On October 11, 2007, the Illinois Senate passed a resolution declaring April 1 of each year “Cheap Trick Day” to celebrate the accomplishments of this great Illinois band.

Illinois has given the world its fair share of prominent musical acts, and one of the biggest bands from Illinois is Rockford’s Cheap Trick. The band released its self-titled debut in 1977, and over the years has sold more than 20 million records. With hit songs such as “I Want You to Want Me,” “Surrender,” “The Flame” and “Dream Police,” Cheap Trick saw massive success in the United States and abroad in the 1970s and 80s.

The band tours regularly, spreading their distinctive blend of pop, hard rock and punk to a new generation of music lovers. Cheap Trick’s guitar player, Rick Neilsen still resides in Rockford. Along with his musical accomplishments, Nielsen is also a successful restaurateur. He is an investor in the Stockholm Inn in Rockford and a co-owner of Piece Pizza in Chicago.

Learn more:
Want to find out where Cheap Trick is playing next? Here is the band’s website

Famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright spent a large part of his adult life in Illinois, leaving behind many architectural achievements. 

Wright was born in Wisconsin in 1867, moving to Chicago when he was 20 to work for architect Joseph Silsbee. Over the next 40 years, Wright designed a multitude of Chicago-area buildings, most notably his Oak Park home. He also designed the renowned Winslow House in River Forest, the Robie House in Chicago and the Unity Temple in Oak Park.

His style of design was known as the “Prairie School” of architecture, characterized by a reliance on the use of horizontal lines and overhanging eaves.

Wright’s work also includes the Dana-Thomas House in Springfield, the Bradley House in Kankakee and a host of homes and other buildings in Oak Park.

Learn more:

Frank Lloyd Wright (Artsy.net)
Frank Lloyd Wright (Biography.com)
Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation
Modern Home Designs by Frank Lloyd Wright

Located in the heart of the Midwest and enjoying rich fertile soil, Illinois offers the ideal landscape for farming. That’s why when you travel throughout Illinois you’ll certainly see an abundance of corn fields. In fact, Illinois is listed as the second-highest corn producing state in the nation. Data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) found that in 2013, Illinois harvested more than 11 million acres of corn, yielding 2.1 billion bushels of corn. That’s about 15 percent of the 13.9 billion bushels of corn that were grown in the United States in 2013.

Only Iowa produced more corn than Illinois did in 2013, and NASS data forecasts that Illinois will produce about 100 million more bushels in 2014 than it did in 2013.

Learn more:
NASS 2013 Crop Production Report

On March 28, 1990, Bulls superstar Michael Jordan scored 69 points in an overtime win against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Jordan referred to his 69 points, 18 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals and 1 block as his “greatest game.”

This was his fourth time scoring over 60 points, and his previous career high was 63 points against Boston in the ‘86 playoffs. Jordan finished the season averaging 33.6 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists.

The Bulls’ season came to an end with a loss in the Eastern Conference Finals to the would-be champion Detroit Pistons.

Learn more:
69 Points for Jordan (New York Times)
Michael Jordan - 69 point game (Youtube)

The first community college in the country was established in Joliet in 1901. Since that time, the state’s system has grown exponentially. Today, there are 48 community colleges located throughout the 39 college districts.

Illinois’ well-established network of community colleges has meant more and more students are choosing them over traditional four-year universities. More than 65 percent of Illinois’ higher education students attend a community college, including many returning students and working parents. The flexibility and affordability offered to students is a major impetus for students choosing community colleges. The average community college student pays only $3,500 per year in tuition and fees – an amount much less than traditional four-year institutions.

As the nation’s economy has evolved from a reliance on manufacturing to a more service-based economy, Illinois’ community colleges have been at the forefront of adapting their programs to better equip students for our modern economy.

Learn more:
Illinois Community College Board  
Community Colleges in Illinois
Illinois Community College Facts