Celebrations around the country recall not only the events leading up to the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, but also look forward and aim to make the 4th of July weekend a massive, multigenerational cultural moment focused on community connections and charitable giving.

America’s Block Party, an unprecedented coast-to-coast initiative, is one of the signature events of America 250, the congressionally chartered nonprofit overseeing the semiquincentennial celebration.

A Times Square Ball Drop, a rolling series of ball drops, timed to occur at midnight on July 3 in every U.S. time zone from Guam to American Samoa, is part of the “Giving 4th Broadcast Benefit Show,” creating a nearly 24-hour celebration of the 250th anniversary. It’s part of the broader “Giving 4th” initiative that aims to make and establish Independence Day the biggest annual day of giving.

A time capsule will be buried in Philadelphia to be opened in 2276 on July 4. It contains a carefully curated collection of letters and artifacts reflecting the leadership, institutions, and communities that shape the country today. It will include contributions from all three branches of the U.S. federal government and submissions from each of the 50 states, Washington D.C., and five territories.

Separately, the White House’s Freedom 250’s biggest spectacles are the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, running June 25 to July 10; the July 4 Salute to America Fireworks, also on the National Mall; “Sail 4th 250,” billed as the largest-ever flotilla of tall ships from around the world in New York Harbor; and Rushmore 250, an iconic 4th of July fireworks on July 3 alongside military concerts and live presidential reenactors.

ILLINOIS – A severed arm with a distinctive Green Bay Packers tattoo led investigators to identify a Plainfield man whose remains were recovered from Lake Mattoon, and two people have now been charged in the case, including the man’s mother, Illinois State Police said.

James Adams, 26, and Robin Turner, 62, are each charged with concealment of a homicidal death, a Class 3 felony, and dismembering a human body, a Class X felony. 

The backstory:

Boaters found part of a human arm floating in Lake Mattoon on the evening of June 28, according to Illinois State Police. The arm had several distinctive tattoos, including a skeleton holding a Green Bay Packers helmet and an unidentified letter or number.

Severed arm found in Illinois lake belonged to Plainfield man, police say (Illinois State Police)

Authorities searched the lake and recovered additional human remains. The victim was later identified as 38-year-old Dalewayne Turner of Plainfield.

Investigators executed a search warrant Wednesday at a home in the 2400 block of Ruth Fitzgerald Drive in Plainfield, where Adams and Robin Turner were taken into custody, state police said. Robin is reportedly Dalewayne’s mother. 

Police said investigators also recovered additional evidence from the home but have not disclosed what was found.

What’s next:

Illinois State Police presented the case Thursday to the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office, which approved the charges.

Adams and Turner remain in custody as the investigation continues. State police said additional charges are expected.

News

Prevent plant claims likely in soaked southeastern Illinois

A technical services representative with BASF says some southeastern Illinois farmers have struggled to find windows to plant this year. 

Mike Probst, who’s based in Effingham County, says his area has been inundated with heavy rains throughout the spring.

“Weather event after weather event of two to three inches of rain really made it tough on folks in that area.”  He says, “I think there’s fields that have probably been replanted 3 times. I know a lot of the corn that went in at the end of April, most of that didn’t make it or wasn’t a quality enough stand, so it got worked up.”

He tells Brownfield it’s causing farmers to adjust plans on the fly and to consider prevented plant insurance claims.

“We’ve already had several questions where folks have asked if they can come back and plant soybeans based off of what they’ve applied on their corn crop that year, especially in river bottom ground that’s been flooded multiple times.”  He says, “But yeah, I know for a fact that’s going to impact a good number of growers.”

Probst says the disjointed planting season has led to crops in varying stages of development, which could pose management challenges for producers throughout the rest of the growing season.

“Maybe the yield potential is not there, but we have actually seen in some of our data, some of that later planted corn is actually where we see some of our biggest fungicide responses.”  He says, “It actually goes through more of its life cycle where it is combating disease if that disease does show up early like this year.”

He says the crops in the area that were planted timely and have withstood the storms are doing well and have benefited from the rains.

AUDIO: Mike Probst – BASF