Illinois

Congressional Republicans are holding up Farm Bill. What that means for Illinois

Published

1 year ago

September 24, 2024

Congressional Republicans are holding up Farm Bill. What that means for Illinois

Congressional Republicans are holding the Farm Bill hostage because they want to cut food support for the nation’s most vulnerable families, and it’s hurting Illinois’ economy and farmers.

Each year, billions of dollars flow into Illinois’ economy from the state’s thriving agriculture industry. Illinois is the fifth-ranked state nationwide in the export of agricultural products, with crops produced at over 72,000 individual farms that cover 75% of our state’s land. Illinois would not be where we are today without the important contributions of our farming communities.

We have a responsibility to support our state’s agricultural industry — not only to promote the continued success of our local farmers but also to ensure continued stewardship of our land and access to locally grown food for all Illinoisans.

The Farm Bill is a crucial tool used to support our farmers. It authorizes tens of millions in grants to support Illinois’ local food systems, including purchasing excess product from Illinois farmers at market value to provide to disadvantaged communities.

The bill also provides farmers with incentives for improving soil quality and would invest in education and training to help Illinois family farmers lead American agriculture into the 21st century. It also supports Illinois farmers in holistic ways, from rural mental health grants to increased access to animal disease testing to specialty crop block grants.

Unfortunately, the reauthorization of this legislation has languished in the U.S. House of Representatives for months.

Members of the Illinois Congressional delegation are eager to pass a bipartisan Farm Bill and send necessary investments and support to our agricultural communities.

However, Congressional Republicans have more pressing priorities than helping farmers — namely, playing political games, cutting access to food for the neediest Americans and slashing funding for climate-smart conservation programs.

GOP bill would cut $30 billion from SNAP

House Republicans passed a partisan Farm Bill that cuts $30 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program known as SNAP.

If they get what they want, beginning in 2027, 40 million Americans, including 17 million children, would see cuts to their benefits — the largest SNAP cut in nearly 30 years. The bill also includes provisions allowing states to outsource SNAP processing to private companies, a decision that has historically led to errors and long processing times.

Republicans want to cut an essential resource that keeps children, people with disabilities and the elderly fed. These are programs that provide the absolute essentials of what the most vulnerable families need to live and function day to day.

Republicans know a bill that inflicts this kind of cruelty on the most disadvantaged members of our communities cannot pass on the House floor. But GOP members of the House Agriculture Committee are content to hold our nation’s farmers hostage to score political points that come not only at the expense of hungry families but also our environment.

The GOP bill takes nearly $14 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funding for conservation practices that improve water, air and soil quality to make our farms more productive and reallocates it to other programs. With the removal of guardrails that direct these funds to climate-smart agriculture, farmers would lose out on funding for innovative practices, and it would take a toll on our land.

Here in Illinois, we refuse to gamble with people’s futures and their livelihoods. Failure to pass a bipartisan Farm Bill would cripple the ability of family farms to produce. Without reauthorization, the Federal Crop Insurance Program won’t be able to meet the needs of a changing agricultural landscape — even as farmers continue to see their businesses threatened by natural disasters and changing weather patterns.

The domino effect of these production issues won’t just affect farmers. The Republicans’ unwillingness to compromise means we will all see even higher prices at the grocery store.

Republicans claim to be fighting to help the average family, but they are taking away food assistance from millions of children and families and making it more difficult for every other American family to make ends meet.

It’s time to stop playing political games with people’s livelihoods and work across the aisle to present a Farm Bill we can all agree on. Every American is not a farmer, but every American eats what our farmers produce. No one will remain untouched by the consequences of a failed Farm Bill.

We call on Republicans to come to the table and negotiate a bill we can all agree on before irreparable damage is done to America’s heartland.

JB Pritzker is governor of Illinois. U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski serves Illinois’ 13th Congressional District. U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson represents Illinois’ First Congressional District.

The views and opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Chicago Sun-Times or any of its affiliates.

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Illinois

Candy Cane Lane celebrating 45 years in southern Illinois

Published

9 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Candy Cane Lane celebrating 45 years in southern Illinois

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ill. (KFVS) – A beloved Christmas tradition in southern Illinois is celebrating 45 years this holiday season.

Organizers say Candy Cane Lane is a unique and completely free Christmas display that brings holiday magic to life!

Committee members say 2025 is the biggest year ever for Candy Cane Lane, which now features over 100,000 sparkling lights, more than 500 characters, and 90 incredible scenes inspired by Disney, Universal, Nickelodeon, Warner Brothers, and many more.

Candy Cane Lane began in 1980 and was created by Mr. Tim Murphy. Murphy was an inspiring art teacher in West Frankfort whose creativity and holiday spirit touched countless lives, according to committee members.

Over the years, Tim’s many art students helped his vision grow brighter and bigger.

In 2019, Candy Cane Lane was featured on ABC’s The Great Christmas Light Fight, gaining national recognition for its charm and artistry.

