CHICAGO (WCIA) — Following an initiative led by Wheaton elementary school students, Governor JB Pritzker named the Calvatia gigantea — also known as the “giant puffball” — as the official mushroom of ...

CHICAGO (CBS) -- What do the white oak, the northern red cardinal, the white-tailed deer, the eastern tiger salamander, the violent, the painted turtle, the mineral fluorite, the bluegill fish, big ...

Roy Heilman Special to The Free Press Aug 31, 2025 Aug 31, 2025 If you need, I’ll give you a moment to tee up the congratulatory emails, and so you can circle around to shower me with thunderous ...

Illinois has more than 30 state symbols. Some are easily recognizable, like the state flag; and others are more niche, like the state pie (pumpkin) or the state snack food (popcorn). Thanks to the ...

Giant puffball mushrooms, or Calvatia gigantea, are a popular and recognizable edible mushroom. Puffballs are round with a white interior and exterior and grow on small, barely noticeable stems. The ...