'Tis the season for farmers' markets

If you’ve ever driven across Illinois, you know that the state is packed with farms. Though much of Illinois’ land is covered in corn and soybeans, it also produces an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables – primarily sold at farmers’ markets, and there may be one close to you.

Illinois has the third largest concentration of farmers’ markets in the United States. As an agricultural powerhouse, our state provides many opportunities for those in large- and small-scale agriculture to sell their goods and help provide consumers with the choices they demand.

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Illinois road signage reuses, renews and recycles

Creating new road signs in Illinois means making sure to reuse old ones as part of an ongoing sustainability program.

The Illinois Department of Transportation’s Highway Sign Shop in Springfield recycles 45,000 to 50,000 highway signs each year, conserving about 427,500 pounds of aluminum annually. The process has saved the state about $600,000 a year since 2001.

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Unique Illinois town names

Every state has its fair share of unique town names. Illinois is no different. Whether it’s a differing pronunciation of somewhere famous, or just an outright strange name, Illinois is home to some truly unique town names.

Take a look here at our list of unique Illinois town names.

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Illinois has toughest teen driving laws, ranked third safest in the nation for teen drivers

Parents: Maybe don't worry so much.

A new study by research firm WalletHub ranked the safety of teen drivers by state in 2014. Illinois ranked third behind Hawaii and New York, and tied with New York for the most comprehensive licensing laws for teens just getting behind the wheel.

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