People's Bank & Trust has announced a number of employee promotions and staffing changes across its Consumer Banking and Operations departments.

In the Operations Department, Jennifer Mathis has been promoted to Assistant Vice President of Operations. Mathis will help oversee daily operational functions, staff leadership, and compliance efforts.

Brad Davis has also accepted a full-time bookkeeping position in Deposit Operations, where he will assist with daily banking functions and regulatory compliance.

Several promotions were announced in Consumer Banking as well.

Adriana Allen has been promoted to Assistant Vice President of Consumer Banking and will serve customers at the Taylorville and Morrisonville branches.

Mason Crowe has been promoted to Assistant Vice President of Consumer Banking for the Pana and Tower Hill branches.

Jeff Grimmett has taken on the role of Assistant Vice President of Consumer Banking for the Waverly, Chatham, and Palmyra branches.

The bank also announced the promotions of Sadie Waddington and Sophie Robinson to Consumer Banker positions. Waddington will serve customers at the Pana branch, while Robinson will work from the Taylorville branch.

For more information on Peoples Bank & Trust’s services or how they can help with consumer or business lending needs, contact the bank at 888-728-1954 or visit www.BankPBT.com.

Pictured below are the employees mentioned above.

The Bears aren't officially gone yet, but after Friday's vote, Indiana appears to have the momentum in the race for the team's future home

The team's board of directors voted Friday to move forward with plans for a potential new stadium in Hammond, Indiana. While a final agreement has not yet been reached and a specific site has not been selected, the vote marks the strongest indication yet that the franchise could eventually leave Illinois after more than a century.

The move comes after Illinois lawmakers ended their spring legislative session without approving a package of tax incentives that team officials said would help support development of a new stadium in Arlington Heights. The Bears own property in Arlington Heights but have argued that long-term tax certainty is needed before construction can move forward.

Indiana officials have aggressively pursued the project, reportedly offering up to one billion dollars in incentives to help bring the team across the state line.

Governor JB Pritzker has continued to downplay suggestions that the Bears are definitely leaving Illinois. Earlier this week, Pritzker said a stadium deal remains possible and noted that discussions with the team are still ongoing. However, he has also acknowledged that Illinois will not simply hand over taxpayer dollars to keep the franchise.

If the Hammond project ultimately moves forward, it would mark the first time in the Bears' 106-year history that the team plays its home games outside Illinois. The Bears currently remain under lease at Soldier Field through 2033.

The Taylorville Police Department is asking for the public's help following an incident involving a dog at Lake Taylorville Thursday evening.

According to police, an elderly couple driving a silver or gray golf cart was reportedly involved in an incident around 8 p.m. in which the golf cart struck a dog. Authorities say the golf cart then left the area without stopping.

Investigators are now working to identify both the golf cart and the individuals involved. Police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or who may have information that could assist investigators to come forward.

The Taylorville Police Department says even small details could prove helpful as officers continue looking into what happened.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Taylorville Police Department directly by calling (217) 824-2211 or send a message through the department's social media page.

We'll continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available online at taylorvilledailynews.com

Lake Land College recently welcomed the medical-surgical care team from HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital for a special nursing education event at the Effingham Technology Center.

Sixty nurses attended the meeting, where they received hospital updates and participated in hands-on activities designed to strengthen their skills and support professional development. The event featured competency checks, skills stations, and realistic patient-care scenarios using Lake Land College’s high-fidelity patient simulator.

Nurses also learned about continuing education opportunities through Eastern Illinois University and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, helping them advance their careers while strengthening the healthcare workforce across the region.

Lake Land College officials say they value partnerships with healthcare providers and educational institutions that help improve patient care and expand opportunities for nursing professionals.

The event was supported through an Illinois Board of Higher Education Nursing School grant aimed at increasing the number of highly trained registered nurses serving communities throughout Illinois.

For more information about Lake Land College nursing programs or opportunities for collaboration with the department, please contact Cassandra Porter, Director of Nursing Programs, at cporter@lakelandcollege.edu or call 217-234-5452.

Pictured Below: Simulation Lab Nurse Rachael Walker in the Lake Land College Effingham Technology Center high-fidelity simulation lab with a group of nurses from HSHS St. Anthony Memorial Hospital. The Lake Land College Nursing Department recently hosted the nurses for the HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital Medical-Surgical Care team meetings.

Pictured Below: Simulation Lab Nurse Rachael Walker leads a high-fidelity patient simulation at the Lake Land College Effingham Technology Center during an HSHS St. Anthony Memorial Hospital Medical-Surgical Care team meeting.

Governor JB Pritzker is putting the brakes on new state agreements for data center projects as lawmakers continue debating how to regulate the rapidly growing industry.

The Governor announced Thursday that the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will pause processing new agreements under the state's Data Center Investment Program beginning July 1st.

The move comes as data centers have become a topic of discussion in several Illinois communities, including Christian County, where local officials have been exploring the possibility of attracting a future data center project.

Pritzker says Illinois must balance economic development with concerns about electricity costs, energy reliability, water usage, and environmental impacts. The Governor says data centers can consume as much electricity as a mid-sized city and, in some cases, millions of gallons of water per day.

The administration is calling for a comprehensive statewide policy that would require data centers to pay more of the infrastructure costs they create, support the development of new clean energy sources, and provide greater transparency to local communities.

The Governor is also proposing a pause on state tax incentives for future data center developments while lawmakers continue studying the industry's long-term impact.

Existing incentive agreements already approved by the state will not be affected.

Pritzker is urging legislators, consumer advocates, local governments, utilities, environmental groups, labor organizations, and industry leaders to work together on legislation during the fall veto session.

While this announcement does not prevent a data center from locating in Christian County, it could affect future state incentive agreements that developers may seek as part of a project.

The Village of Wapella has lifted the village-wide boil order issued earlier in the week to undergo water tower maintenance.

Residents of the Village of Wapella are no longer urged to boil their water to be used for consumption, as a bacteriological sample has shown that the water is now safe. 

Keep your eyes on taylorvilledailynews.com for updates on boil orders, weather events, and more!

Visitors to the Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce’s website will now see a new way to find member businesses.  It’s called “Chamber Professionals,” and the feature is designed to help community members find businesses which provide the goods or services they need.  The Chamber’s Operations Coordinator April Wolfe says the change is part of the larger overhaul of the website. 

Chamber members will have the opportunity to attend the member appreciation breakfast happening Thursday, June 18 at the Pillars Event Center in Taylorville. 

The Taylorville Chamber also continues to prepare for Chillifest.  Despite recent construction in the city, the festival will again take place on the Taylorville square. 

More information on the Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce is available at www.taylorvillechamber.com.

April Wolfe appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.