U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Naperville, has introduced legislation that, if passed, could make it easier for local farmers to sell their products to directly to consumers. The proposed bills already have bipartisan support.

A family safely evacuated their rural Triumph home on Saturday, but fire caused an estimated $150,000 damage to their residence in Troy Grove Township.

Gallery

Firefighters and EMS personnel from Utica, Tonica and Oglesby braved sub-zero temperatures Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, to conduct ice-rescue training on a private pond south of Utica. Wearing wetsuits, firefighters cut multiple holes through the ice while practicing rescue scenarios. The exercise focused on teaching new techniques to improve safety and efficiency during frozen-water emergencies.

Gallery

The Penguin Plunge was a successful fundraiser for Make-A-Wish Illinois, with participants taking frigid dives into the water at Skydive Chicago to raise money for the organization.

An estimated one-in-four adults who check ICash discover they have missing money or other unclaimed property, the Illinois state treasurer’s office said.

Amy “Murri” Briel on a top priority: Making healthcare accessible and affordable for all residents. I was elected to bring healthcare back into hospitals and throughout rural communities. Read Briel's full election questionnaire here

Crystal Loughran: I support abolishing the TRUST Act. Public safety must come first. Read Loughran's full eleciton questionnaire here

Liz Bishop: The 76th District’s top issue is the same throughout the state: the ever-increasing cost of living in Illinois. Read Bishop's full questionnaire here

180 people from 15 different groups participated in the Penguin Plunge and show support for Make-A-Wish Illinois, which is celebrating its 40th year of creating life-changing wishes for Illinois children with critical illnesses.