Tim Murphy passed away in 2020 from complications with COVID-19; his dear friends, Iris and Bobby Kohzadi, vowed to keep his legacy.

A dedicated Candy Cane Lane committee was formed, and the holiday attraction is now a licensed nonprofit organization.

Leaders say they continue to expand and enhance Candy Cane Lane each year, ensuring that Tim Murphy’s spirit of joy, community, and creativity lives on for generations to come.

The non-profit is run strictly off of donations, which also help fund a scholarship program at Frankfort Community High School.

Candy Cane Lane is located at the West Frankfort Community Park at 1100 E. Cleveland Street, and is open nightly through December 27, 2025, at 9:00 p.m.

For more information or to donate to Candy Cane Lane, visit their Facebook page.

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Illinois

Late Heroics Lift Meseraull In Southern Illinois Center – SPEED SPORT

Published

22 hours ago

December 21, 2025

Press Room

Late Heroics Lift Meseraull In Southern Illinois Center – SPEED SPORT

DU QUOIN, Ill. — Thomas Meseraull used late-race heroics to earn his 10th career feature win while battling inside the Southern Illinois Center with the POWRi National Midget League on Saturday night.

Meseraull led the final 10 laps of the feature honoring industry icon Junior Knepper at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds.

High-point qualifier Zach Daum and fast-timer Brylee Kilmer battled as the green flag waved, with Daum gaining the initial advantage on the opening lap as Trey Marcham, Meseraull, Daniel Robinson and Kilmer all kept pace inside the early top five.

Leading steadily, Daum would appear in fine form inside the Southern Illinois Center as the laps ticked away, with Meseraull, Marham, Frank Flud, Robinson, Christopher Bell, Chris Andrews, Corbin Rueschenberg,and Kole Kirkman contending.

Using precision driving through lapped traffic, Meseraull would strike for the top spot with only 10 laps remaining as Daum stayed within striking distance while keeping Marcham, Flud and Daniel Robinson at bay.

Holding steady over a late-race restart, Meseraull would not be denied in earning his second POWRi National Midget feature win inside the Southern Illinois Center over the past three years.

“This Ford was hooked up and ripping’ tonight,” said Meseraull. “Feels great to finally get it done in 2025 after having a rough year. This place can turn into bumper cars, and you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do to get it done here.”

Remaining up front early-leader of 30 laps, Daum would place runner-up with Marcham finalizing the podium placements. Hard-charging from starting 19th, Kyle Jones finished fourth, with Robinson fifth.

The finish:

Feature (40 Laps): 1. 7S-Thomas Meseraull[3]; 2. 5D-Zach Daum[1]; 3. 32-Trey Marcham[5]; 4. 7TX-Kyle Jones[19]; 5. 57-Daniel Robinson[7]; 6. 81F-Frank Flud[6]; 7. 95-Chris Andrews[10]; 8. 6-Brylee Kilmer[4]; 9. 17R-Rylan Gray[15]; 10. 14J-Wout Hoffmans[22]; 11. 23-Devon Dobie[17]; 12. 77J-John Klabunde[21]; 13. 67-Kole Kirkman[8]; 14. 15V-Cole Vanderheiden[12]; 15. 15-RJ Corson[16]; 16. 23T-Ashton Thompson[13]; 17. 26-Corbin Rueschenberg[14]; 18. 21-Christopher Bell[9]; 19. 7G-Parker Perry[11]; 20. 2F-Casey Friedrichsen[20]; 21. 4-Kale Drake[2]; 22. 71C-Gunnar Pike[18]

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Illinois

Illinois State defeats Villanova in the 2025 FCS playoff semifinals, advances to national title

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2025

Press Room

Illinois State defeats Villanova in the 2025 FCS playoff semifinals, advances to national title

Illinois State dominated Villanova on the road from start to finish en route to a 30-14 FCS semifinal win.

Illinois State set the tone early with a 53-yard bomb to star wide receiver Daniel Sobkowicz who finished with seven catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns. His second touchdown put the Redbirds up 21-6 entering halftime, putting the game out of reach.

In the second half, Illinois State leaned on a third-straight career-high day on the ground from running back Victor Dawson, who rushed for 155 yards after going for 148 and 137 in his last two games. Dawson and the ground attack dominated the time of possession for 36:48. Click or tap here for final stats from the game.

HOW ABOUT THOSE REDBIRDS!!!!!!!!!#ValleyFootball x #FCS x @RedbirdFB x @ISURedbirds x @NCAA_FCS x @ESPNCFB x @espn pic.twitter.com/otoo7t1YoM
— Valley Football (@ValleyFootball) December 21, 2025
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Illinois State becomes the first team in the 24-team FCS playoff era to make the national championship game after playing all road games and only the second unseeded team in the 24-team era to make the national championship game.

Overall, it’ll be Illinois State’s first FCS Championship game appearance since 2014. The Redbirds have never won a national championship.

You can catch the 2025-26 FCS Championship Game on Monday, January 5, 2026 at theFirstBank Stadium on the campus of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

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