IJR News

Illinois Fairs Top 1 Million Visitors Again — 1dIllinois' two state fairs topped 1 million visitors for a second straight year in 2026, with Du Quoin setting a record at 287,058 and Springfield at 714,231.

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Early voting opens in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois and Maine counties — 2dEarly voting is underway or beginning across parts of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois and Maine, with options including in-person voting, vote centers and mail or absentee ballots. Deadlines and hours vary by location; Election Day is Nov. 3, and Maine also allows eligible residents to register and vote during early voting or on Election Day.

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Maya Lindstrom Maine's same day registration during early voting should help more folks turn out without extra hassle.

Supreme Court Opens Term With Climate Gun and Immigration Cases — 2dSupreme Court opened its 2026-27 term Oct. 5 with Illinois and Connecticut AR-15 ban challenges set for December and a Boulder climate case backed by the Trump administration.

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Purdue Beats Illinois to End Big Ten Losing Streak — Sep 28, 2026Purdue visits Illinois on Saturday looking to end a three-game skid and earn its first Big Ten win, while Illinois seeks a conference bounce-back. The matchup comes after Illinois parted ways with defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck and Purdue’s offense struggled against Notre Dame, making both teams’ defensive adjustments a key storyline.

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Illinois Parts Ways With Defensive Coordinator Hauck After Four Games — Sep 27, 2026Illinois parted ways with Bobby Hauck on September 27, 2026 after four games and a 42-19 Ohio State loss in which the defense had nine players on the field for a late score.

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Dana Whitfield Illinois has to fix the defense now or the whole season is lost before it starts.

Most Influential Women in World HistoryYourlist — RankingFrom ancient queens who ruled empires to modern activists who changed laws, these women left indelible marks on politics, science, and culture. Vote for who you think shaped history most profoundly.

Illinois Rout Southern Illinois 48-10 — Sep 19, 2026Illinois beat Southern Illinois 48-10 as Matthew Bailey returned an interception 88 yards for a touchdown and Collin Dixon caught two scoring passes.

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Nicole Hardy The defense kept Southern Illinois in check all game, which should help build confidence before Ohio State.

Fatal and Serious Crashes Reported Across Four StatesAuto — 4dSeveral crashes left people injured: an 80-year-old Illinois man was hurt after swerving to avoid a deer and overturning in Grant County, Wisconsin, while a Memphis pedestrian was critically injured in a hit-and-run. Separate crashes also injured a Memphis man whose car hit trees and rolled over, and a Memphis driver who struck two trees near Rockbridge, Missouri.

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Illinois Enacts Midwest’s First Aid-in-Dying Law — Sep 23, 2026Illinois' Deb's law took effect Sept. 12, making it the first Midwestern state and 13th plus D.C. to allow medical aid in dying after Deb Robertson's campaign.

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Sam Okafor Pope Leo XIV has a point that society should focus on better pain relief instead of legalizing assisted death.

U.S. citizen injured after ICE agents mistake him for fugitive in Illinois — Sep 24, 2026A U.S. citizen was injured and hospitalized after ICE agents in Evanston, Illinois, mistook him for a fugitive during an arrest attempt; authorities say agents released him after realizing their mistake. Witnesses say he was pinned down and beaten despite identifying himself as a citizen, and local police are investigating.

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Rachel Meyers The agents released him only after the fact, which is too late. Local police need to hold them accountable for the beating.

Ohio State Beats Illinois 42-19 — Sep 24, 2026Ohio State opens Big Ten play against Illinois as a heavy favorite, but the Fighting Illini pose a threat in receiver Collin Dixon, who leads the nation with seven touchdown catches in three games. The Buckeyes will look to keep the Illibuck Trophy in Columbus and contain Dixon as conference play begins.

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Measles cases mount across three statesHealth — Sep 25, 2026Measles cases are rising across several states: Kentucky reported 67 cases this year, including 63 in its current outbreak, Illinois reported 23 cases, and Wisconsin confirmed infections in six counties. Officials urge residents to check vaccination status, watch for symptoms and contact health providers after possible exposure; most reported cases in Illinois and Kentucky involved people unvaccinated or with unknown vaccination status.

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Toy Story vs ShrekYourlist — VS BattleThe toy box vs the swamp: two animation revolutions, one inevitable playground argument.

Illinois Mom’s Husband Stands by Her as Prosecutors Detail Alleged Plot — Sep 17, 2026The husband of an Illinois mother accused of killing their 2-year-old son continues to support her as prosecutors detail allegations surrounding the child’s death and her behavior… — by Andrew Powell

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Parks Across Five States Offer Trails, RecreationLifestyle — Sep 28, 2026The articles spotlight outdoor recreation across the country, from Maryland’s amenity-filled Walker Mill Regional Park and scenic parks near Branson to hiking trails at Indiana’s Fort Harrison State Park and Ohio’s Christmas Rocks preserve. In Illinois, Rock Springs Conservation Area will host its annual nighttime Treat Trail with candy stops and activities.

