Illinois

7 downstate counties vote to consider seceding from Illinois to form new state

Published

1 year ago

November 9, 2024

7 downstate counties vote to consider seceding from Illinois to form new state

Residents in seven downstate counties voted in Tuesday’s election to explore the idea of breaking away from Illinois to form a new state.

The counties join a growing number of other right-leaning downstate counties that have approved similar nonbinding measures in recent election years. The movement comes as residents’ distaste for the left-leaning policies pushed through the Democrat-led Illinois General Assembly has also grown.

Republican President-elect Donald Trump won the majority of votes in each of the seven counties that voted in favor of exploring secession in this year’s election.

The seven counties that voted to consider separating from Illinois are:

Calhoun County (passed with 76% of the vote)
Clinton County (passed with 71% of the vote)
Green County (passed with 74% of the vote)
Iroquois County (passed with 72% of the vote)
Jersey County (passed with 73% of the vote)
Madison County (passed with 56% of the vote)
Perry County (passed with 71% of the vote)

The likelihood of any county seceding from Illinois is extremely low. Any formal request to secede would require approval from the Illinois General Assembly and the U.S. Congress.

The idea to form a new state apart from Chicago has been a recurring proposal made by downstate Republicans in the state Legislature for many years.

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Illinois

Last-minute gifts made in Illinois, local small businesses

Published

2 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Press Room

Last-minute gifts made in Illinois, local small businesses

Wednesday, December 17, 2025 6:44PM

CHICAGO (WLS) — There’s still time to get a gift under the tree that is made in Illinois.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

The Illinois Office of Tourism is out with its “Illinois-Made Holiday Gift Guide.”

Seventeen small businesses from across the state are featured.

From soap, to popcorn, to fudge and coffee, there are some great ideas.

Kribi Coffee Air Roastery, Garrett Popcorn Shops, The Fudge Pot and Soapy Roads are some of the brands featured in the list.

To see the full guide, click here.

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Illinois

Illinois high school football playoffs expanding in 2026

Published

14 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Press Room

Illinois high school football playoffs expanding in 2026

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (KWQC) – The IHSA football playoffs will be expanding by 50 percent in 2026.

IHSA member schools approved an amendment to expand the playoffs from 32 teams per class to 48.

There will still be 8 classifications increasing the total number of playoff teams from 256 to 384.

As a result of the change, the start of the season will be moved up by a week in August to allow the season to still finish with State Championship games the week of Thanksgiving.

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Illinois

Woman found dead near Schamburg, Illinois shopping center, man in custody

Published

1 day ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

Woman found dead near Schamburg, Illinois shopping center, man in custody

December 16, 2025 / 10:36 AM CST
/ CBS Chicago

A woman was found dead near a shopping center in Schaumburg, Illinois early Tuesday, and a man was taken into police custody.

Around 5:25 a.m., Schaumburg police were called to the 100 block of South Roselle Road. They found a woman dead at the scene.

Police said a man was taken into custody at the scene.

The investigation so far indicates that the incident was domestic, and the man and woman knew each other.

Police said the incident was isolated and there was no threat to the public. But there was a large police presence at the scene, and alternate routes were advised.

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