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House Dems’ Cannabis Working Group Will Engage Industry, Equity Advocates

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•March 1, 2023•
By Nika Schoonover
Capitol News Illinois

Illinois House Democrats announced the formation of a cannabis working group Thursday that will aim to steer the burgeoning industry’s expansion in a business-friendly way while still satisfying the equity goals of the landmark 2019 legalization law.
The group is led by Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago, who has sponsored numerous cannabis-related bills and is an outspoken advocate for racial equity.
The working group’s main priority, according to Ford, is to make sure individuals who have invested in the newly-created industry are successful. A part of that is to address the disproportionate impact the war on drugs had on communities of color, particularly when it comes to cannabis-related arrests. Read More

Historic Arms and Craft Show

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•March 1, 2023•

The Prairie Frontiersman will hold their 34th Annual Historic Arms and Craft Show on Friday, March 10 from 1 to 6 pm and Saturday, March 11 from 9 am to 4 pm at the Sullivan American Legion. Traders and artisans of the colonial/fur trade and Civil War/Indian War eras. Pre 1898 guns, knives and accoutrements or replicas thereof. No camo, web gear, cameras, coins or other inappropriate items. Security provided. Entry fee is $3. To participate as a trader 8’ table is $25 for both days, over 60 tables available, reserve early. Traders can set up Friday morning. Masks are encouraged. For more information call Vicki Newberry at 217-620-2281.

LLC Livestock Judging Teams Earn Victories

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•March 1, 2023•
The freshmen and sophomore Livestock Judging Teams have started out the 2023 season with several victories.
The sophomore team is comprised of 14 members from Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
This team recently traveled to the Dixie National Livestock Show Intercollegiate Beef Judging Contest in Jackson, MS where the team was named the Champion Overall Team in addition to being first in British, second in Reasons, second in Brahman, second in Steers, and fourth in Continental.
Individual results are as follows: Read More

Illinois State Fair Announces 2023 Theme Days

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•March 1, 2023•
The Illinois State Fair recently announced new theme and discount days for 2023. Changes have been made from theme days in years past. County Fairs and Horse Racing Day will start it all off on Thursday, August 10 with gates opening at 7am. This change will provide a full day of horse racing, county fair celebrations, free entertainment, carnival rides, all of your favorite fair food, traditional kick off activities and the annual Twilight Parade.
Agriculture Day moves to Friday, August 11, allowing for more livestock exhibitors and youth in agriculture participants to be on the grounds to celebrate our state’s number one industry. The move to the first Friday will also help minimize the impact of school starting for some districts. Read More

Moultrie Moment of the Week

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Pictured above is the Lake City School from the 1950’s. Please submit photos to the News Progress for future consideration. Originals will be saved for return or forwarded to Moultrie County Historical Society. If you have any other information, please contact the Moultrie County Historical Society at 217-728- 4085.

What’s The Incidence of ‘Instance’ Mistakes

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•March 1, 2023•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer

It’s 3:36 p.m. on Friday, and this lede is all I have to show for this column so far.
I’m sure you can smell my desperation for a topic.
Sometimes running a newsroom during election season gets in the way of writing pithy things about grammar.
Enter Patt Baumann, the love of my life and occasional column saver.
“Oooh, write about the difference between ‘incidents’ and ‘instances,’” she said.
Patt tells me she hears people use “incidents” and “instances” interchangeably. I’d never given that much thought, but it’s a good idea.
“Incident” — as a noun — is an occurrence or event.
Think about a fender-bender — something rather inconsequential. Read More