The Cook County Clerk’s Office recently hosted an event to train high school students on how to administer an official election. On Tuesday, Jan. 6th, the Cook County Clerk’s Office launched the “Defenders of “DA’mocracy” program. The initiative will train students from 24 Cook County high schools so that they can operate on-campus early voting sites at their schools. The Gubernatorial primary election takes place on March 17th, and early voting begins on March 2nd.
Gabrielle Lott-Rogers was introduced to the arts when she was very young. Her mother would take her to New York City to see plays on Broadway. When she was eight years old, she saw “The Wiz,” and was absolutely mesmerized. Ever since then, Lott-Rogers has had an artistic stirring inside of her.
Richard Gallion developed Richard Gallion Entertainment (RGE) Gallion said the inspiration for his plays came from a series that he is developing called the “What If” series. He said that most movies and television shows emerge from the writer saying, what if.
Cynthia Kaye McWilliams has always been interested in the arts, theatre and storytelling. She went to school to train in theatre, receiving her degree from the Theatre School of DePaul University. She thought she would do theatre and that would be her life. Then, her focus became more film and television because those were the opportunities that she had access to. The more opportunities she had in film and television, the more she fell in love with it.
A task force aimed at creating safeguards for women who are the victims and survivors of domestic violence was launched on Wednesday, Jan. 7th. The City of Chicago-Cook County Violence Against Women Task Force seeks to address the rise in violence against women and their children across Cook County and the city of Chicago.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision for America was never ambiguous. It was grounded in fairness, dignity, and full participation in democracy for every person — regardless of race, background, or circumstance. That vision is now under direct threat as Donald Trump and his allies move aggressively to dismantle Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives while rolling back voting rights and civil rights protections that generations of Americans fought to secure.
The Illinois Democratic primary to replace retiring U.S. Senator Dick Durbin is well underway, with under a month to go until voters begin to cast their ballots. Senator Durbin has served our state in the U.S. Senate for nearly thirty years, underscoring the once-in-a-generation nature of this contested primary.
Democrat Natalie Howse, a respected attorney, community advocate, and lifelong South Side Chicagoan, is now primed, energized and ready for the stretch run for Circuit Court Judge of the 1st Sub Circuit. With decades of legal experience spanning prosecution, child welfare, regulatory oversight, and equity-driven public service, Howse enters the race with a deep understanding of the law and an unwavering commitment to fairness, accountability, and justice for all.
Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller helped convene the first meeting of the Chicago–Cook County Task Force to Reduce Violence Against Women, marking a critical step forward in strengthening protections and advancing coordinated solutions for survivors of domestic violence.
In partnership with the Chicago Bears organization, the Cook County Clerk’s Office is launching a first-of-its-kind High School Early Voting program, bringing official Early Voting sites to more than 20 suburban high schools across the county at the start of Early Voting for the March 17 Gubernatorial Primary Election.
OWN dives into the emotional and financial chaos impacting families and friends across America with its bold new series, MAXXED OUT, premiering Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 9:00 PM ET/PT.
Hanna Andersson, the children's apparel brand known for its heirloom-quality pajamas and commitment to Championing Childhood, today unveiled a new collaboration with Brooklyn-based design house Oeuf. The partnership brings together two brands celebrated by families and introduces a bedtime collection featuring coordinating pajamas for children and adults paired with Oeuf's iconic alpaca fleece pillows.
Bilt, the rewards program that connects where you live with the places you love, today announced an exclusive collaboration with multi-hyphenated artist, entrepreneur, actor and fashion icon A$AP Rocky to celebrate the release of his long-awaited fourth studio album DON’T BE DUMB arriving January 16. The partnership features a Bilt-exclusive limited edition vinyl designed by Rocky himself, honoring his deep connection to Harlem and New York. The custom vinyl showcases New York-inspired cover art with artistic details that reflect Rocky's roots in the community that shaped him.
Influencer and food-critic Keith Lee was named Creator of the Year at the first-ever U.S.TikTok Awards, recognizing his impact as one of the platform’s most influential and trusted voices.
100 Black Men of America, Inc., the nation's preeminent African American mentoring and leadership development organization, announced its partnership with Operation HOPE's newly launched HOPE AI initiative, a national strategy designed to transform financial literacy and expand equitable access to artificial intelligence education and tools.