BEARDSTOWN, Ill. (AP) — Flooding continues in parts of Illinois after the state saw its rainiest June on record.

The National Weather Service on Thursday reported major flooding on the Illinois River at Beardstown, Hardin, Havana, LaGrange Lock and Dam, Meredosia and Valley City. Major flooding also was recorded on the Kaskaskia River in New Athens.

The (Springfield) State Journal-Register reports the Illinois River hit a record 30 feet on Wednesday.
Officials say rising waters caused two new sinkholes to open along the Cass County town’s Main Street since the river hit major flooding stages. Beardstown started sandbagging just like other towns along the river.

There also is moderate flooding along the Illinois River near Peoria, Henry and LaSalle. The weather service also reports minor flooding on the Mississippi River south of Quincy. The Kaskaskia River below the Carlyle Lake Dam is near flood stage, with more rain forecast for the next several days.

Hopefully the flooding conditions in Illinois don’t become dire, as funding for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency was included in the one-month budget passed by the Senate yesterday, but an identical measure in the House failed to move forward.

If the governor and AFSCME fail to convince a judge to order the comptroller to issue state worker paychecks, flood recovery might possibly become part of this government shutdown debate.