Possible federal shutdown to impact state
Illinois is bracing for a possible government shutdown.
On Monday, Congress returned to deal with an Oct. 1 deadline to avoid a government shutdown. In a shutdown, hundreds of thousands of federal employees, including over 40,000 in Illinois, would be furloughed or forced to work without pay. This includes active-duty military and federal law enforcement.
The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates that the last three government shutdowns cost taxpayers nearly $4 billion.
Community reacts to violent crime
A long line of people waited to attend a town hall meeting Monday night to address the increase in violent crime on Chicago’s northwest side. Residents were invited to the event to learn how local leaders and law enforcement are addressing the issue.
The latest robbery incident is adding fuel to the fire. On Monday, a 33-year-old man was attacked in Bucktown by two assailants who took his personal belongings. Residents who attended the meeting, many of which were yelling, said they have had enough.
Harvest status updated
The Illinois harvest is running slightly behind compared to previous years. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 10% of the state’s corn crop had been harvested compared to the 5-year average of 13%.
The condition of the corn crop has improved to 55% good. That is compared to 51% last week. The condition of soybeans also improved in the past seven days.