- Congressman Davis Throws His Support Behind Preckwinkle
- Ambulance Baby Returns To The Vehicle In Which She Was Delivered
- State Legislators Hope To Pass Bills That Help Organ Donors
- New Field Museum Exhibit Showcases World’s Best Nature Photographs
- Lollapalooza 4-Day Tickets On Sale 10 a.m. Tuesday
- White Nationalist Propaganda Found Along South Side Irish Parade Route
- Zombie Raccoon Apocalypse: Stickney Police Warn About 'Growling' Raccoons, With Possible Distemper
- Lawsuit Claims Oak Park Police Were Reckless In Chase That Killed 2
- Fast Food Manager Charged With Child Sex Assault Days After Release From Prison
- Man Arrested Minutes After Robbing Bank Next To Riverside Police Station
- Pope Nixes French Cardinal Resignation After Cover-Up
- Japanese Olympic Committee Head Resigns Amid Bribery Scandal
- Over 1,000 Feared Dead After Cyclone Slams Into Mozambique
- Tens Of Thousands Converge On California 'Poppy Apocalypse'
- NZ Leader Vows To 'Absolutely Deny' Mosque Gunman A Platform
- Gunman Kills 3 On Dutch Tram, Mayor Says Terror Likely
- Facebook Says Service Hindered By Lack Of Local News
- Ethiopia Minister: 'Clear Similarities' In Boeing Crashes
- New Zealand Citizens Open To Gun Reform After Massacre
- Mourners Pay Tribute To New Zealand Victims, Await Burials
- Newsmakers Making A Difference: Rashanah Baldwin, Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago
- Newsmakers Making A Difference: Victor Ciardelli, Guaranteed Rate Foundation
- Newsmakers Making A Difference: Tim Brigham, The Superheroes Collective
- Newsmakers Making A Difference: Reverend Gloria Randolph, GGG Ministries
- Newsmakers Making A Difference: Marge Nykaza, Harmony, Hope, & Healing
- Newsmakers Making A Difference: Denise Urban, WINGS Resale Shop
- Newsmakers Making A Difference: Harriet Levy, The Center For Enriched Living
- Newsmakers Making A Difference: Heather Owen, CRISP
- Newsmakers Making A Difference: West Town Health Market
- Newsmakers Making A Difference: Gary Mechanic, Friends of the Fox
On Air Now
Randy Duncan of Carlinville, as Abraham Lincoln, makes a plea to Illinois lawmakers. (Dave Dahl)
Museum Makes Plea For State To Pay Debt On Lincoln Artifacts
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- Officials with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Foundation are seeking state tourism money to pay off a $9 million debt on a 1,400-piece collection of Lincoln artifacts purchased in 2007.
The House tourism committee is questioning officials with the organization about the collection and its value because of reports questioning the authenticity of a stovepipe hat purportedly belonging to the 16th president.
But officials with the fundraising foundation say there's more to the collection than the hat. Foundation treasurer Sarah Phelan says a recent appraisal of just 40 of the items showed a fair market value of $10 million.
The original loan in 2007 was $23 million. The foundation has paid $13 million toward principal and $8 million in interest.
The foundation says if it can't pay the balance by October 2019 it will have to auction items.
(© Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)