Altamont -- Illinois' state high school rodeo finals will stay in Altamont for another three years under an tentative agreement. The small town is 90 miles south of Champaign. The event has been held in Altamont at the Effingham County Fairgrounds for 20 years.

Edwardsville -- A southwestern Illinois man say he's running as an independent for the congressional seat held by outgoing U.S. Representative Tim Johnson. John Hartman of Edwardsville filed petitions yesterday as a candidate for the U.S. House from the new 13th Congressional District. Hartman is the chief financial officer at a St. Louis firm called DNA Polymerase Technology.

Seoul, South Korea -- Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford is on an economic development trip to South Korea. Rutherford's office says the treasurer's trip will last six days and is not funded with taxpayer money. Rutherford has meetings scheduled with several government and business leaders.