(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois State Fair opens next week, on Thursday, August 7th, with 11 days of concerts, livestock showcases, carnival rides, plenty of great fair food, lots of family-friendly fun. With organizers putting an extra emphasis this year on affordability following last year’s fair that brought a record-breaking 773,000 visitors, they spent time yesterday pointing out the renovating, repairing, and updating work on the State Fairgrounds over the past year. For all the details and information, go to the statefair.illinois.gov website.
(DIETERICH) State Representative Adam Niemerg says runaway utility costs prove that Illinois needs an energy overhaul. In an op-ed released yesterday morning, the 102nd State Representative said he warned his colleagues that radical mandates pushed by Governor J.B. Pritzker and his legislative allies would result in massive utility hikes and instability. Most all downstate lawmakers agree that the Climate & Equitable Jobs Act is actually driving up prices and endangering the vulnerability of the energy grid in Illinois.
(CHICAGO) Commonworth Edison has closed applications for its Customer Relief Fund due to high demand. The upstate utility announced the special $10 million fund last month, when rates increased for most all of its customers. ComEd says customers who already applied will be notified of a decision once their applications are reviewed by the utility.
(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has announced that the state’s gray fox hunting is now closed, effective immediately. The agency says survey results indicate a substantial decline in gray fox distribution and abundance over the past decade. A bill approved in Springfield and signed into law last month gave the State DNR the ability to open or close the season by it’s own administrative rule.