Good morning, Decatur.

On May 5, 2025, Amber Kaylor of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois and Gary Birschbach of McDonalds joined Byers & Co—discussing service carts for hospital families, Kids & Clays events, and planned golf outings that support local needs.

Decatur Fire and Police crews are on scene at a structure fire near the corner of MLK and East Wood St—portions of Wood St have been closed until the fire is controlled.

On May 3rd, officers in Macon responded to a gas station call when a man wielding a machete crashed into a vehicle, stole a squad car, and rammed a Decatur Park Police District vehicle on U.S. Highway 51—he pointed a shotgun at officers and was shot; both he and an officer were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

On May 5, the James Millikin Homestead announced an annual art competition honoring local artist Lucien Kapp—Decatur native whose work left a lasting mark.

The contest will accept up to forty adult and 10 high school entries with prizes totaling $1,000—entry deadline is June 30 and awards include $500 for first place.

On Monday night, students celebrated their induction into the DPS Prep Academy and took a step toward earning both a high school diploma and an associate degree at no cost through a partnership between Decatur Public Schools and Richland Community College—students must secure a recommendation, write a five-paragraph essay and submit their eighth-grade report card from the first semester to be accepted.

The Decatur City Council approved a five-year, $2.76 million contract with Axon Enterprise Inc.—a decision made by a 6-1 vote—to replace the outdated system with new body-worn cameras and cloud-based storage, a move that will improve digital evidence management.

At Monday night's City Council meeting, new councilwoman Consuelo Cruz was sworn in and said her top priority is building a strong relationship with the school district to support housing and the local tax base—her 20 years as a research scientist give her fresh perspectives for the council.

Decatur Craft Beer Festival 2025

7 PM – 4 PM — Decatur IL Central Park — Tickets on sale soon — Enjoy a variety of local brews at Central Park in Downtown Decatur.

Boots On The Ground Country/Urban Line Dancing Party

7 p.m. — 12 a.m. — 400 E Eldorado St, Decatur, IL — Ages 21+ — Dust off those boots and hit the dance floor for an exciting night of country and urban line dancing with a live tutorial.

Rock Springs Ramble 5K Run/Walk

8 a.m. — Rock Springs Conservation Area — Registration details pending — Lace up for a community-friendly 5K run or walk in the scenic Rock Springs Conservation Area.

On-Site Tour at Glenwood Supportive Living

9 AM - 7 PM — The Glenwood Supportive Living of Mt. Zion — Free entry — Explore a community focused on exceptional care and friendly living for seniors.

Open Mic Night with Bob Besser

6-9 p.m. — Golden Fox Brewing, LLC — Free entry — Bring your talents to a fun night of music, comedy, and poetry at the monthly Open Mic.

John Drake Live Performance

3-6 p.m. — Golden Fox Brewing, LLC — Free entry — Enjoy a live performance by John Drake at this inviting local brewery.

The Big Run - Decatur, IL

11 PM - 3 AM — Fleet Feet Decatur — Free entry — Celebrate Global Running Day with a 5K race and community festivities.