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familydestinationsguide.com

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This Secret Illinois Nature Preserve Is A Peaceful Escape Worthy Of Your Bucket List

There’s a place in southern Illinois that most people have never heard of, and it sits above the Mississippi River like it’s been keeping a very pleasant secret for a very long time. That place is Fults Hill Prairie Nature Preserve, and it’s located near the small town...

Illinois · 2d
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capitolcitynow.com

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People are still talking about Nov. 4 Springfield city council meeting

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Springfield city council watchers Tuesday would not let the mayor and aldermen forget how last week’s meeting (pictured) ended, with aldermen and audience members shouting after the meeting officially ended. Mayor Misty Buscher adjourned that meeting while some people still expected to have their turn to speak. Citizens and the mayor’s and clerk’s offices disagree on just who had signed up, and a city statement the day after last week’s meeting blamed a communications glitch for some people’s sign-ups not reaching the clerk’s office.

Springfield, IL · 2d
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Country Herald

publisher · 13.5K followers
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Springfield, IL Weather Alert: Storm Risk Wednesday, Freeze Follows Nov 12

Central Illinois could reach 69 degrees Wednesday before colder air brings freezing nighttime temperatures

Springfield, IL · 2d

The Center Square

partner publisher · 229.3K followers
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Proposed change in farm estate tax has broad support

(The Center Square) – Legislation to change the state’s death tax credit could help families hold on to their farms as land values rise. Illinois Farm Bureau Associate Director of State Legislation Mark Raney said farmers currently pay the estate tax on everything more than $4 million in value, which is easily exceeded by the average Illinois grain farm with 1,500 acres. “And that doesn't include the value of any of your equipment, your trucks, the value of any livestock you may have harvested, corn or soy, doesn't include barns, doesn't include your house,” Raney told The Center Square. Raney said the Family Farm Preservation Act changes the $4 million threshold and would be huge for agriculture in Illinois. “We want that number to be $6 million, however, the first 6 million is tax-free. So if your estate is $6.5 million, you are taxed on $500,000 and then we tie that $6 million to inflation,” Raney said. Raney said the bill would alleviate the discrepancy between high land values and income. State Rep. Sharon Chung, D-Bloomington, filed House Bill 4736 last March, after her previous version of the Family Farm Preservation Act failed to advance in 2025. Gov. J.B. Pritzker

Illinois · 21h

isu10news.com

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Illinois Passes Law Limiting E-Bikes

The state of Illinois has passed a new law limiting where E-Bikes can be driven. This new legislation comes as accidents involving the increasingly popular vehicle including two in Bloomington-Normal. It states that bikes that can go above 15 miles per hour are prohibited from being used on sidewalks. Usage on shared pathways, such as the Constitution Trail, is up to local government.

Illinois · 22h

Q985

partner publisher · 3.8K followers

These 12 Illinois Restaurants Make The List Of America’s 100 Best

Illinois landed twelve spots on OpenTable's best restaurants in America list, and they're all a road trip away in Chicago.

Illinois · 2d

channel1450.com

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Five Rockets Celebrate At Rochester Fall Signing Day

Rochester High School celebrated a Fall signing day with five Rockets making their college decisions official. We spoke with Peyton Purvis, Emmah Brown, Frankie Stefano, Sean Plessa and Sam Ferris afterwards about their decisions.

Rochester, IL · 21h

My Journal Courier

partner publisher · 8.4K followers

Churches to collect donations for Operation Christmas Child

Churches across west-central Illinois are collecting donations to fill shoeboxes for Samaritan's Purse's Operation Christmas Child shoebox charity drive.

Jacksonville, IL · 23h

The Center Square

partner publisher · 229.3K followers

Caution urged following Illinois jobs, revenue reports

(The Center Square) – A strong labor market is helping to boost Illinois tax revenues, but an economics professor says states with budget difficulties should be prepared in case unemployment rises. The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability said Illinois sales tax revenues grew $175 million, or 17.1% in October and corporate income tax receipts increased $100 million, or 43%. David Yaskewich, professor of economics and chair of accounting, economics and finance at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, said income tax and sales taxes are the primary generators of revenue at the state level. “If we have a healthy labor market where people are working, that would be something that would tend to generate revenue. So in a low unemployment period, if a state were having difficulties with its budget, that would be potentially worrisome, because if unemployment were to rise, it could only really get worse from that standpoint,” Yaskewich told The Center Square. The Illinois state budget is $55.9 billion for fiscal year 2027, up from $39 billion in 2019. The Illinois Flash Index increased from 101.5 in September to 101.7 in October, reflecting continued strength in state revenues and an improving labor market. Yaskewich said

Illinois · 1d

WMBD/WYZZ

partner publisher · 12.7K followers

Statewide rules for e-bikes and scooters begin Jan. 1

New Illinois laws governing the operation and classification of micromobility devices such as e-bikes and e-scooters are set to take effect on Jan. 1.

