Illinois
Illinois GOP trails badly in midterm cash
The Illinois Republican Party filed its quarterly campaign finance report on the July 15 deadline. The party reported having just $223K in the bank. The next day, the party sent a letter to the Illinois State Board of Elections saying they were “reconciling” their records after a leadership change, and then noted that their actual end balance was $101K higher than it had reported the day before.
But that bit of found money was basically the end of the “good news” for the GOP last week.
Republicans no longer have a pet billionaire. Bruce Rauner and Ken Griffin have fled the state. The legions of wealthy business titans who once contributed and raised money have either retired to sunnier climes or passed away. Several prominent party members have publicly shunned labor unions and their hefty political war chests, although the state GOP legislative leaders have at least tried to rebuild ties to trade unions and even the Illinois Education Association. But the heavily gerrymandered legislative map combined with the current political climate means they’ll mostly receive scraps.
And, yes, the House Democrats are struggling this month with scandals, including a state representative who resigned under pressure and another who was indicted. I’m not trying to downplay that at all. But Democrats have the national political environment, the local infrastructure and tons of cash behind them. The Republicans have little to none of that.
The GOP’s gubernatorial candidate, Darren Bailey, raised $1.3 million in the second quarter, which ended June 30. That sounds like a lot, but he spent almost all of that on direct mail fundraising costs. The huge expenditures do give him a prospect list for future fundraising, but he ended the quarter with a mere $128K in the bank. That was still a whole lot more than the rest of the statewide ticket.
Attorney General nominee Bob Fioretti, a perennial candidate, raised $31K, spent $39K and had $28K on hand at the end of the quarter along with almost $15K in recent debt. Secretary of State candidate Diane Harris raised $6K, spent a bit over $4K and had a paltry $1,816.42 in the bank. Treasurer candidate Max Solomon, who ran as a write-in during the primary because the party failed to recruit anyone, raised less than $3K, reported no spending and ended the quarter with less than $8K. Comptroller candidate Bryan Drew raised $30K and received $47K in in-kind contributions from a company owned, ironically, by independent gubernatorial candidate Collin Corbett, spent less than $3K, ended with $54K and had $25K in debt from earlier this year.
Man, that’s just downright pathetic.
But I suppose it doesn’t really matter anyway unless we see a massive sea-change in national opinion in the coming months or the federal government finds a way to not certify certain election results. Regardless of where individual candidates are at this moment, they’ll have the money to compete. Unlike the Republicans, the Dems do have a pet billionaire (JB Pritzker) and, I assume eventually for most of them, organized labor.
The Republican legislative leaders have tried to scrape and claw as much as they can, but they’re vastly outgunned. Senate Republican Leader John Curran raised just $75K in the second quarter. He spent $71K and reported having a bit more than $3 million in the bank. His caucus committee reported having $160K in the bank.
Leader Curran has three Republican-held districts to defend in the Chicago media market that have all trended Democratic in the last three cycles. Depending how bad things get, he could be defending a couple, two or three more.
The Senate Democrats have a ton of money to do whatever they want. Senate President Don Harmon has about $20 million in his personal campaign account and $1.7 million in his caucus account.
Over in the House, Republican Leader Tony McCombie has at least four Democratic-trending or swingy districts to defend and just $1.3 million in her personal campaign account and another $363K in her caucus account so far.
In contrast, House Speaker Chris Welch had $11.4 million in his personal account and $1.2 million in his caucus account. Like Senate President Harmon, he has more than enough money already, but more is never enough when there’s so much out there, so those numbers will likely rise by November.
Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax.com.
Illinois
Halfway Between Milwaukee And Chicago Is Illinois’ Pretty Preserve With Fishing And Scenic Trails – Islands
When one is living the big city life, there’s often a feeling of wanting to take a break and get away from it all, but you may not have the time or energy to drive for hours and still make the most of your time there. For Milwaukee and Chicago residents, the Van Patten Woods Forest Preserve is a lovely, easily accessible place to enjoy a weekend of relaxing fishing, hiking, and spending time around beautiful trees and meadows.
Walking alongside tall, green grass, crossing over still waters, and meandering through lush underbrush is absolutely idyllic in this preserve. The songs of swallows and sparrows soothe the ears, as soft sunlight filters through the tree branches. With the Des Plaines River flowing through and Sterling Lake glittering in the sunlight, the loveliness of this place makes it easy to let go of any stress and just breathe. The natural beauty of this pretty preserve is a huge draw for visitors, with one Google review remarking that it is a “beautiful, heavenly place to appreciate nature and walk your dogs.”
The preserve is a mere 40-minute drive south of Milwaukee and an hour north of Chicago, while being close enough to Lake Michigan to get some lakeside beach time in. It’s free to visit, yet shelters are available to reserve and rent. Restrooms and parking lots are dotted about the preserve for your convenience. Permits are required for certain attractions, like off-leash dog areas, horse trails, camping, and special use. Plus, this preserve even has a model aircraft-flying area!
Catch a fish and hike a trail at Van Patten Woods Forest Preserve
Fishing is a joy in the Van Patten Woods Preserve, with Sterling Lake being populated by crappie, bass, catfish, and several other species, according to iFish. Boat ramps for non-motorized watercraft are available here, as well as an ADA-accessible floating dock and fishing piers. As always, be sure to have your Illinois fishing permit on hand. Cast a line from the forested banks of the Des Plaines River or bring a canoe to fish along the lake. Van Patten Woods is also the start of the scenic 31.4-mile Des Plaines River Trail, where you can escape the city bustle by walking alongside the water through the woods or paddling down the calm waters.
