(SPRINGFIELD) Illinois is about to see its annual summer festival with another increase in the state's gasoline tax, along with a series of other tax increases over the course of next year, starting next Monday, July 1. In total, Illinois will see $1.1 billion in tax increases next year, supporting the state's record-high $53.1 billion budget. Taxes on gasoline will be 47 cents per gallon and 54 cents per gallon on diesel. The gasoline tax increase means Illinois drivers will pay an average of $184 more per year for gasoline than they did in 2019. Additionally, electric vehicle owners in Illinois will be charged an annual fee of $100 on July 1 in addition to the annual registration fee to make up for lost tax revenue. While taxes on video games will rise to 35%, the tax on sports betting will move from a flat rate of 15% to a progressive rate of up to 35%.

(EAST ST. LOUIS) Illinois State Police recently completed a three-day operation in East St. Louis and surrounding counties that resulted in 15 arrests and the recovery of 12 weapons. ISP officials called the operation a “violent crime containment effort” in St. Clair and Madison counties, which resulted in a total of 33 criminal charges, 19 of which were classified as felonies. State Police deployed more than 25 troopers from across the state to the operation.

(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois State Fair box office is open for in-person ticket sales every weekday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are available for all special events, including the big tractor and truck pulls, monster truck racing, the popular rodeo and more, as well as all grandstand concerts featuring a wide variety of artists. For more information, visit the Illinois State Fair website at statefair.illinois.gov. The Illinois State Fair in Springfield is Thursday, August 8 through Sunday, August 18.