Welcome to I Like Illinois

Corn sweat during Illinois summers

Corn fields cover roughly 30% of Illinois, accounting for more than 11 million acres of land. Corn, just like other plants, experiences evapotranspiration. Evapotranspiration is a process that transfers water from land and plant surfaces into the atmosphere through evaporation while also releasing water into the atmosphere through transpiration, where water is pulled from the soil through plant roots and released as water vapor through the plant’s pores.

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The Battle of the Viaduct

• Chicago
• history
• Illinois History
• Labor

On July 25 and 26 in 1877, 149 years ago, over 10,000 immigrant laborers on strike clashed with law enforcement officials, including federal troops and state police, during the Battle of the Viaduct.

Also known as the Battle of the Halsted, the Battle of the Viaduct was one of the bloodiest labor uprisings in Chicago history. In 1877, railroad pay cuts triggered the strike that saw meatpacking workers and switchmen walking away from their jobs and marching through immigrant neighborhoods in solidarity. The conflict was part of the larger, nationwide Great Railroad Strike and was a turning point for the future of organized labor.

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Illinois rated among safest commutes in the country

• Commutes
• Top 10

When planning your next road trip, have some peace of mind knowing that Illinois boasts one of the safest commutes in the country.

A report from Beck and Beck, a car accident law firm, analyzed data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and determined that Illinois ranked 10^th in safest commutes.

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Did you know that two athletes in the 2026 FIFA World Cup are from Illinois?

This summer, the 2026 FIFA World Cup took the stage, bringing countries from across the world to the United States, Canada and Mexico as they competed to be champions of the world. This cycle, the tournament featured two athletes that were born and raised in Illinois. Chris Brady from Naperville represented the United States as a goalie and Brian Gutierrez from Berwyn represented Mexico as a midfielder.

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