By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

Young deer hunters can now use their youth season permit for the weekend before Thanksgiving – but only if the permit hasn’t been filled.

According to the Department of Natural Resources, the idea came at the suggestion of hunters.

Youth season is Columbus Day Weekend and a permit is $10.50 for youth 15 and younger.

In other state news, with the excess of flooding and tornadoes in northern and central Illinois this summer, the American Red Cross has been spending a lot of time in the state.

There have been more than 600 overnight shelter stays, 16,000 meals and 900 home clean-up kits have been handed out to victims.
The Red Cross has provided contacts for both health and mental health professionals as recovery continues and it will continue to work with community partners to meet every need storm victims have, or direct people to the groups who can give what they need to them.