Local News
Giannoulias Opens New Orland Park DMV Location
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias unveiled the new Orland Park DMV facility, which will continue to offer critical services to the surrounding community. The new location will offer extended hours in addition to expanded services, including road exams.
Illinois Electric Vehicle Rebate Program Application Cycle to Open October 28
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Director James Jennings announced the dates for the next EV Rebate Program application cycle, as well as updates to the program that reflect legislation passed by the Illinois General Assembly in 2025. Program requirements are included on the Illinois EPA’s EV Rebate Program webpage. The next application cycle for the EV Rebate Program will open Tuesday, October 28, 2025, and run through Saturday, January 31, 2026.
Hope Chicago Extends Groundbreaking Scholarship Program to 700 More South and West Side Families
Hope Chicago, the two-generation economic mobility initiative supporting more than 2,600 Hope Scholars and Hope Parent Scholars through postsecondary education since 2022, announced the expansion of its program to Class of 2026 students and their parents at its five partner Chicago public high schools. The addition of a new cohort marks the next step in Hope Chicago’s mission to eliminate barriers to educational and economic opportunities for Chicago families and builds on the organization’s successful early results from its first four cohorts.
Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon Advocates for Federal Support of Election Infrastructure in Washington, D.C.
Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon traveled to the nation’s Capital with fellow clerks from Illinois and across the nation to meet with U.S. Congressional leaders to make a unified appeal for increased federal funding for local Election Infrastructure.
Mayor Brandon Johnson joined City Colleges of Chicago (CCC), the Greater Chicago Food Depository, and Governor JB Pritzker for the launch of “Food Security for Life,” a groundbreaking, multi-layered
Mayor Brandon Johnson joined City Colleges of Chicago (CCC), the Greater Chicago Food Depository, and Governor JB Pritzker for the launch of “Food Security for Life,” a groundbreaking, multi-layered initiative that works to ensure every student at City Colleges has sufficient food while they focus on their education at City Colleges, one that leads them to a sustainable wage and good career that offers food security for life.
Illinois Housing Development Authority Awards $2 Million to Habitat for Humanity to Expand Homeownership Opportunities
The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) allocated $2 million to Habitat for Humanity of Illinois (HFHIL) to administer a new round of the Community Impact Fund, a program that helps working families, especially in Central and Southern Illinois, buy a home. The program is expected to create 100 new homeowners across Illinois.
Illinois announces participation in federal Cell & Gene Therapy Access Model for Sickle Cell Disease treatment
Illinois has been selected to participate in a federal model that will increase access to potentially transformative treatments for people living with rare and severe diseases, advancing the work already underway in the state’s Medicaid program. The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) was accepted into the federal Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) Access Model, a multi-year agreement among states and drug manufacturers to increase Medicaid beneficiaries’ access to treatments. Illinois is expected to be awarded up to $9.55 million in federal dollars over the course of 10.5 years to support Illinois’ implementation of the model, including screenings, referrals and wraparound support services, with the ultimate goal of directly resolving documented barriers to care. 84% of the total model administrative operating costs are federally funded, and the remaining 16% of costs will be funded by the state – up to approximately $1.8 million.
The Morton Arboretum Launches 2025 Weekly Fall Color Report to Guide Visitors Through Leaf-Peeping Season
The Morton Arboretum has launched its weekly Fall Color Report for 2025 to help visitors track the changing colors throughout the season and make the most of their fall visits. Updated every Wednesday through the season on the Arboretum's website, the report provides real-time information about which species are changing, where to find the best colors and what to expect in the coming weeks.
Gov. Pritzker Welcomes 533 New Homeowners Through Groundbreaking SmartBuy Program
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) announced the success of the most recent round of SmartBuy, a first-of-its-kind initiative that helped 533 Illinoisans eliminate $16 million in student loan debt while achieving the dream of homeownership in only 12 weeks. Through SmartBuy, homeowners were able to purchase a home eight years earlier than traditional IHDA borrowers.
Cadence Bank Strengthens Commitment to Recruiting Top Talent Through Sponsorship of SIAC Conference
Cadence Bank (NYSE: CADE) has announced its sponsorship of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), underscoring its commitment to building strong relationships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and creating meaningful connections within the communities it serves. Cadence was named the official banking partner of the SIAC with the execution of the conference's newest partnership agreement. The sponsorship began in July 2025 and will continue through June 2029.
Transformational Leader Joy D. Calloway Named President & CEO of the Black Women's Health Imperative
The Black Women's Health Imperative (BWHI) is proud to announce Joy D. Calloway, MHSA, MBA, as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective October 6, 2025. A seasoned nonprofit executive and values-based strategist, Calloway brings nearly three decades of leadership in advancing equity-focused organizations and driving meaningful change across health systems and communities.
Actress and Television Host Sherri Shepherd Announces First Children’s Book
On the heels of the Season 4 premiere of her hit nationally syndicated daytime talk show, SHERRI, award-winning actress, television host, comedian, podcaster, and New York Times Bestselling author Sherri Shepherd has announced her latest venture, authoring her first children’s book The Sunshine Queens (ISBN: 9781400252732), which was released October 7. Shepherd first announced the book live on Sherri.
One Size Does Not Fit All in Medicare
If you are reading this article, you probably live in Illinois. If so, I hope that the following information will help those enrolling or re-enrolling in Medicare to make an informed decision on the plan that best fits their healthcare needs.
Matteson Mayor Begins Term As President Of The Illinois Municipal League
The Village of Matteson Mayor Sheila Chalmers-Currin was passed the gavel as the President of the Illinois Municipal League. She was unanimously voted to serve as President.
