Tanya Melendez, Executive Director at Good Samaritan Inn, joined co-hosts Michael Breheny & Megan Breheny-Bennett on Soy City Buzz to talk about her work and its impact on local residents. The podcast is available for listeners now. Now Decatur
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ A Texas company plans to build a 27.5-acre solar facility on two parcels at West Mound Road and North Westlawn Avenue (site was formerly farmland) northwest of the Macon County Fairgrounds in Decatur this year, with a development agreement to remove the panels and restore the property when decommissioned. WAND
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Decatur City Council unanimously approved a 27.5-acre commercial-scale solar energy facility to be built this year at the corner of West Mound Road and North Westlawn Avenue — a project developed by a Texas company on former farmland that includes removal and restoration plans at its end of life. WAND
- ➤ Biologists with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources fisheries are collecting live Christmas trees to use as fish habitat in local lakes after the holidays; the trees will be bundled, weighted and submerged to boost algae growth that attracts fish. Decatur Radio
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias warned residents about a text scam that claims unpaid tolls or traffic violations could suspend driving privileges. Officials urge recipients to ignore links in these messages — they are phishing attempts meant to steal personal information. Decatur Radio
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Memorial Health hospitals in Decatur imposed temporary visitor restrictions on Jan. 5 to curb respiratory illnesses. Visitors must be 18 or older and limited to two per patient (outpatient locations are not affected) to protect patients, families, and staff. Now Decatur
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.
~ Greek Proverb
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