Up until the 1950s, hemp was an important industrial product in the United States, used for everything from ropes and clothing to parachutes for the military during World War II.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

PINCKNEYVILLE — During a special meeting Monday, the Perry County Board voted to replace its amended budget with a budget recommended by Bruce Delashmit of Bellwether LLC, a consultant hired to help with the county budget.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker joined with state lawmakers on Tuesday to promote legislation that would increase penalties for drivers who don’t slow or change lanes to avoid vehicles on the side of the road.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

A proposed hike in Illinois’ annual registration fee for electric vehicles, from $17.50 to $1,000, is being called unfair by current EV owners, and a sales disincentive by manufacturers — just as the new technology is beginning to gain broader traction.

Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.

The state’s largest unfunded debt will likely continue to linger when lawmakers return to finish the final three weeks of the legislative session.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently released results of its 2017 census of every farm in the country. That includes the 72,651 farms in Illinois, which generated $17 billion in revenue that year, a $3 billion increase from 2012, the last time the once-every-five-years census was conducted.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is setting aside a controversial proposal to reduce the state’s payment to its severely underfunded pension plans for the coming budget year after tax revenue collected last month far exceeded expectations.

Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.

The Illinois Department of Transportation is hoping that some personal stories get people to be safer on the roads before hitting the highways this summer.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

Some Illinois State Police troopers clocked in Monday wearing hardhats instead of uniforms as part of an operation to catch drivers speeding through construction zones.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

CHRISTOPHER — From the time he was in middle school, Kody Vanfossan was fascinated by firefighting.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.