The Illinois State Fair Box Office opens today for in-person ticket purchases and that includes the online service, ticketmaster.com. Grandstand concerts include Lil Wayne, Keith Urban, Motley Crue, the Jonas Brothers, the Smashing Pumpkins, and Miranda Lambert. For today only, all in-person buyers of Grandstand tickets are entered into a drawing to win two pre-show tickets. In addition, any in-person buyers of Fairytales on Ice tickets on June 3 will get one Illinois State Fair gate admission ticket for every ice show ticket purchased, making the entrance to the fair free. In addition to concert tickets, fairgoers will be able to purchase tickets at the box office for events at The Arena including the Illinois State Fair Rodeo, the Truck and Tractor Pulls and Demolition Derby, as well as the USAC Silver Crown Racing Series and ARCA Super Series. The 2024 Illinois State Fair runs from August 8 through August 18 in Springfield.
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The supervisor of Homer Township is taking heat for flying the U.S. flag outside the township offices upside down in response to former President Donald Trump’s conviction last week. Steve Balich is the Republican leader of the Will County Board. In a statement posted on the township’s website, Balich said “flying the flag upside down represents distress, and I truly believe that our country is in distress and our Constitution is under attack. Balich is a Trump delegate to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee next month. He hosts regular weekend rallies for the former Republican president.
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The Chicago Air and Water Show will have new dates this year. The annual lakefront event is set to get underway a week earlier than normal to avoid conflicts with the Democratic National Convention. The show is now scheduled for August 10 and 11 this year. The DNC will be held from August 19th through the 22nd at the United Center and McCormick Place. Also, the dates for the Taste of Chicago have been moved. It will be held from September 6th through the 8th.
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Chicago is dealing with a warm 2024 so far. The National Weather Service says this past meteorological spring finished as the fourth warmest spring on record for Chicago. Meteorological spring runs from March 1st to May 31st. The spring’s average temperature was more than four degrees above normal
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WEATHER:
Today
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. East southeast wind 5 to 15 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
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Tonight
40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1 am. Mostly cloudy, with a low of around 68. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
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OBITUARIES:
Annette Walters, 70, of Ottawa, passed away Saturday, June 1st, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, with her loving family by her side. Visitation for Annette Walters will be held on Wednesday, June 5th, from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A visitation for Annette Walters will also be held from 10:00 am until the time of service on Thursday, June 6th, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottawa. A funeral ceremony for Annette Walters will follow at 11:00 am at Trinity Lutheran Church, and burial will be at a later date.
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Pearl Ann (Brownfield) Scherer, 87, of Ottawa, passed away Thursday, May 30th, at Lightways Hospice in Joliet with her loving family by her side. A visitation for Pearl Ann (Brownfield) Scherer will be held on Friday, June 7th, from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial for Pearl Ann (Brownfield) Scherer will take place on Saturday, June 8th, at 10:30 am, at St. Columba Church. Burial will be in St. Columba Cemetery at a later date.
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Marion L. Kahon, 84, of Ottawa, passed away Friday, May 31st, at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center. A celebration of life for Marion L. Kahon will be held on June 15th, at Ed’s home, the time will be announced on his Facebook. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home.
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LOCAL SPORTS:
Marquette Cru win the State Championship on Saturday
Marquette Crusaders got the 6-2 win over Altamont Indians in Saturday’s Class 1A State championship game at Dozer Park in Peoria. If you want to hear and download the game again you can find it on our website at the sports tab or the WCMY Facebook page.
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PRO SPORTS:
White Sox Swept By Brewers
The White Sox got swept by the Brewers following a 6-3 loss in the finale from Milwaukee. Paul DeJong drove in a pair of runs, while Gavin Sheets knocked home a run with an RBI single in the first inning. Chicago has lost 11 straight games and remains last in the AL Central at 15-and-45. The team gears up for a two-game series against the rival Cubs at Wrigley Field tomorrow night.
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Reds Pour On Early Runs To Claim Series Over Cubs
The Reds claimed their series over the Cubs following an early offensive onslaught in a 5-2 win from Wrigley. Cody Bellinger and David Bote drove in runs for Chicago. Ben Brown got the loss after giving up five runs on six hits over five innings. The Cubs have lost four of the last five games and fell to 29-and-31 on the season. The team squares off against the White Sox at Wrigley tomorrow night.
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Bears Begin Mandatory Minicamp Tomorrow
The Bears hit the practice field this week for a mandatory minicamp. The team kicks off the next phase of its offseason workout tomorrow. The team wrapped up organized team activities on Friday before taking the weekend off. Chicago is one of the first teams in the league to start a mandatory minicamp this early. ESPN reports the team is “working overtime” to get first-overall pick Caleb Williams used to the NFL-style offense.
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Chicago Sky Host Liberty Tomorrow Night
The Sky is back on the hardwood tomorrow night. The team tips off against the Liberty from Wintrust Arena. Chicago is coming off a close loss to Indiana where Chennedy Carter led the team with 19 points off the bench. Marina Mabrey sunk 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the Sky slipped to 3-and-4 on the season. Chicago is fourth in the Eastern Conference, while New York sits second at 7-and-2.
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Michael Jordan Card Sells For New All-Time High
There’s a new record-high selling price for Michael Jordan basketball cards. A 2003-’04 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection, one-of-one “Logoman” card sold for just over two-point-nine-million dollars. It was the highest price for any Jordan card ever sold. The Bulls’ legend won six titles with Chicago and earned Finals MVP honors in each run. The all-time record for a sports card sold was a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card which went for more than 12.5 million in 2022.