As Illinois residents gear up for holiday shopping, travel, and online celebrations, the Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT) and Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) are reminding everyone to stay alert to cyber scams that often lurk at the end of the year. With more purchases, donations, and digital communication taking place online, cyber criminals take advantage of the season’s increased activity and distractions.
As we move toward the celebration of Christmas and prepare to close the book on 2025 to welcome the new year of 2026, many of us naturally grow more reflective. These two seasons carry lessons that meet us right where we are: Christmas calls us to honor God’s gift of life, and the New Year urges us to care for that gift with greater intention. It is the perfect moment to pause and consider how well we are tending to our physical bodies—because although we are living longer, too many of us in the Black community are still not living healthier.
The Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter, in collaboration with the Illinois Department of Public Health, launched the Illinois Brain Health Project, a groundbreaking public health initiative designed to educate Illinoisans about the importance of brain health. This comprehensive campaign focuses on reducing cognitive decline by addressing modifiable risk factors and promoting healthy lifestyle practices, with a particular emphasis on reaching diverse, underserved, and higher-risk communities.
NBC’s Brilliant Minds is well into its second season. The drama about Dr. Oliver Wolf and his unconventional methods of treating his patients first premiered on the network in September of 2024. Tamberla Perry portrays Dr. Carol Pierce, which is loosely based by Dr. Carol E. Burnett. In real life, Burnett was a colleague of Dr. Oliver Sacks, who Zachary Quinto’s character Dr. Wolf is inspired by.
Two local Elementary school teachers recently received the gift of having their wish lists fully funded, thanks to DonorsChoose and Mazda. Amani Ghusein and Sarah Klima, who teach at Dawes Elementary School had their entire wish lists funded on Giving Tuesday. Both teachers agreed that DonorsChoose is essential to their classrooms being able to have much needed items.
A federally qualified health center (FQHC) has decided to streamline its network of health centers in order to provide better health care service by consolidating its operation to three locations. Near North Health recently opened the Family Care Center at Oakwood Shores, located at 3753 S. Cottage Grove.
Rich Township was incorporated in 1850 and includes 10 municipalities: Country Club Hills, Flossmoor, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Matteson, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Richton Park, Tinley Park and University Park. According to the U.S census, the Township’s population is more than 76,000. According to the Rich Township website, the Township is 74.1 % African American, 16.17% white, 1.1% Asian, 2.9% other and 4.9% multiracial.
For 36 years The Support Group has been creating opportunities for children and young people, ages 12 years old to 24 years old, through educational programs, team building activities, character building and athletic conditioning
Valentine’s Soul Jam Featuring The Whispers and Deniece Williams is coming to Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana’s Hard Rock Live venue on Sunday, February 14. Doors open at 6 p.m. General on sale begins this Friday, December 12, at 10 a.m. Central Time.
Clerk Monica Gordon is inviting couples interested in tying the knot in 2026 to apply to receive the first marriage license of the New Year and to exchange vows in the Cook County Clerk’s Office annual First Marriage Ceremony.
Students in The Salvation Army Freedom Center's after-school program assembled more than 300 care packages for homeless individuals on December 3, demonstrating that compassion and community service know no age limit.
The Clerk’s Office has completed the calculation of 2024 property tax rates for nearly 1,000 taxing agencies in Cook County and released its annual tax rate report Friday.
Christmas in the Wards (CITW) proudly kicks off its 29th year with Mayor Brandon Johnson, leading elected officials from across Chicago, and an extraordinary coalition of corporate sponsors for its annual “Shopping with the Electeds’” event. This special pre-event to CITW’s Christmas Spectacular brings together community leaders—including Alderpersons Michelle Harris, Anthony A. Beale, Peter Chico, Nicole Lee, Stephanie Coleman, Matt O’Shea, Jason C. Ervin, and Mayor Mark Hodge of Hopkins Park—along with Title Sponsors MPEA, Grosvenor, MT Transit, Walmart, Amazon, and Uber Eats, and a host of Presenting, Diamond, Platinum, and Gold Sponsors. Together, they will personally shop with selected families from neighborhoods across Chicago, helping fulfill essential needs, holiday wish lists, and gifts of hope during this season of giving.