Ronald Wilson Reagan, born on February 6, 1911, in the modest village of Tampico, Illinois, rose from humble beginnings to become the 40th President of the United States. His journey from the heartland of America to the presidency is a testament to the values and experiences that shaped him during his formative years in Illinois.

House Republicans took a stand against the supermajority Democrats demagoguery by walking out of session this afternoon when Democrats diverted the agenda toward attached on President Trump.

State Representative David Friess (R-Red Bud) has filed House Bill 1206, legislation aimed at addressing law enforcement shortages in Illinois through innovative student loan repayment assistance for former police officers. The bill, which amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act, establishes the Returning Police Officers Loan Repayment Assistance Program.

State Rep. Dave Severin (R-Benton) says the time has come to provide real, lasting tax relief for all Illinoisans. This week, Severin announced a sweeping package of legislation aimed at cutting income taxes, reducing estate tax burdens, and extending tax credits for families who recycle and foster children.

State Representative Travis Weaver (R-Edwards) has filed legislation in the newly-formed 104th General Assembly aimed at supporting families who have lost a loved one killed in the line of duty. House Bill 1115 provides a property tax exemption for Gold Star Parents.

Every year on February 2nd, Americans turn their attention to a small, burrowing mammal to predict the weather. Groundhog Day is a fun and playful tradition that has fascinating ties to Illinois!

In 1993, the film "Groundhog Day," starring Bill Murray, was filmed in Woodstock, Illinois. Since then, the town has embraced its connection to the film, turning it into an annual celebration that draws visitors from near and far. 

In 1915, Carter G. Woodson, an accomplished historian and graduate of the University of Chicago, traveled from Washington D.C. to take part in a three-week celebration commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of emancipation sponsored by the state of Illinois. The celebration, attended by thousands of people from all across the country, displayed a number of exhibits, each telling a part of the history of Black Americans and their contributions to our nation. Inspired by these celebrations and the exhibits displayed, Woodson, along with A. L. Jackson, minister Jesse Moorland, and others came together at the Wabash YMCA on September 9 to form the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. In 1926, Woodson announced that the second week of February, the birth month of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, shall be recognized as Negro History Week, a period of historical remembrance that would eventually evolve into Black History Month.