The Illinois Railway Museum, located in Union, Illinois, about 55 miles from downtown Chicago, has grown to be a popular destination for rail fans, inquisitive families, preservationists, and even tech historians. IRM radically transforms the museum experience by providing something that no screen can match: the visceral experience of riding a steam locomotive that is 100 years old, the sound of steel on steel, and the distinct smell of machine oil mixed with nostalgia. Many museums are restricted to static displays. IRM has developed into a remarkably successful lighthouse of American transportation history since its humble beginnings in 1953, when…
Author: Sierra Foster
Sierra Foster
Born in Kansas City, Sierra Foster writes about politics and serves as Senior Editor at kbsd6.com. She was raised paying attention to this city, not just living in it. Sierra has a strong, deep connection to Kansas City, from the neighborhoods east of Troost to the discussions that take place in the city hall halls. Sierra, who is presently enrolled at the University of Kansas to pursue a degree in Political Science, applies the rigor of academic study to her journalism. She writes about politics in Missouri and Kansas as someone who genuinely cares about what happens to the people in these communities—the policies that impact them, the leaders who represent them, and the civic forces influencing their futures—rather than as an outsider watching from a distance. Her editorial coverage encompasses state-level policy, local government, and the national political currents that permeate bi-state regional life. Whether it's a city council vote or a Senate race, she has a special gift for turning complex policy language into writing that feels urgent, relatable, and worthwhile. Sierra seldom sits still off the page. She claims that playing soccer on a regular basis has sharpened her instincts for political reporting because of the sport's teamwork, strategy, and requirement to read a changing game in real time. She's probably somewhere in Kansas City with her friends when she's not writing or on the pitch, discovering new reasons to adore a city she already knows so well.
The Illinois State Fair has subtly evolved into something especially lively in the last ten years. The fair has evolved into a highly successful model of community engagement by fusing its traditional agricultural roots with contemporary entertainment and public services. This year’s event, which takes place in Springfield from August 7–17, is already attracting a lot of attention because it offers more than 165 hours of free entertainment, DMV services, and author readings in addition to grandstand concerts and carnival rides. Through the provision of on-site services such as REAL ID applications, driver’s license renewals, and genealogy lookups, the Illinois…
Despite being only 18 miles southwest of Chicago, Clarendon Hills, Illinois, feels a world away from the hustle and bustle of a big metropolis. The village’s carefully planned layout, which follows organic curves rather than strict street grids, gives it a particularly deliberate look and way of life. This layout, which was inspired by Frederick Law Olmsted’s idea of park-like communities, helps create a tranquil and incredibly functional environment for contemporary living. People who live there say that community is not only welcomed but subtly woven into everyday life. Clarendon Hills has recently gained national attention for something refreshingly straightforward:…
In the last week, the long-running gerrymandering controversy in America has taken a startlingly central turn in Illinois. During his interview with Governor J.B. Pritzker, late-night host Stephen Colbert displayed an oddly drawn Illinois district map and questioned whether the disorganized borders had been created by a group of kindergarteners. This was a particularly tense media moment. Pritzker responded without missing a beat, but the exchange was especially illuminating for many in Illinois and elsewhere. Not because it was humorous, but rather because it brought attention to an issue that has existed for many years. Illinois has clearly given itself…
A highly tense standoff has been raging across state lines in recent days, with more than fifty Democratic lawmakers from Texas seeking sanctuary in Illinois in an attempt to block a contentious redistricting proposal. These lawmakers, many of whom are still recovering from their escape, strategically positioned themselves almost 1,000 miles away by refusing the Texas House a quorum in an attempt to thwart what they perceive to be a particularly damaging GOP attempt to take over more congressional seats. In addition to opposing their own legislature, they have unintentionally turned Illinois into a political staging ground by escaping Texas.…
A small area of downtown Waterloo, Iowa, has subtly developed into a cultural powerhouse over the last 20 years. With pipes humming, kilts flying, and a strong sense of Gaelic pride, Iowa Irish Fest has evolved into a celebration that resembles the great Celtic festivals of Galway or Dublin, but with a Midwest flair and a welcoming atmosphere that feels very local. From a small gathering in 2006, this community-led event has grown into a three-day celebration that now attracts close to 50,000 people. The footprint has grown by four city blocks in recent years, adding not only more space…
The daily grind of clocking in and processing pork for one of the nation’s biggest meat producers came to a halt for hundreds of JBS meatpacking employees in Ottumwa, Iowa. More than 200 workers, many of whom had been employed lawfully for years, were summoned to management meetings. A quick and agonizing disintegration of livelihoods ensued. The Trump administration’s sudden change in immigration policy had resulted in the revocation of their work permits. These were not illegal laborers. These workers had legal authorization—until they didn’t. The administration hit at the heart of the workforce that JBS and similar businesses rely…
Kansas City has transformed from a barbecue hotspot to a remarkably diverse culinary hub in recent years. Every summer, the Kansas City Taco Festival, held at the popular Kansas City Live! venue, provides a lively platform for this evolution. The 2025 edition has significantly outperformed previous iterations by fusing street food flair with exuberant entertainment, providing a more carefully planned, culturally immersive experience that combines music, flavor, and community involvement into a single joyous weekend. Thousands of foodies, taco enthusiasts, and inquisitive tourists flocked to the Power & Light District over the weekend of August 2–3 to sample more than…
Just by answering the phone, thousands of Californians might be remarkably close to receiving unclaimed funds. Wells Fargo has agreed to pay people and companies who received calls between 2014 and 2023 without giving adequate notice that the conversation was being recorded as part of a recently completed $19.5 million class action settlement. Your eligibility for the Wells Fargo $5,000 settlement could result in an unexpectedly large payout if you’re one of those beneficiaries. The legal case stems from allegations that The Credit Wholesale Co. Inc., acting on behalf of Wells Fargo, routinely recorded outbound sales calls to California residents…
The way big institutions manage employee retirement benefits has subtly changed over the last ten years as a result of ERISA litigation. This expanding trend reached Boston’s Mass General Brigham Inc., a reputable healthcare system, in April 2025, when it consented to a $8.25 million settlement. This court decision resulted from a class action lawsuit alleging that the company permitted exorbitant fees in its 403(b) retirement plan, which provides benefits to over 100,000 workers throughout its network. The lawsuit focused on claims that Mass General chose excessively costly investment options and neglected to keep an eye on administrative expenses. The…