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Corn, soybean yields see record numbers while prices drop to double-digit losses
ILLINOIS (WCIA) — The outlook for this year’s harvest season is good in some regards but shaping up to be rough in others. The USDA predicts record amounts of corn and soybean yields this season — for corn, a 9% increase from last year to 227 bushels an acre. And for soybeans, a 5% jump […]
GRAPHIC: Nearly one-third of Midwest ag exports sent to Asian markets
The majority of Midwest-produced agriculture exports remain in North America, but nearly one-third are sent to Asia. The Midwest exported $13.28 billion in agricultural products in 2023, according to U.S. Census Bureau trade data, which categorizes the Midwest as 12 central states. Nearly two-thirds of those exports were destined for...
Thousands in Illinois Have Itchy Bites from Nearly Invisible Pest
I am not a fan of the many cicadas and ticks you find in Illinois, but at least you can see those bugs. There's a nearly invisible one that is apparently responsible for thousands of people in Illinois who are saying they're experiencing super-itchy bites from a pest that you can almost never see.
Winning lottery ticket sold in Loves Park in 2023 remains unclaimed
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) – The Illinois Lottery says the person who purchased a winning Powerball ticket worth $100,000 in Loves Park last September has still not claimed their prize. The winning Powerball ticket was purchased Road Ranger, 7500 E. Riverside Blvd. “The Illinois Lottery is keen to unite the winner and their winnings, and is […]
This Bear Tried to Break into Scott Air Force Base in Illinois
I had no idea that black bears had military aspirations, but that's apparently the case for one of these creatures currently touring Illinois as he reportedly tried to break into Scott Air Force Base. It's no secret that bears have suddenly become a common sight in southern Illinois as there...
Pritzker signs law aiming to help juveniles clear their criminal record
Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker officially signed a bill into law on Friday that starts the expungement process immediately after a juvenile is released from detention. The Juvenile Court Act has been amended by a bill that mandates state courts to expunge the records of individuals charged as juveniles, two years after they […]
Bethany, IDCFS expand Nurturing Parenting Program
Bethany for Children & Families and the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services (IDCFS) are teaming up to teach more parents how to care for their children. Bethany is expanding its Nurturing Parenting Program (NPP), which teaches healthy parenting skills as an alternative to abusive or neglectful practices. In the past, Bethany has provided […]
Banks file lawsuit challenging Illinois credit card fee law
A coalition of banking groups on Thursday filed a federal lawsuit challenging a new Illinois law they say would create costly chaos in their industry and headaches for consumers. The law blocks banks and credit card companies from charging retailers a small fee on taxes and tips. Illinois earlier this year became the first state in the nation to enact such a law, prompting outrage and an ...
New Leaf Illinois’ Mission to Expunge Cannabis Records, Helping Thousands
Active in community events like the Bud Billiken Parade, New Leaf Illinois aims to provide a fresh start for those affected by past convictions (Photo Credit: Ethan Davis). On July 10, during National Hemp Month, Gov. JB Pritzker’s office announced that the Illinois cannabis industry had achieved $1 billion in retail sales.
Illinois Is Getting Digital Licenses: Here’s How It All Works
We've been keeping an eye on the progress of Illinois House Bill 4592 (HB 4592) for a while now, and because we're technology geeks we're pretty excited that it brings that little plastic card in your wallet into the digital age by allowing us to have our driver's licenses or state IDs on our phones, where we have seemingly everything else.
Housing providers are squeezed by rising insurance costs, driving rents up. Unlike other states, Illinois can do little about it
CHICAGO - Stuart Handler runs a company that owns and manages 47 properties, with a total of 6,000 apartments throughout the Chicago area. For 2024, the insurance premium on his portfolio of properties increased about 150%, and his deductible climbed from $100,000 to $1 million. The jump in insurance costs...
Rockford opens Restaurant Relief Grant for its second round
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) - State grants secured by State Representative, Maurice West and managed by the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors bureau are being awarded to restaurants that are still struggling with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Restaurant Relief Grant allows restaurants some help coping with the aftermath...
Machesney Park teacher embraces non-traditional learning space by redefining classroom
MACHESNEY PARK, Ill. (WTVO) — Teaching is evolving at one Machesney Park school, and so is what a classroom looks and sounds like. On Thursday, Marquette Elementary third-grade teacher Sarah Jacobson welcomed students into a room that looked far different than the typical classroom most are familiar with. “It’s completely different from the way I […]
Pritzker says Trump is the loser after former president's remarks on X with Musk
(The Center Square) – After being called a “real loser” by former President Donald Trump, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said it’s Trump who is the loser. Elon Musk, the owner of X, formerly Twitter, hosted a more than two hour discussion with Trump on the social media platform Monday, where Trump discussed being shot in the ear, the economy, foreign and domestic policy and government efficiency. Trump wants to get...
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