State News

Illinois soybean farmers are once again the top producers of soybeans in the U.S. In 2025, Illinois farmers harvested more than 639 million bushels of soybeans, securing Illinois the No. 1 slot. “Despite facing the challenges of low commodity prices, unfavorable weather conditions and trade wars, Illinois’ dedicated farmers continue to produce high-quality soybeans,” said…

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will host the 62nd annual Lincoln Laureates Convocation and Investiture, where Governor JB Pritzker will confer the state’s highest civilian honor for professional achievement and public service to five distinguished Illinois residents. Hosted by the Lincoln Academy of Illinois, the next cohort of Lincoln Laureates will receive the Order of Lincoln on…

This Super Bowl weekend, the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and numerous local police and sheriff’s departments across the state are taking a timeout to spread two important safety messages to the public – “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Click It or Ticket.” The Super Bowl safety campaign runs from Friday,…

The Illinois Soybean Board (ISB) is looking for farmers interested in filling one of Illinois’ director positions with the United Soybean Board (USB). Any soybean producer who is engaged in the growing of soybeans in the United States who owns, or who shares the ownership and risk of loss of, is eligible. To be considered…

Governor Pritzker vows to keep Illinoisans informed, protected, and prepared amid President Trump’s retreat from global public health cooperation Yesterday, Governor Pritzker announced the State of Illinois is joining the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), a coordinated international network dedicated to monitoring and responding to global disease outbreaks. Following…

As a part of its Jan. 29, 2026, e-news update, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) shared that work continues to replace the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) North Access Road bridges over the Norfolk Southern Railroad. The $4.6 million project began in 2024 and is expected to be completed this spring. To learn more…

The Official Map of the Route 66 Centennial, produced by Rand McNally Publishing, is now available, offering travelers and Route 66 enthusiasts a comprehensive guide to experiencing America’s iconic Mother Road during the 100-year celebration. The foldable paper map, 28” x 40”, highlights essential stops along Route 66 while combining practical travel guidance with rich…

Partnership includes 1,000 ring cameras, $25,000 donation supporting domestic violence survivors Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined officials from Amazon and the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) on Feb. 2, 2026, to announce a collaboration with Ring, an Amazon company, to support domestic violence survivors with technology and safety tools. Through this partnership, ICADV has…

Illinois State Senator Erica Harriss (R-Glen Carbon) and State Representative Amy Elik (R-Alton) toured the Collinsville Area Vocational Center (CAVC) expansion site on Jan. 28, 2026, to get a firsthand look at building progress and to learn more about plans for the expanded Career and Technical Education (CTE) program. CAVC Director Joe McGinnis led the…