State Jobless Rate Unchanged

Illinois’ jobless rate hasn’t changed from last month.

The state’s October unemployment rate is at 8.8 percent.  That’s down from 10 percent last October.

According to state numbers, Illinois added 48 hundred jobs in October.  Manufacturing and education are among the biggest job creators while government continues to see the biggest job losses.

County by county unemployment rates are released later in the month.

Days Numbered For Local Hostess Outlet Stores

The end is near for Butternut stores in La Salle and Streator.

A worker at the Hostess outlet store in La Salle says they will close Tuesday night, unless their stock runs out before then.  A steady stream of people hit up the bakery after news came out that Hostess is closing.  Two women in the store were filling a shopping cart with snack cakes to take back to an area nursing home.

The cashier in La Salle said it’s too bad they weren’t always this busy or a closure may not be happening.

“Fill the Mayflower” for the IV Food Pantry

People have been coming and going all week at the Illinois Valley Food Pantry.  Volunteers have been preparing 850 packages for the Thanksgiving distribution on Saturday.

Meanwhile, people have been stopping by to get their regular monthly food bag.  The pantry will need help in restocking the shelves after this weekend.  Donna Hess is the Executive Director of the pantry.  She’s counting on the annual Fill the Mayflower Food Drive Saturday.

You’ll be able to leave donations of food and money at Hy-Vee in Peru from 9am-3pm Saturday.  It’s sponsored by AM 1220 WLPO, 99.3 WAJK, and 96.5 the Wolf.

Hear more about the food drive and food pantry by listening to an interview on the AM 1220 WLPO news page.

Ottawa Hospital Wants Your Opinion

Think local health providers need to improve in some areas?  Speak your peace by doing a short online survey.

St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa with the help of Bradley University is working on a “Community Health Needs Assessment”.  The survey helps the hospital meet federal mandates.

The survey is confidential and is available thru the end of the month.

Click here for the survey   http://bradley.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_7QcJnrPm2wl8kxD