IJR News — today's news from every sideFive tiny state parks reveal ancient fossils, Lincoln ties and colonial history — Sep 6, 2026Across Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and Massachusetts, little-known state parks reveal extraordinary natural and historical treasures hiding in plain sight. From Channahon’s river confluence to Falls of the Ohio’s vast Devonian fossil beds, Lincoln Homestead’s Lincoln-era roots, Morris State Park’s protection of Crowley’s Ridge, and Roxbury Heritage’s historic John Eliot Square and First Church, these small gems offer accessible, richly meaningful experiences.
Jared Kim Never heard of Morris State Park before this but Crowley's Ridge sounds like a hidden gem, adding it to my list for the next road trip.Tom Gallagher Reinsdorf still holding the keys makes this whole thing feel like a fancy pitch deck until he actually signs off. Driver and guardian arrested after 2-year-old killed in North Charleston hit-and-run — Sep 11, 2026A 2-year-old girl, Haisha Dominguez Marin, was killed in a hit-and-run on Rivers Avenue in North Charleston, with the driver, 27-year-old Anayely Lovato Guerrero, charged with reckless homicide and leaving the scene, and the child’s guardian, 21-year-old Glaimar Alejandra Ramirez Dominguez, charged with unlawful conduct toward a child; authorities say the 2020 Toyota Tacoma involved was located and the investigation continues. The incident and subsequent arrests have prompted scrutiny of hit-and-run accountability and the responsibilities of guardians in a child’s welfare as more details emerge, including statements about driving behavior and potential bail considerations.