The Illinois unemployment rate for November was 4.7%, slightly higher than 4.6% in October. Even though the jobless rate rose, nonfarm payrolls in the state increased by 17,500 as the number of workers rose. The industry sectors with the largest gains in employment included Leisure and Hospitality, Professional and Business Services, and Educational and Health Services. The industry sectors with the largest payroll declines included Trade, Transportation and Utilities; Government; and Manufacturing. The state jobless rate compared to the national unemployment rate of 3.7% for November, which was unchanged from October. A couple from Cisne is taking the lead on raising funds to replace the roof at the historic Nostalgia Theater in Flora (formerly the Town Theater). They have issued a challenge to others like themselves, who are so excited for the future of the Theater. This anonymous couple recently attended the North Pole's Got Talent Christmas Play at Nostalgia over the weekend and fell in love with the building and what it meant to the children on the stage.The couple from Cisne has pledged the first $1000 to the roof fund and is challenging 64 other people to also pledge $1000. Welcome to new Wayne County Sheriff's Deputy Micah Hall. Deputy Hall began his service with the Sheriff's Office earlier this month after serving just under 2 years with the Fairfield Police Department. The Volunteers for the Christmas Dinner will hold their 33rd Annual Christmas Dinner on Sunday, December 25th, at Cumberland Presbyterian Church, located east of Walmart. This will be a carry out/drive thru only event with delivery available. Deliveries will only be made within Fairfield city limits. Donations will be accepted through today. Make all donation checks payable to The Volunteers for the Christmas Dinner and mail to P.O. Box 431, Cisne, IL 62823. Fairfield Upward Sports will be holding Registration and Evaluations for the Upward Basketball and Cheer Season for boys and girls enrolled in kindergarten through 6th grade. Evaluations will be held at Fairfield Cumberland Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, January 4th and Thursday, January 5th, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. Central Illinois is bracing for the first major storm of the winter season. Winter Weather Advisories, Storm Warnings, and Blizzard Warnings are spread across much of the Midwest. Rain is expected to turn to freezing rain then snow over the course of the next couple of days. Anywhere from two to seven inches of snow could hit the ground in the middle part of the state by Friday morning. The Illinois Department of Transportation is preparing for the impact the weather will have on state highways. Drivers have been pretreating major highways ahead of the predicted snowfall. Some parts of the state are calling for up to eight inches. Blowing and drifting snow is a major concern as high winds are also in the forecast. Springfield officials are opening warming centers for residents seeking reprieve from the cold. Temps are forecast in the single digits tonight into today. The city's designated ten warming centers across Springfield. The overflow shelter at 221 North 11th Street will be open 24 hours as of this morning through next week. Thomas Adams Junior of Springfield says he was taking orders from former President Donald Trump when he took part in the Capitol Insurrection. Adams was arrested by federal officials in April of 2021, months after the January 6th riots in D.C. He is charged with several felonies, including violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. According to a public filing this week, Adams believed he was authorized by Donald Trump to take part in the riots. Government buildings, libraries, and more are closed today due to severe weather. Facilities across Champaign County, Douglas County, Macon County, and Vermilion County are affected. Anyone with a scheduled court date or planned trip to any other public facility should double check online. Severe weather watches and warnings are in effect for much of the state over the next two days. Flights into and out of Illinois airports could be impacted by the winter storm. At least 360 flights are canceled at O'Hare and Midway airports in Chicago today. Peoria International has not been impacted just yet, but cancelations and delays are expected. Airport officials have been preparing runways as much as they can, but blizzard-like conditions could ground flights no matter how much they've prepared. No word on what it was, but a suspicious package in the parking lot of the Bears' practice facility caused a brief lockdown Wednesday. A team spokesman says it happened just after noon, during lunch, at Halas Hall. Police were called in and no one was allowed in or out. The all clear was given just about 12:45 p.m. and practice resumed. Freshman enrollment is up at Illinois colleges and universities across the state. According to the Illinois Board of Higher Education, 2022 fall freshman enrollment increased five-percent compared to last year. The improvement puts Illinois well ahead of the national average which decreased by two-point-four-percent. Statewide, nine out of 12 public universities reported an increase in new freshmen.