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Western Illinois farmer satisfied with planting progress so far

A western Illinois farmer says he’s satisfied with planting progress to this point.

Brady Holst, who farms in Hancock County, tells Brownfield a mid-April window was productive.

“We’re all done with corn and about 75% done with beans, but for our area it’s probably pretty close.”  He says, “I would say 80% of the corn is done in our area. So, we’re really far ahead of the other parts of the state.”

He says they’ve since seen beneficial rains.

“Emergence has been pretty good just because there was some hard rains that would have been crusting issues, but really it was wet enough where it didn’t ever dry out.”  He says, “So really kind of helped us with the not having to replant and things like that. It’s been so wet.”

Holst says they’ve escaped having to replant…so far.

“But we did plant on Mother’s Day so that usually is kind of the day that that ends up happening.”  He says, “It’s too early to tell so far.”

Holst says they only need two more days of good weather to finish planting.

AUDIO: Western Illinois farmer Brady Holst

ILLINOIS — On the weekend, we present a week in review of the top stories and headlines from all across Illinois. Here’s a roundup of some of the most-read stories across the state. You can also find your local Patch and catch up on those stories by clicking here.

Upskirt Videos At Target Store: Ex-Church Pastor Pleads Guilty

A suburban church pastor was terminated from his role at the parish after officials learned of the charges against him. The 26-year-old, who faced deportation and attended his sentencing via Zoom from his home country, admitted to taking upskirt videos of women at the local Target store. “Jothi stated that on August 9, 2023, he went to Target to buy milk, at which time, he noticed a lady wearing ‘short clothes’ for which he has a weakness,” a detective wrote after interviewing the pastor. (He) advised that ‘her clothes would reveal things.’”

Chicago Among Worst Cities For Bed Bugs, Ranking Says

Travelers beware: Chicago was recently ranked among the top five worst cities for bed bug infestations in 2024. It’s also held onto its title of “Rattiest City” in the U.S.

Drug Overdose Rates Down In IL, CDC Says In Report

Overdose deaths in Illinois have decreased by 8.06 percent from 2022 to 2023, according to preliminary data released this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC officials said they still expect overdose deaths to be down when the final counts are in. It would be only the second annual decline since the current drug death epidemic began more than three decades ago.

‘Bear Down’: NFL Releases Full Schedule For 2024 Season

The 2024 schedule is out, and highlights include the Bears vs. the Titans in London in October, and Chicago taking on Detroit on Thanksgiving Day. Tickets for the London game go on sale in June.

Nurse Aide Says She ‘Probably’ Punched Woman: Cops

A suburban nursing home worker admitted she “probably” punched a resident at least once last month, saying she was frustrated with her, police said. She was under investigation after an allegation of battery against a male dementia patient at the nursing home.

Vice President Kamala Harris sought to rally Democrats — and raise money — for the upcoming election on a visit to the Chicago area Thursday.

“It’s time to roll up our sleeves,” she told a group of about 100 people at a fundraiser in north suburban Glencoe. “We are not fighting against anything, we are fighting for something.”

Harris spoke for about 15 minutes, touching on abortion rights and what’s at stake in the upcoming election.

“Every cycle, we have talked about the critical importance of the presidential election,” Harris said. “This one, I absolutely believe, is the most consequential of any we have been involved in, in recent times.”

Her appearance raised more than $670,000 for the Biden Victory Fund, according to Lauren Rosenthal, chair of Invest to Elect Illinois, which organized the event.

The Biden-Harris ticket is set to be nominated at the Democratic National Convention this summer in Chicago. During Harris’s remarks, she did not use the name of the presumptive Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump, whom Biden defeated in 2020. But Harris did allude to the “chaos” of Trump’s four years in the White House.

The event was hosted by Karen Citow, a member of Invest to Elect Illinois, and her husband, Jonathan Citow, at their Glencoe home. Guests snacked on veggie rolls and steak kebabs on a covered terrace overlooking Lake Michigan.

Harris offered a hopeful perspective on the 2024 election. “We are winning,” she said, repeatedly, citing successes for reproductive rights in state elections.

Attendees paid from $1,500 to $50,000 to attend the event, according to a copy of the invitation obtained by the Sun-Times.

“We are being challenged as Americans, to fight for our country and to realize, and if nothing made that more clear than the Dobbs decision, that we can’t take anything for granted, ever, if we’re not prepared to fight.”

Before the stop in Glencoe, Harris was in Milwaukee Thursday morning, where she spoke with small business owners as part of her Economic Opportunity Tour.

Contributing: Lynn Sweet