Sun Times

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois State Fair announces Superstar Trio The Chicks to take the Illinois Lottery Grandstand Stage on Saturday, August 22, 2026, bringing their powerhouse vocals and award-winning catalog to an already stacked Grandstand line-up.   Earning universal recognition as the biggest-selling U.S. female band of all time, The Chicks have sold more than 30.5 million albums […]

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs is calling on young Illinois photographers to submit their agriculture-related photos for the 2026 Cream of the Crop Photography Contest. Winners in three different age categories will be awarded Bright Start college savings account scholarships ranging from $250 to $1,000.   The contest entry deadline is June 12, 2026.

  SPRINGFIELD – With nearly 80,000 votes cast, the field of contenders competing in the seventh annual “Makers Madness” contest has been narrowed to the Top 16. Hosted by the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, Makers Madness is a bracket-style tournament in which voters will decide which product is The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois.   Presented by