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MacArthur names 20 fellows, awards $800,000 each — Sep 29, 2026The MacArthur Foundation named 20 artists, scientists and scholars to its 2026 fellowship class, each receiving $800,000 in unrestricted support over five years. The honorees include Black creatives and researchers, Illinois scientists Kaiyu Guan and Vincenzo Vitelli, cognitive scientist Felipe De Brigard and forensic anthropologist Kate Spradley, whose work spans the arts, climate and agriculture, memory, and migrant identification.

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Ohio State Defeats Iowa 31-14 as Smith Sets Records — Sep 27, 2026Ohio State beat Illinois 42-19 as Jeremiah Smith tied a school record with four touchdown catches, finishing with career highs of 12 receptions and 217 yards. Iowa, preparing to face the Buckeyes, is emphasizing quick tackles and limiting Smith’s yards after the catch after recent struggles against Michigan’s receivers.

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The Big FiveQuizie — QuizThe personality model scientists actually use — five traits, twenty questions, your real percentages, and an AI read of what your mix means.

Report Shows Regional Construction Wage Divide — Sep 21, 2026Illinois leads U.S. cost-adjusted construction wages at $80,604; Florida is lowest at $47,740 as employment hits a record 8.34 million.

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Jared Kim Why does Florida pay so much less than Illinois even after adjusting for costs? That gap seems too wide for similar work.

Duke Rallies Past Illinois 31-27 — Sep 12, 2026Duke rallied from an early deficit to beat Illinois 31-27 on the road, powered by Nate Sheppard’s 147 rushing yards and three touchdowns as Walker Eget delivered a more efficient, turnover-free performance. Illinois’ Collin Dixon and Katin Houser kept the Illini competitive in the first half, but Duke’s defense stiffened in the second half and made crucial stops to seal the win, even as Eget left briefly with an injury before returning.

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Priya Raman Sheppard’s three touchdowns made all the difference after that slow start. Illinois looked strong early but the Duke defense stepped up when it mattered.

Trump Endorses Bailey in Illinois Governor Race — Sep 14, 2026President Donald Trump publicly reiterated his endorsement of Darren Bailey in the Illinois governor’s race, calling Bailey a “very good candidate” and saying he’s “all for Bailey” as he labels JB Pritzker a disaster on crime. Bailey, who has at times distanced himself from Trump on some issues, is leveraging the Trump endorsement to appeal to suburban voters in a high-stakes rematch.

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Maya Lindstrom Bailey distancing himself earlier might hurt if suburban voters see this as just another Trump pick.

Salk Tests Deep-Root Soybeans for Carbon Storage — Sep 18, 2026Salk soybeans grow roots up to a meter deeper; preliminary data show up to 30% more topsoil carbon. $18M Bezos grant funds Illinois trials.

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Rachel Meyers Engineering these traits sounds useful, but they need to confirm it works at scale before expecting wide adoption.

NetChoice Sues Illinois Over Digital, Social Media TaxesPolitics — Sep 11, 2026NetChoice has filed multiple lawsuits in Cook County to block Illinois’s new Social Media User Tax and Digital Ad Tax, arguing the measures discriminate against online services and violate the First Amendment and the federal Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act. Supporters say the taxes fund state budget needs and target large platforms, while critics warn digital-only taxes raise constitutional and due‑process concerns.

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Judge Shields Catholic Providers From Illinois Suicide Law — Sep 11, 2026A federal judge temporarily shields Catholic entities, including the Archdiocese of Chicago and two Religious Sisters, from Illinois’s physician-assisted suicide law as litigation proceeds, delaying enforcement against them while allowing the policy to take effect elsewhere. Proponents say the law expands autonomy and provides end-of-life options, while Catholic groups warn it coerces conscience and threatens vulnerable patients, prompting ongoing legal challenges.

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Elena Vasquez The law should apply evenly so patients get real choices at the end without special carve-outs for any group.

Kyle Larson Wins Playoff Race, Ends 51-Race Drought — Sep 13, 2026Kyle Larson ended a 51-race winless streak by winning the Enjoy Illinois 300 at Gateway in overtime after 18 cautions, moving to second in the Chase.

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Maya Lindstrom The caution-filled race mixed up the Chase standings so much that a few drivers are probably sweating their positions right now.

Possible Measles Exposures Reported Across US, Canada — Sep 23, 2026Health officials issued measles exposure alerts after infected people visited public venues in Quebec, Washington state, Illinois and the St. Louis area, including a school, restaurant, bars and Busch Stadium. People who may have been exposed are urged to monitor for symptoms for up to 21 days and call a health care provider before seeking in-person care; officials also stress vaccination as protection against the highly contagious disease.

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Illinois Governor Candidates Pursue Separate Goals at Texas Convention — Sep 10, 2026The Illinois governor’s race has moved into Texas, with Pritzker and Bailey courting supporters at the Republican National Convention, Bailey seeking national exposure while Del Mar emphasizes cross-state policy transfers and Trump’s lingering influence on Bailey. In Texas, polls show Abbott-Hinojosa in a dead heat in the governor race and a tight Senate contest, with older voters tightening the gap in an AARP poll that also highlights affordability and health-care concerns shaping the race.

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Marcus Bell Bailey heading to Texas for exposure could help him stand out but risks looking disconnected from Illinois voters back home.