Good morning, Decatur.

Decatur Police Department set up a safe meeting spot in its well-lit parking lot at 101 South Water Street yesterday for online sales.

The area has 24-hour video surveillance and is watched over by officers to help stop scams and keep people safe.

Dustin Bradshaw and Jamie Gower joined Byers + Co at the Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater on Jan.

7 to preview 10 announced shows for the upcoming season. They discussed details of the schedule and attractions.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is accepting DCFS Scholarship Program applications until March 31 — offering up to five years of tuition, fee waivers, a $1,577 monthly grant, and a medical card for public university and community college enrollees — after 334 awards in 2025.

The City of Decatur is piloting a plan to develop 28 connected vacant lots bounded by West Wood, West Decatur, South Oakland and South Monroe near Oakwood business district and Fairview Plaza.

The pilot waives permit fees and aims to add 650 homes to meet housing needs.

Tanya Andricks and Dr. Nadal Aker of Decatur Memorial Hospital joined Byers and Co on January 7 to discuss cardiology care, patient communication and AI in treatment + the podcast is now available for listening.

ImpactLife is hosting two blood drives in January.

The Warrensburg drive occurs Friday, Jan 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 425 North North Street, and the Decatur drive occurs Wednesday, Jan 21 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; call 800 747 5401 + visit the website book appointment.