Illinois · 2d

Secret Chicago

publisher · 7.1K followers

Starting Jan. 1, 2027, Illinois landlords can’t charge more than $50 for a rental application or any fee to renew your lease

We have good news for Chicago renters: Starting Jan. 1, 2027 , Illinois landlords can’t charge more than $50 for a rental application, including a background check. They also can’t charge a fee to renew your lease. House Bill 3564, which Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed , amends the Illinois Landlord and Tenant Act (765 ILCS 705/35) and is enacted as Public Act 104-479. The rules apply to residential leases entered into on or after the effective date , including new and renewed leases. They do not cover units in an owner-occupied building with six or fewer units. The $50 cap and the first-page rule Every non-optional fee, one-time or recurring , must appear on the first page of the lease . If it doesn’t, you don’t have to pay it. A landlord can charge more than $50 for screening only if the actual third-party background-check cost is higher. The landlord must pay the provider first, then bill you with the provider’s receipts within 14 days . If the landlord misses that window, you don’t owe the fee. A landlord also can’t use an unpaid background-check fee as grounds for eviction during the first year of a lease. In Cook County,

Illinois · 2d

takingthekids.com

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Inside This Illinois Bin Store, Prices Drop Every Day Until The Shelves Get Restocked

Every bin in this store gets cheaper each day the doors open, and the bottom price eventually lands near pocket change. That’s the whole game, so you show up, dig, and decide how long you can stand to wait. The boxes come mostly from Amazon and Target truckloads. That...

Aurora, IL · 1d

WCIA

partner publisher · 53.8K followers

Illinois Hemp Act regulates sale of certain drinks

Some Illinois businesses are paying close attention to a new law that will affect what drinks they can sell. Under the Illinois Hemp Act, any consumable or hemp-derived product, including drinks, containing more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container is banned from bars, taprooms, restaurants and convenience and grocery stores. They can only […]

Illinois · 1d

Belleville News-Democrat

partner publisher · 18.9K followers

Illinois health officials prep to transfer patients from metro-east hospital

Illinois regulators are preparing to potentially transfer patients out of Gateway Regional Medical Center in Granite City and ambulances are being sent to other hospitals. The hospital is still open, but the Illinois Department of Public Health confirmed Gateway and another medical center owned by the same company are on bypass status due to “staffing instability.” St. Louis-based KMOV first reported the development. The operators of the 278-bed safety net hospital have been late paying staff. An IDPH spokesman said that the agency had alerted the state’s labor and employment security departments about unmet payroll at Gateway and at Vista Medical Center in Waukegan, Illinois. Both hospitals are owned by California-based company American Healthcare Systems. “Gateway and Vista are private, for-profit hospitals whose operations and finances are managed by American Healthcare Systems. Their lack of communication, transparency, and responsible financial management and contingency planning is extremely concerning,” the spokesman for the IDPH said in an email. “The Illinois Department of Public Health’s highest immediate priority is the health and safety of the patients and has been working and communicating with hospital administrative leaders in this regard.” Representatives from Gateway Regional Medical Center and American Healthcare Systems did not respond to

Granite City, IL · 2d

oakpark.com

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Democrats, media finally see through Chris Welch’s polite posturing

“Riding high in April, shot down in May,” Frank Sinatra sang in 1966. “That’s life.” . Chris Welch can certainly relate. He was riding high last April, having just been elected to the Democratic State Central Committee, the powerful party policy making group. Two months later, he was appointed one of four Executive Vice-Chairs to Chairman and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

Cook County, IL · 19h

nprillinois.org

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Diocese considers a second Catholic high school in Springfield

The Diocese of Springfield is gauging interest in another Catholic high school in the capital city. If approved, it would be located in the former Cathedral School. A survey was recently placed in church bulletins to see how the idea is received among parents and congregations. While Springfield is home...

Springfield, IL · 2d

WCIA

partner publisher · 53.8K followers

Central Illinois veteran fights to save a ‘dwindling tradition’: the final salute

ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Taps and the 21-gun salute are sounds that military families know all too well. They’re played when it’s time to honor the ones who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. However, it’s a tradition that is becoming hard to uphold. That’s why Operation Honor Guard exists. “I lost a buddy shortly […]

Illinois · 1d

The Money Overview

partner publisher · 75.3K followers

Iowa heirs can skip probate for personal-property estates of $100,000 or less, and Illinois changes small-estate rules Jan. 1, 2027

Iowa heirs can collect a relative’s personal property without probate when the estate is worth $100,000 or less and holds no real estate, under a law approved April 16, 2026. Illinois rewrites its own small-estate affidavit rules for deaths on or after Jan. 1, 2027. The Iowa change is House File 2660, Chapter 1048 of […] The post Iowa heirs can skip probate for personal-property estates of $100,000 or less, and Illinois changes small-estate rules Jan. 1, 2027 appeared first on The Money Overview .

Illinois · 2d

Combat Rated

partner publisher · 62.3K followers

Pritzker Says His Father And Grandfather Helped Americans “Wake Up In A Free Country Every Day” — Honors Veterans And Their Families On Veterans Day

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker marked Veterans Day on November 11 by honoring generations of American veterans, including members of his own family who served in the United States Navy. His statement connected his family’s military history to the freedoms Americans experience today while highlighting the responsibility to continue improving the country for future generations. Pritzker […]

Illinois · 1d