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Illinoisans next year will celebrate the United States’ 250th birthday with new public murals, a student art contest and initiatives to get residents and tourists alike to historic sites, the state announced Wednesday.

As President Donald Trump toys with bringing a UFC wrestling match to the White House next year to commemorate the 250th — and coincide with his own 80th birthday — Illinois this week put forward a more restrained approach.

Still, Gov. JB Pritzker framed the celebrations expected at museums, libraries and historic sites statewide as a way for the state to stand up for democratic values “at a time when it seems many of our founding principles are being challenged.”

“It is more important than ever to loudly reaffirm our be

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