Storms cause damage in central Illinois
Clean-up is underway after severe storms caused damage in parts of Central Illinois on Thursday night. The National Weather Service in Central Illinois issued Tornado Warnings in Lawrence, Effingham, Jasper, and Macon Counties.
The Illinois State Police reported property damage along I-72 in Macon County. WCIA-TV reports it was farm equipment. In Latham, the emergency manager for Logan County reported that storms left three power poles leaning near the intersection of Route 121 and 1842nd Avenue. So far, no injuries are reported. – Reginald Hardwick/IPM News
Governor helps open center that turns insect larvae into animal food
DECATUR – A new facility that raises fly larvae for animal feed has been built in Decatur. Governor JB Pritzker cut the ribbon on Thursday for the Insect Innovation Center, built by InnovaFeed. Pritzker said the French company is working with Archer Daniels Midland to refine methods of raising Black Soldier Fly larvae to make oil and protein powder used in food for dogs and other animals.
“By using an agricultural byproduct to breed insects to turn into animal feed, we can feed the world of tomorrow. And now, that revolutionary idea has crossed the Atlantic Ocean, and made a new home here in central Illinois,” said Pritzker.
InnovaFeed says the Insect Innovation Center will be joined by a much larger manufacturing plant in the next couple of years. The company says they have no plans to use the plant to make food ingredients for human consumption. – Jim Meadows/IPM News
Christie Clinic Marathon still needs volunteers
Madison County voters will take up symbolic secession vote in November
The Madison County Board voted 15-7 on Wednesday to send a symbolic question to voters in November about forming a new state separate from the Chicago area. The secession vote, which carries no true power, could make Madison County in the Metro East the 27th in downstate Illinois to take the action.
The nonbinding advisory referendum will ask voters if Madison County should separate from Cook County, home to Chicago. It asks if the county board should communicate with other downstate county boards regarding forming a new state.
Wednesday’s approval from the Republican-dominated county board provides a win for the Illinois Separation Referendum — the group behind secession. It largely objects to Illinois’ progressive statewide politics driven by Chicago and some of its suburbs. – Will Bauer/St. Louis Public Radio
