LODA — The village of Loda’s annual cleanup day is scheduled for 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 28, with the drop-off location for tobe disposed-of items being the maintenance building on Poplar Street. Residents unable to bring items to the site can call Village Hall at 217-386-2216 or any village board member to arrange for pickup that day. Plans […]
State
Loda’s cleanup day set for June 28
Editor’s note: Ford County Chronicle correspondent Sandy Coffey is a member of the Loda Village Board.LODA VILLAGE BOARD

GIVING BACK
SULLIVANT TOWNSHIPHunter Griffith, left, a land contract analyst for Orsted, which owns and operates the Ford County Wind Farm near Sibley, presents two donation checks totaling $10,000 to Randy Meyer, highway commissioner for Sullivant Township. The donation will go toward the Sullivant Township Fire Protection District’s purchase of a new Jaws of Life and new fire truck.
Historical events planned for Saybrook’s bicentennial
CELEBRATING 200 YEARS OF CHENEY’S GROVE AND SAYBROOKSAYBROOK — The village of Saybrook is planning a twoday event to celebrate 200 years of Cheney’s Grove and Saybrook. Following are some of the local history-related events that will take place during the weekend bash. The history committee is planning a cemetery walk from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 28, as part of Saybrook’s bicentennial celebration. Characters portrayed […]

AWARDS APLENTY FOR FFA’ERS
ILLINOIS FFA STATE CONVENTION IN SPRINGFIELDMembers of FFA chapters from three Ford County public high schools — Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley, Paxton-Buckley-Loda and Tri- Point — attended the 97th annual Illinois FFA State Convention in Springfield held Tuesday, June 10, through Thursday, June 12, along with more than 5,000 other FFA members, FFA advisors and guests. With a 2025 theme of “The Final Mission,” the three-day event […]

Pritzker signs $55.1B state budget reliant on $700 million in new taxes
It’s largest budget in state history despite cuts, freezesILLINOIS GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed Illinois’ fiscal year 2026 budget into law Monday, taking shots at President Donald Trump’s budget management to defend hard choices state lawmakers were forced to make this year. The $55.1 billion spending plan set to take effect July 1 is the largest in state history and is supported by $55.3 billion in anticipated revenue, […]
Farming has an ‘acute succession challenge’
Hearing held on “The Aging Farm Workforce’SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The 1980s farm crisis didn’t just impact balance sheets, it changed people’s interest in being involved in agriculture. “The farm prices didn’t just hurt those in production, the ripple effect was across the industry,” said Aaron Locker, who has spent his career helping agricultural businesses find talent and leadership. Locker — who serves as managing director at […]

Projected ag trade deficit climbs
Report puts agriculture trade deficit at $49.5 billion for fiscal year 2025U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TRADE OUTLOOK REPORT
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A U.S. Department of Agriculture trade outlook report forecasts the U.S. ag trade deficit to slightly climb from its previous quarterly projection. The report, dated May 29 but not released until June 2, puts the ag trade deficit at $49.5 billion for fiscal year 2025, up from the $49 billion forecasted in February. The fiscal year runs […]
Emperor penguins show dramatic decline in region of Antarctica
ANTARCTICAWASHINGTON (AP) — The population of emperor penguins in one part of Antarctica appears to be declining faster than previously thought, according to a new analysis of satellite imagery released Tuesday, June 10. The estimated population of 16 penguin colonies — visible in satellite photos taken between 2009 and 2024 – had declined 22% during that period mainly because of […]

Pritzker defends Illinois’ immigration laws during congressional hearing
Hearing comes amid growing protests of immigration crackdownU.S. HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker spent hours Thursday defending his governing record and Illinois’ immigration policies as he was peppered with questions from members of the U.S. House Oversight Committee. Pritzker and Democratic governors Kathy Hochul of New York and Tim Walz of Minnesota were summoned to Washington, D.C., by committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., to answer questions […]
Democratic governors defend immigration policies before Republican-led House panel
WASHINGTON (AP) — As President Donald Trump spars with California’s governor over immigration enforcement, Republicans in Congress called other Democratic governors to the Capitol on Thursday to question them over policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform sat in front of large, full-color posters showing men who they said were […]