Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17), a member of the House Agriculture Committee, voted late last night to advance the bipartisan, five-year Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 (H.R. 1947), better known as the Farm Bill, out of the House Agriculture Committee and to the House floor for consideration by the full...

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL) today announced that their bipartisan, bicameral legislation to improve the nation’s water infrastructure through public-private partnerships was approved by the U.S. Senate as part of the Water...

Illinois hunters will now be able to use shotgun slugs beyond the traditional whitetail deer seasons, under a bill sponsored by State Sen. Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap).

Even though initial efforts to block several ethics bills sponsored in March by State Sen. Darin LaHood (R--Dunlap) the Senator declared victory as two provisions were adopted by the Illinois Senate on May 9.

An international conference hosted by St. Ambrose University will bring together scholars, clergy, students and advocates of justice from around the world. The “St. Ambrose Conference on Bible and Justice” will take place May 30 – June 2, and will explore how the ancient texts of the Bible might address a variety of modern...

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors met via conference call on Wednesday, May 8, 2013, where they approved changes to IHSA Policy 13, which governs the regulations for safety and heat acclimatization for preseason football practices.

Hosted by the Entrepreneurial Support Network of West Central Illinois, the event is scheduled for Tuesday, May 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Lake Storey Pavilion, 1351 S Lake Storey Rd, Galesburg.Please register today: http://sbdayawards.eventbrite.com/#

Hosted by the Entrepreneurial Support Network of West Central Illinois, the event is scheduled for Tuesday, May 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Lake Storey Pavilion, 1351 S Lake Storey Rd, Galesburg.

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) announced on Monday, April 29 that the 2013 IHSA Bass Fishing State Final Tournament, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, May 3-4 at Carlyle Lake in Carlyle, has been postponed due to potentially dangerous water levels and will be rescheduled to unfold in Carlyle later this spring.

Effective with the 2013-14 season, forfeits in high school wrestling will no longer count toward a wrestler’s daily match limit. Currently, wrestlers are limited by rule to five matches in one day.

Open:· IL 89 S of Illinois River in Putnam County

The Illinois Department of Transportation has given updates of road conditions in the area. Road conditions are as follows: Open:· Keithsburg Road to IL 17 in Mercer County

The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Mississippi River Project announces the closure of Shady Creek, Clark’s Ferry, Blanchard Island, Andalusia Slough, Kilpeck Landing, and Ferry Landing Recreation Areas. These closures are a result of the high water event on the Mississippi River. If you had reservations for camping during the next two weeks,...

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors approved interpretations on a pair of by-laws for the 2013-2014 school year at its regularly scheduled meeting at the IHSA office in Bloomington on Tuesday, April 16, 2013.

LENEXA --EPA Region 7 announced today that Grain Processing Corporation (GPC), in Muscatine, Iowa, has agreed to pay a civil penalty for violations of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) that occurred in 2011.

Weather permitting, the Davenport Speedway will host the Koehler Electric Season Opener, this Friday, April 26th. Mother Nature had not been kind to the Davenport Speedway thus far in 2013, as the racetrack has yet to complete an event.

IDOT road listings for the areaOpen:· IL 26 between IL 18 and County Road 500 N (McNabb Road)

Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) announced that the U.S. Department of Labor has made available grants to help close the skills gap by creating and expanding innovative partnerships between community colleges and businesses to educate and train workers with the skills employers need. The grants are available through the Trade Adjustment...

IDOT has released the following information about area roads being closed because of flooding.

Will be closing:· US 136 at the Illinois River in Havana (late tonight)Closed:

Genesis Medical Center, Aledo Blood DriveWednesday, May 2210 am to 1:30 pm409 NW Ninth AvenueFront Parking Lot

Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) launched a “Flood Resources” page on her congressional website to help give the people of Illinois’ 17th District information and resources as flooding continues across the region.The “Flood Resources” page can be found at http://bustos.house.gov/flood-resources