Illinois

Illinois’ best pork tenderloin sandwich is in central Illinois

Published

2 months ago

February 7, 2026

Press Room

Illinois’ best pork tenderloin sandwich is in central Illinois

Dave DeMille
| Reporter assisted by AI

Illinois’ passion for hand‑breaded pork tenderloins hit a new milestone as Buford’s Pub in Sadorus, about 80 miles east of Springfield, claimed the top spot in the Illinois Pork Producers Association’s inaugural Breaded Pork Tenderloin Draft, according to a community announcement.

The competition, created for October Pork Month, highlighted restaurants that serve true hand‑breaded tenderloins year‑round. Public voting narrowed the nominees to a top 20 and then a top five, and a judging panel taste‑tested the finalists to determine the winners, according to the announcement.

Buford’s Pub, at 109 E. Market St. in Sadorus, won first place for its oversized tenderloin and passionate following. “It’s always good to be rewarded for hard work,” owner Jeff Buckler said in a release. “We make hundreds of tenderloins each week and to be nominated and awarded the best in Illinois is just unbelievable.”

The restaurant has become a destination for fans of the Pursuing Pork Tenderloins Facebook group, drawing visitors from around the country. Many stopped by this fall during an informal Illinois Pork Tenderloin Crawl.

Buford’s has expanded steadily since opening, adding hand-built tables, a large patio and bar, and live entertainment. Buckler said the restaurant sold nearly 10,000 tenderloins in the past year, prompting him to open a USDA-certified kitchen in Arthur dedicated to making them. “Which means we will be able to ship tenderloins all over the United States,” he said.

River’s Edge in Dixon placed second. Rounding out the top five were Old Mill in Greenville, D’Arcy’s Pint in Springfield and The Dirty Bird in Sycamore.

Winners received commemorative plaques, and Buford’s also earned an outdoor banner. Contest rules bar the first‑place winner from reentering for five years, though other finalists may return.

IPPA Board Member Kent Blunier said the contest reflects the long-standing relationship between Illinois pork farmers and the restaurants that feature their products. “We put great care into raising the animals,” Blunier said. “Events like this are a great example of how local restaurants and local farmers can support each other.”

This story was co-authored by Dave DeMille, ddemille@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.

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Illinois

Illinois bill to expand sale of raw milk fails as advocates continue push

Published

7 hours ago

March 24, 2026

Press Room

Illinois bill to expand sale of raw milk fails as advocates continue push – CBS Chicago

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The state health department warns against drinking unpasteurized milk because it can make people sick.

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Illinois

Teacher strike threats highlight fact that Illinois allows such walkouts

Published

19 hours ago

March 23, 2026

Press Room

Teacher strike threats highlight fact that Illinois allows such walkouts

Illinois is among the minority of states allowing teachers to strike. None of Illinois’ neighbors allow it.

Illinois teachers unions officially threatened strikes 188 times from 2010 to 2025, according to state records.

That’s the number of times unions provided the Illinois Educational Labor Relations a required 10-day notice to before going on strike. So that doesn’t include the number of times the unions threatened walkouts without filing that notice.

While no teachers unions went on strike in 2025, eight filed strike notices, according to the board. Unions have walked out 58 times since 2010.

That’s a reminder that Illinois is in the minority in allowing teachers unions to walk off the job. The state is one of only about a dozen that allow teachers to strike. None of Illinois’ neighboring states permit teacher walkouts.

And among the 10 largest school districts in the U.S., Chicago is one of just two that allow strikes.

The Chicago Teachers Union, the state’s largest local teachers union, has a history of putting its agenda ahead of students. It has walked out on students five times over the past 14 years:

In 2012, a strike during contract negotiations kept kids out of classes for seven days.
On April 1, 2016, the union conducted an illegal one-day strike in response to alleged “union-busting” efforts of former Gov. Bruce Rauner, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and former CPS CEO Forrest Claypool.
In 2019, a strike during contract negotiations closed schools for 11 days.
In January 2021, classes were canceled when CTU refused to return to school for in-person learning following COVID-19 closures.
In January 2022, CTU walked out on schoolchildren for five days. Parents were notified of the strike after 11 p.m. on a school night, leaving them just hours to plan after the union decided not to show up for Chicago’s children.

Last year CTU came close striking once again after rejecting recommendations from a third-party fact finder in its negotiations with Chicago Public Schools. That rejection caused CTU and CPS to enter a legally required 30-day “cooling off” period before the CTU was allowed to vote to strike.

Claypool has called for Illinois to ban teacher strikes, noting in a LinkedIn post the detriment walkouts bring to parents and children.

Teacher strike threats create uncertainty for parents and children. Illinois should place kids first and join the majority of states that ban teacher strikes.

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Illinois

Vanderbilt vs Illinois predictions, picks, odds for NCAA Tournament Second Round

Published

1 day ago

March 23, 2026

Press Room

Vanderbilt vs Illinois predictions, picks, odds for NCAA Tournament Second Round

The Second Round of the women’s 2026 NCAA Tournament continues Monday with a slate featuring No. 2 Vanderbilt vs. No. 7 Illinois on the eight-game schedule.

Here is the latest on Monday’s March Madness matchup, including expert picks from reporters across the USA TODAY Sports Network.

USA TODAY Sports has a team of journalists covering the women’s NCAA Tournament to keep you up to date with every point scored, rebound grabbed and game won in the 68-team tournament.

USA TODAY Studio IX : Check out our women’s sports hub for in-depth analysis, commentary and more

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