Illinois's state fairs cost tax payers over $4 million last year, according to a new report from Illinois's Auditor General. The Illinois State Fair's costs exceeded its revenues by $3,435,505 last year; DuQuoin's fair fared slightly better, being only $900,507 in the red. more ›

Here are some other news items of note while we're at Millennium Park enjoying Muhal Richard Abrams and Reginald Robinson: The U.S. attorney's office has joined an ongoing Cook County probe into the rogue actions of an elite squad of the Chicago Police Department . Blue Line passengers can expect (more) delays starting this weekend. The sculptor who created Berwyn's spindle claims that the shopping plaza where it sits is "prostituting" the sculpture under... more ›

Rod Blagojevich has made much about his fantasy of selling parts of the State to private companies as a revenue stream for Illinois. Daley started this trend by selling a 99-year lease of the Chicago Skyway to foreign investors for $1.8 billion. Blago has seen dollar signs in his eyes, ever since, floating the idea of selling the Illinois Lottery as a financial source for "education". Now he's turning his sights to vending rights in... more ›

Food on a stick is better than food not on a stick, which is why the Illinois State Fair is introducing a new item at this year’s fair: eggs on a stick. more ›

First, a correction: Earlier this month, Chicagoist suggested that some of the bands scheduled to play Taste of Chicago were one or two years away from playing a state fair. In Lynyrd Skynyrd’s case, we were incorrect. Lynyrd Skynyrd will be playing the Illinois State Fair this year. more ›

If serenading sows or crooning to cows sounds to you like a sweet summer gig, Illinois State Fair organizers want to talk to you. But sorry sellouts, they can't pay you. more ›