The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rend Lake and the Benton/West City Chamber of Commerce are gearing up for another fantastic fireworks display at Rend Lake on Saturday, July 4.

Preparations for the event include the temporary closure of the South Marcum and River Road areas at 11:50 p.m. on July 3. Both of these areas will reopen when traffic flow returns to normal following the fireworks display on July 4.

Franklin County Animal Control will reap the benefits of the Trent Terry Memorial Poker Run, being held Saturday, July 18.

Sponsored by Franklin County ABATE, the poker run begins with a meeting at 10 a.m. for A Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education members at Steve’s Customs in Johnston City. Sign-up begins at 11 a.m., with the first bike out at noon.

Foster Grandparent Program gives senior citizens an opportunity to help the community by working with its youngest residents.

House Speaker Michael Madigan sharply criticized Gov. Pat Quinn on Wednesday for vetoing a key state budget piece, saying the governor's "flip-flops" on key issues are not helpful to resolving the mess. UPDATED 3:30 p.m.

With the state budget situation in complete limbo, state lawmakers have gone home with no clear direction on what will happen next. UPDATED 8:35 p.m.

Illinois secretary of state police officers took eight members of Service Employee International Union Healthcare Illinois and Indiana into custody today after they blocked the main entrance to the House of Representatives chamber.