A powerful spring storm is rapidly approaching central Illinois with several counties already under a tornado watch. Those counties are Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison ...

While Illinois’ total population grew slightly last year, many areas of the state experienced population decline. People moved out of state from half the counties.

In the last five years, voters in 33 Illinois counties have been asked if they want to consider separating from Chicago's Cook County to form a new state. Each time, a majority said yes.