The Heart of Illinois Fair, a Peoria tradition since 1950, returned for its 76th year in 2025 — a far cry from its glory years.

The Democrat, who resides in Matteson in Cook County, traveled a bit farther south Thursday afternoon to speak at a town hall meeting in Eastern Illinois University's Phipps Auditorium.

Beth Conerty, Associate Director of Business Development for Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory, spoke during the Decatur Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Ag Cafe luncheon.

Preston Tucker's great-grandson Sean Tucker, from right, grandson John Tucker and great-grandson Mike Tucker stand in front of a 1948 Tucker automobile at the LaPorte County Historical Society Museum.