Festival 56 in Princeton is looking for locals willing to open their homes to visiting artists this summer as the theater prepares to welcome roughly 50 performers from all over the country.

The Bureau County Metro Center announced that the opening of Alexander Pool in Princeton will be delayed due to a “major mechanical failure” with their filtration pump and motor.

Despite gas prices above $5 a gallon, AAA expects to see 45 million Americans journey 50 miles or more over the extended Memorial Day weekend.

Bark at the Park is Saturday, May 23 at LeHigh Park in Oglesby. The event will have vendors, games, training demos and more.

Representatives from descendant Tribal Nations gathered with the University of Illinois and the Prairie Research Institute to share knowledge and explore conservation efforts tied to the Illinois River region on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at the Starved Rock Marina. Programs featured discussions from malacologists, wildlife biologists, archaeologists, botanists and plant ecologists focusing on freshwater mussels, local ecology and non-invasive research methods that help preserve Illinois natural and cultural history. Programs were held at the Starved Rock Marina and Halfway House along Dee Bennett Road. Freshwater mussels have long been important to many Tribal Nations as sources of food, tools, and materials. They also play a key ecological role as indicators of water quality and overall ecosystem health.