News at Noon Thursday February 26, 2026Employees recently laid off at Champion Labs in Albion might be entitled to some big benefits. A class action law firm in Chicago says it’s investigating whether or not Champion notified employees of the mass layoff early enough. The WARN Act, known as the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, is a federal law that requires certain employers to give their employees in writing, at least 60 days before a plant closing or mass layoff takes effect. The law firm says employees may be entitled to 60 days of severance pay and benefits. The firm needs former employees reach out to them about potential legal remedies.
Newburgh Town officials passed an ordinance Wednesday night that would penalize residents who feed large wild animals. Officials say raccoons and other animals have been running wild and spreading diseases to other animals. They are also concerned about animals making people sick and getting into homes. Town manager Chris Cooke says he doesn't want folks who feed songbirds to think we're coming after them. It's the 50-pound bags of food being left out for raccoons and other animals that have caused the population to become unbalanced in a densely populated area. The ordinance would issue a written warning after one offence, followed by fines of up to $500.