Take in the lush, green beauty of the preserve as you languidly traverse the preserve’s trails. The shortest trail is the Van Patten Woods Yellow Loop, a 1.7-mile route that leads through wetlands and forest, and is wonderfully secluded. You can take your time, stop and take pictures, or simply sit under a tree to read or gaze up at the green leaves and blue skies. A longer loop, at 4.3 miles, is the Van Patten Woods Forest Preserve Loop, which circumnavigates Sterling Lake. It is good for bicycling, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding, with one AllTrails reviewer saying that its “beautiful lake views with a nice breeze [make] a magical evening.” Enjoy watching the waterfowl on the water and the sun setting as its calming colors are reflected on the lake.
These trails are as splendid as those at the lush Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve just outside of Chicago. Waterfall Glen is about a 1.5-hour drive from Van Patten, but it is just minutes away from the laid-back Chicago suburb of Willow Springs. If you’re flying into O’Hare International Airport (ORD), you can take a few days to explore these beautiful, peaceful nature retreats via day trips after enjoying the lively food and music of the city.
If you are headed to the Illinois State Fair Grandstand this year, brush up on these important reminders to help make your experience safe, smooth, and enjoyable.
The Illinois State Fair is a family-friendly venue. The following measures have been put in place to protect all fairgoers.
Security
All bags brought onto the Fairgrounds are subject to a thorough search by security personnel or law enforcement officers. To maintain a safe environment for event attendees, entertainers and staff, all Grandstand ticket holders will pass through metal detectors prior to entering the Grandstand.
Following entertainment industry standards, the Illinois State Fair is adopting a clear bag policy for all grandstand events, including harness racing, concerts and auto racing. All bags brought into the Grandstand must be clear and no larger than 14”x 8”. Exceptions are made for diaper bags and medical bags, though these bags may be subject to search by security personnel or law enforcement officers. For a full list of security features at the Grandstand, visit our website.
If you exit the Grandstand during the event, you must pass through the security screening process again before re-entering.
Prohibited Items
The following items are prohibited everywhere on the State Fairgrounds: firearms and other weapons, illegal substances including drugs, laser pointers, drones, and air horns or similar noise makers. All items found after entry will be confiscated and discarded. For more information about Illinois State Fair prohibited items, visit StateFair.Illinois.gov/info/prohibited-items.html.
Parking & Public Transportation
General parking is available through Gates 4, 6, 7, 8, and 11. The closest parking for Grandstand attendees include Gate 6 (infield) and Gate 7. Accessible parking is available at Gates 4 and 11, with complimentary tram service operating until 8 p.m. daily. Parking is $5 per vehicle, per day. Rideshare companies such as Uber and Lift will drop riders off at the Main Gate on the south side of the Fairgrounds.
Food & Beverages
Grandstand concession stands are cashless.
Food may be brought into the Grandstand. For safety reasons:
• All beverages sold inside the Grandstand will be opened at the time of purchase.
• Drinks purchased on the track will be served in plastic cups. Bottles, cans, and sealed containers are not permitted in the track area.
• Outside beverage containers, including reusable cups, are prohibited inside the Grandstand.
Party Tent
The Party Tent entrance is located at Gate 6 (infield). Gates open at the time listed on your Party Tent ticket. Admission requires both a valid concert ticket and a Party Tent ticket, and both tickets will be scanned upon entry.
Party guests will enter the concert venue directly from the Party Tent. The party typically lasts approximately 90 minutes, and the Party Tent closes when concert gates open, generally one hour before showtime. At that time, all Party Tent guests must enter the concert venue. Re-entry into the Party Tent is not permitted. Guests arriving after the Party Tent has closed must enter through the Grandstand gates listed on their concert ticket. Please note that refunds will not be issued for late arrivals.
Tickets
If you purchased mobile tickets, be sure to download the tickets to your Ticketmaster app, prior to arriving at the Fairgrounds. This will ensure you have a consistent and reliable Wi-Fi signal to minimize any delays getting into the concert.
For more information, visit the Grandstand Event Policies page on our website.
Mark your calendars for the 2026 Illinois State Fair, August 13 through August 23 in Springfield.
Stay up to date with all the latest news and announcements from the Illinois State Fair by connecting with us via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
***Courtesy of the Illinois State Fair***
PENNINGTON COUNTY, S.D. — Two people from Illinois died Thursday in a three-vehicle crash near Hill City.
The crash occurred at 1:51 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, on U.S. Highway 385 at mile marker 89, about 8 miles northeast of Hill City. U.S. Highway 385 was closed for approximately four hours.
A 69-year-old male was driving a 1953 Harley Davidson northbound on U.S. Highway 385 alongside a 72-year-old male driving a 1956 Harley Davidson FLE 74CI, according to preliminary crash information. At the same time, a 67-year-old female driving a 2011 Toyota 4Runner was stopped in the northbound lanes waiting for oncoming traffic to pass before turning onto Wrinkle Valley Road.
A fourth vehicle between the Toyota and the motorcycles passed the Toyota on the shoulder. The two Harley Davidson drivers attempted to stop and their brakes locked. The driver of the 1956 Harley Davidson laid his motorcycle onto the road, while the 1953 Harley Davidson collided with the Toyota and caught fire. The fire spread to the Toyota.
The driver of the 1953 Harley Davidson and his 69-year-old female passenger, both of Emden, Illinois, were wearing helmets and sustained fatal injuries. The 72-year-old Glendale, Arizona, man driving the 1956 Harley Davidson was transported to a Rapid City hospital with serious, non-life-threatening injuries. His helmet use remains under investigation.
The Toyota driver and her 62-year-old female passenger were not injured. Both were wearing seat belts.
The names of those involved have not been released pending notification of family members.
All information released is preliminary. The South Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.
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