Local News
How to Apply for FEMA Individual Assistance
Indiana homeowners and renters in Carroll, Dearborn, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, Lake, LaPorte, Madison, Marion, Morgan, Porter, Pulaski, Randolph, Rush, Tipton, Union, and Wayne counties with uninsured damage to their primary home, personal property loss or disaster-related emergency needs due to the August storms, tornadoes and flooding may apply for FEMA assistance.
Remembering Emmett Till Is a Public Responsibility
Last month, on July 23, just two days before what would have been Emmett Till's 85th birthday, I stood inside Roberts Temple Church of God in Bronzeville as Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation I sponsored establishing July 25 as Emmett Till Day in Illinois. There could be no more meaningful place for this moment. Roberts Temple is where Mamie Till Mobley made one of the most courageous decisions in American history by holding an open-casket funeral for her 14-year-old son after he was brutally murdered in Mississippi in 1955.
Chicago's 41st Annual Printers Row Lit Fest is Bringing an Extraordinary Concentration of Black Literary and Cultural Talent to the City, Creating a Compelling Story
The two-day Printers Row Lit Fest, the largest free literary event in the Midwest, September 12-13 from 10am to 6pm, will feature an expansive roster of Black novelists, journalists, historians, poets, scholars, children's authors, educators, performers and cultural leaders whose work explores Black history and identity, Chicago's neighborhoods and communities, race and democracy, social justice, family, music, sports and the broader American experience.
Returning for the 13th year to Run, Walk, and Raise Awareness About Breast Cancer Early Detection & Getting Regular Mammogram Screens
Runners, walkers, and community members will gather on the South Side of Chicago this summer for the Beyond A Mammogram: Hyde Park 5K, a community run/walk fundraiser dedicated to raising awareness about breast health and promoting early cancer detection through regular mammogram screenings. The event will take place Saturday, August 29, 2026, at a new location - the historic 63rd Street / Jackson Park near the pavilion, with check-in opening at 7:00 a.m. and the race beginning at 8:00 a.m.
SGA YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES CELEBRATES COMPLETION OF PUBLIC SPACE IMPROVEMENTS AND ART INSTALLATION IN SUMMIT
SGA Youth & Family Services (SGA) announced the completion of Summit Together Creative Placemaking initiative, an eight-month project that brought Summit residents together to reimagine and improve public spaces through art, gardening and community engagement.
PeacePlayers Chicago, offering CHA youth blend of basketball, life skills and a stipend, ends with finale
PeacePlayers Chicago, a Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) youth development initiative that offers a unique blend of basketball, leadership development, career readiness and peace building for boys ages 13-15, concluded Friday with a finale at Intentional Sports. The day included skills and drills, cross-city games, a back-to-school giveaway and a special visit by Tre Jones of the Chicago Bulls.
AFT Launches ‘Shop Smart,' Not Target Campaign for Back-to-School
As teachers and families head back to school, the AFT has launched a nationwide campaign to urge them to shop at retailers other than Target for their school supplies. The "Shop Smart, Support Working Families" campaign was created in response to Target’s refusal to condemn the unlawful Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity that continues to roil communities around the country. A new website, ShopSmart.AFT.org, along with an associated digital and print ad initiative, helps educators and families shop for school supplies at local stores and outlets that respect labor rights, instead of at Target.
Forest Preserves of Cook County Will Remain Open During Union Strike, Continue Negotiations
The Forest Preserves of Cook County will remain open and operational during a strike of members of Teamsters Local 700, allowing the public opportunities to continue to enjoy the many amenities the Preserves offers, including trails, picnic groves, nature centers, campgrounds, golf courses, fishing lakes and more. The Forest Preserves has worked to avoid a strike with offers that include a total of 8% in raises over two years and a one-time payment—part of a pattern that would increase the starting salaries of Local 700 members by 33% in just six years.
Giannoulias Awards Nearly $29 Million in Library and Literacy Grants
The grants include awards to regional library systems to enhance online catalogs at local libraries, support day-to-day operations and expand interlibrary loan programs. Funding also supports radio information services that provide local news and information to individuals who cannot read standard print materials. Literacy grants promote basic reading, math, writing and English language skills through adult, family and workplace literacy programs.
Illinois State Fair Teams Up with Special Olympics to Expand Accessibility with New Sunflower Showmanship Program
The Illinois State Fair announces the launch of the Sunflower Showmanship program, a new event in 2026 that connects Special Olympics athletes with opportunities to participate in the Fair’s livestock exhibition alongside more seasoned FFA and 4-H exhibitors. Sunflower Showmanship was held in the Coliseum on Saturday, August 15 at 10 a.m.
OIG Advisory Recommends Reconsideration of the City’s Inactive $57 Million Catalyst Fund
The City of Chicago Office of Inspector General (OIG) has published an advisory concerning the governance and investment activity of the Chicago Community Catalyst Fund. The Fund was established in 2016 to increase access to public and private investment capital for businesses and organizations in economically underserved areas of Chicago. While former Mayor Rahm Emanuel originally proposed pooling $100 million in public money with private investment in the Fund, the Fund was inactive for several years until the City contributed $50 million in 2020. Approximately $21 million of this money was then used during the Covid-19 pandemic for small-business loans, which later were repaid to the Fund.
Instacart Expands On-Demand Retail Delivery with Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, and Champs Sports
Instacart (Nasdaq: CART), the leading grocery technology company in North America, and Foot Locker today announced a new partnership bringing Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, and Champs Sports to the Instacart Marketplace. Customers can now shop a wide assortment of footwear, apparel and accessories from more than 1,000 locations nationwide for delivery in as fast as one hour with no markups.
Community Leaders Unite at Chicago Urban League to Launch National Civility Month with Call for Dialogue, Respect, and Collective Action
Community leaders, elected officials, educators, faith leaders, and advocates gathered Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at the Chicago Urban League to officially launch National Civility Month, reaffirming their collective commitment to advancing respect, meaningful dialogue, and safer communities throughout Cook County and the State of Illinois.
Statewide Farmer Mental Health Program Rebrands as FARM SOS
What began as a pilot program serving six Illinois counties has grown into a trusted program providing confidential mental health support to agricultural communities across all 102 counties. Now, seven years later, the Farm Family Resource Initiative (FFRI) announces its new name: FARM SOS.
