Chicago supports Special Olympics with Duck Derby

Did you know tens of thousands of rubber ducks splash down into the Chicago River to race every year? Chicago celebrated its 20^th annual duck derby this year, featuring a rubber duck race along the Columbus Drive Bridge. Participants can adopt a duck starting at $10 with a chance to win prizes for every entry. Proceeds from the derby benefit the Special Olympics Illinois programming and supports a community of over 24,000 athletes. This year over 82,000 ducks were adopted, accounting for $434,204 raised.

Once the race is over the ducks are collected by volunteers and staff to be cleaned and readied for their next derby. The derby festival includes games, food trucks, souvenirs, photo opportunities and music.

Events like this raise awareness for Special Olympics while also providing an engaging fundraiser to benefit Special Olympic athletes.

Animal Sanctuaries in Illinois

With summer in full swing, now is a perfect time to explore some of the unique wildlife and animal sanctuaries across Illinois!

If you’re looking for an outstanding birdwatching opportunity, Stewart Lake Wildlife Sanctuary in Mason County is a sanctuary with over 1,500 acres of beautiful wetlands. It serves as a key resting location for teal, pintails and mallards as they migrate across Illinois. Another great option for wetland animal sightings in Illinois is Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge in Havana. Whether you’re looking for a wetland, bottomland forest or prairie, this refuge has hikes in a variety of ecosystems, all available to the public. It is home to a variety of herons and swans and if you’re lucky, you may even see a river otter or beaver while you’re there.

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Illinois earns top rankings as a leading destination for business and innovation

Illinois has once again proven its strength as a business and innovation hub, securing top positions across multiple categories in Business Facilities’ 21st Annual Rankings. Demonstrating leadership in emerging and established industries, Illinois ranked in the top ten across eleven categories, showcasing our state’s economic momentum.

Claiming the number one spot in nuclear energy, Illinois also achieved impressive rankings in Foreign Direct Investment, Agribusiness, Exports, Wind Power, Artificial Intelligence (AI) Job Hubs, Cybersecurity Talent, Solar Power, Film and Television, AI Job Market, and Medical Technology. These distinctions highlight Illinois’ robust infrastructure, skilled workforce and forward-thinking policies designed to foster economic growth and innovation.

Notably, Illinois improved its position in categories like Foreign Direct Investments and AI Job Hubs, reflecting significant progress from previous years. The state sustained high performance in areas like exports, wind power, agribusiness and cybersecurity, while making new appearances in solar power and medical technology rankings.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, credited the state’s comprehensive infrastructure, workforce capabilities, and attractive incentive programs as key factors behind Illinois’ sustained economic success. This highlights Illinois’ dedication to thoughtful policymaking and investments that drive continued expansion and attract businesses across various sectors.

These latest achievements build upon Illinois’ recent recognitions from CNBC, Site Selection Magazine, and Area Development, each highlighting Illinois as a favorable state for business investment, corporate expansion, and innovative technology industries.

With strategic growth initiatives and fiscal improvements—including multiple credit upgrades and significant private sector investments—Illinois is well-positioned to maintain its reputation as a leader in in an ever changing workplace landscape.

NPR Illinois marks 50 years of “Explaining Illinois”

This summer, NPR Illinois—the NPR member station based in Springfield (WUIS 91.9 FM)—reaches a significant milestone: 50 years on the air. What began in 1975 as WSSR at what was then Sangamon State University has evolved into a vital statewide voice, rebranding as NPR Illinois in 2015 and building a reputation for in-depth reporting, community storytelling, and thoughtful connection across Illinois communities.

To commemorate half a century of service, NPR Illinois is launching a special exhibit on Sept. 18 at the Lincoln Public Library, where visitors can explore oral histories, archival audio, and photos reflecting the station’s journey from its university roots to its current role in local media. The exhibit remains on display through May 2026 and will travel across the NPR Illinois listening area, making stops in Decatur, Jacksonville, Lincoln, and more to engage listeners regionally.

Alongside the exhibit, NPR Illinois programs like Community Voices and State Week continue to spotlight local stories—from Midwestern small businesses to lesser-known cultural groups—living out the station’s mission to “explain Illinois.” Recent innovations include the launch of J‑Corps, a citizen journalism initiative that trains everyday Illinoisans—including a mother-daughter reporting duo from Springfield Muslim communities—to tell their own stories on the air.

As NPR Illinois celebrates its milestone, the station is facing challenges: federal support for public media was recently eliminated. Still, leadership affirms that listener contributions and grassroots support the backbone of the operation.

NPR Illinois has grown into an essential source of regional reporting, combining national programming with Illinois-focused content. Its schedule now features national voices like Morning Edition and All Things Considered, alongside locally produced shows and podcasts that reflect the diversity of Central Illinois and beyond.

From the silent moments in the newsroom of a university radio station to multi-city celebratory exhibits, NPR Illinois’s story is one of adaptation and community trust. As it marks a half-century of storytelling, the station continues to invite listeners to support public radio’s role in fostering informed citizenship—one story at a time.