When Department of Agriculture director John Sullivan previewed the upcoming Illinois State Fair to members of the news media last week, he wasted no time plugging this year's theme: "Building Our Future.""We think that (slogan) fits in very well with everything that's going on here at the fairgrounds," Sullivan said.

METAMORA - For the past 56 years, Izaak Walton Lake has been a part of Guy Sasso's life.

On the farms of our youths, the dog days of August featured actual dogs and not a whole lot of anything else.

CHICAGO - Light pollution can extend by 41% how long sparrows are infectious with West Nile virus, which could make it more likely that they transmit the lethal disease to mosquitoes and on to people, a new study from researchers in Florida has found.

GALESBURG - Peter Schwartzman continues to challenge his mind.