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State museum set to reopen

Jun 15, 2016 | 5:17 AM

Illinois State Museum rally — Torii More was one of many from McLean County who attended a rally in Springfield in July 2015 to keep the Illinois State Museum from closing. (WJBC file photo)

By RFD Radio

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Museum in Springfield could reopen in just over two weeks, but with a big change.

A state legislative panel has agreed to allow the museum to charge admission and reopen July 2. The bipartisan Joint Committee on Administrative Rules voted to allow the Department of Natural Resources to go ahead with the admission fee that Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration said is necessary for the museum to reopen. The panel did not discuss the issue before voting on it.

Adults will be charged $5 once the formerly free museum reopens. Half of the museum’s staff has left despite continued paychecks under a court order. Museum officials now hope to prevent the loss of its accreditation. Currently the facility is on probation.