Illinois

DNC in Chicago: Tim Walz’ wife makes surprise address to Illinois Democrats

Published

2 years ago

August 19, 2024

DNC in Chicago: Tim Walz’ wife makes surprise address to Illinois Democrats

Tim Walzs wife makes surprise appearance at DNC breakfast

Illinois leaders gathered at the Loop’s Royal Sonesta for the first DNC breakfast. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walzs wife, Gwen, made a suprise apperance and introduced herself to the Illinois Presidential Delegation.

CHICAGO – A surprise guest visited Illinois Democrats as they gathered for their first delegation breakfast of Chicago’s Democratic National Convention.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’ wife Gwen Walz received a standing ovation when she was introduced as a speaker, during a high-energy program that featured addresses from Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker.

“I can’t think of a better team than Kamala and team,” Walz told the crowd. “They’ve been spending their entire career fighting for the middle class.”

Walz thanked Pritzker and Illinois for hosting the convention and mentioned that she and her family traditionally spend New Year’s Eve in the city. She asked the delegates in the room to canvas, make calls and work to elect the Harris Walz ticket in November.

COMPLETE CHICAGO DNC COVERAGE

“We have 78 short days to make history. 78 days to do the work together,” Walz said.

Duckworth took the podium soon after and recounted how she convinced democratic leaders to bring the convention to a city in a non-swing state.

“We’re more than just the heartland, we are the heart of our nation,” Duckworth said.

Duckworth praised the leadership of Pritzker and says party leaders were sold on Chicago as a host because of policies pursued by democrats in the state.

“Where else are you gonna go where you see a state that’s rebuilt its economy by a democratic governor after a republican tried to drive it into the ground?” Duckworth said.

One high profile public official – Mayor Brandon Johnson – was absent for today’s breakfast. Instead, he spoke at the Hilton before Michigan’s democratic delegation.

Duckworth, Pritzker, and Walz will have prominent speaking slots at the United Center during official Democratic National Convention programming.

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Related Topics:dnc 2024 Election Featured Il Politics jb pritzker news People Politics tammy duckworth Tim Walz

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Illinois

Beecher City farm suffers heavy damage following ‘wicked storm’

Published

43 minutes ago

June 18, 2026

Press Room

Beecher City farm suffers heavy damage following ‘wicked storm’

BEECHER CITY, Ill. (WAND) – Farms were damaged in Effingham County Wednesday evening when a powerful storm swept through at around 8 p.m.

The McKay Farm in Beecher City was heavily damaged when the rapidly moving storm hit.

“Two buildings were totally destroyed,” Dan McKay told WAND News on Thursday. “We’ve got five grain bins and they’re all damaged.”

The buildings collapsed onto farm equipment and a semi that were parked in the structures. A utility pole was snapped and ripped out of the ground.

In nearby Shumway, another farm was hit. A barn collapsed, with a grain bin being ripped apart and debris traveling several hundred feet through a nearby corn field. A house on the property was also damaged.

There were no injuries on either farm.

“It was a really wicked storm,” McKay stated.

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Illinois

Powerful tornadoes leave behind devastation in Illinois

Published

11 hours ago

June 18, 2026

Press Room

Powerful tornadoes leave behind devastation in Illinois – CBS News

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Violent tornadoes ripped through central Illinois on Wednesday, leaving behind swaths of destruction. One man described how he shielded himself and his family from the storms. Rob Marciano reports.

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Illinois

Storms bring damaging winds and heavy rains to central Illinois

Published

21 hours ago

June 18, 2026

Press Room

Storms bring damaging winds and heavy rains to central Illinois

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Multiple rounds of severe storms impacted central Illinois on Wednesday bringing damaging wind gusts and very heavy rain. Our area was sparred from the worst of the tornadoes, but areas south of I-72 were not so fortunate with damage to homes and injuries reported.

An outflow boundary from our morning storms struggled to get any further north than highway 136, which was about 30 miles south of what was anticipated early this morning. This kept the risk of strong tornadoes just south of our local region, though we still had plenty of rain and instances of large hail and gusty winds roll through central Illinois.

The worst of the wind came with the storms in the morning. As the severe storms moved through the area they produced measured gust of 60-70 mph with localized gusts estimated to be around 80 mph. The winds resulted in tree, powerline, and structural damage from Knox through McLean County.

Storm Reports

Galesburg – Tree and power line damage
Williamsfield – Roof partially torn off building
Princeville – Tree damage
Dunlap – 60 mph wind gust
Bellevue – 60 mph wind gust
Germantown Hills – Trees down
Roanoke – 60 mph wind gust
El Paso – Power poles snapped
El Paso – Multiple semis and campers rolled on I-39
Gidley – 70 mph wind gust
Chenoa – Semi rolled on I-55

Dunlap – 1.0″ size hail
Metamora – 1.0″ size hail
Armington – 1.0″ size hail

Rain reports

West Peoria – 4.37″
Lexington – 4.00″
West Peoria – 3.98″
Washington – 3.97″
East Peoria – 3.47″
Dunlap – 3.40″
Goodfield – 2.47″
Towanda – 2.43″
Peoria (PIA) – 2.24″
Lewistown – 2.20″
Galesburg – 1.84″
Chillicothe – 1.52″
Pontiac – 1.27″