Local News
The Salvation Army Celebrates 88 Years of National Donut Day Across Chicagoland
If you spotted free donuts in and around your neighborhood today, there's a story behind them that most Chicagoans don't know. National Donut Day exists because of The Salvation Army. The holiday traces back to the organization's female volunteers who served donuts to soldiers on the front lines of World War I and was formally established as an annual celebration in Chicago in 1938. Today, 88 years later, The Salvation Army marked the occasion with community celebrations across the Chicagoland area — right where it all began.
Happy Juneteenth!!!
Unless you grew up in Texas the concept of Juneteenth as a holiday was not a part of your experience growing up. Being from Tennessee I did not learn about Juneteenth until my most beloved friend, Margaret McCrumby, affectionately called Muff, shared with me the delight she experienced as a child growing up in Fort Worth. Texas in the 30’s and 40’s. Her whole countenance changed when she relayed the many stories retrieved from her memories of Juneteenth Celebrations. Her reflections were always about the wonderful experiences of food, entertainment, gifts, a day off from work, and a feeling of both the white and Black community coming together to celebrate that holiday as a unified community.
United African Organization to Host Free Citizenship Clinic in Bolingbrook
The United African Organization (UAO) will host a free citizenship clinic on June 18 to help lawful permanent residents navigate the process of becoming U.S. citizens.
Chicago Nonprofit and Chick-fil-A South Loop Are Helping to Bring Free Vision Care to Chicago Kids
Just in time for summer, the Experiences That Matter Foundation (ETM Foundation) is partnering with Chick-fil-A South Loop for a week-long fundraiser from June 22–27, 2026, marking the official kickoff to the organization’s 2026 summer mobile vision clinic tour. A portion of proceeds from qualifying purchases — made via the Chick-fil-A mobile app or in-restaurant dining — will directly benefit their 2020 Perfect Vision Campaign, which provides free comprehensive eye exams and same-day prescription glasses to uninsured and underinsured children ages 3–18 across Chicago and surrounding communities.
MY DAD: THE MAN: BLACK DAUGHTERS IN PRAISE OF THEIR FATHERS
At a time when the narrative around Black fatherhood too often centers on absence, My Dad: The Man: Black Daughters in Praise of Their Fathers tells a different and long overdue story. Arriving just in time for Father's Day 2026, this powerful anthology brings together 25 Black daughters to honor the 26 fathers who made them who they are — and in doing so, offers the world a portrait of Black fatherhood it has rarely seen. Visit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H3P3736V
Rich Township High School District 227 Celebrates a Year of Growth, Opportunity, and Student Success
As the 2025–2026 school year comes to a close, Rich Township High School District 227 is celebrating a year of measurable academic progress, expanded college and career pathways, student achievement, community partnerships, and continued momentum across academics, athletics, activities, and the arts.
$300M State-of-the-Art Hospital Coming To Chicago’s South Side
Advocate Health Care marked a major milestone in its long-term commitment to Chicago’s South Side with the groundbreaking of a new, $300 million, state-of-the-art community hospital at the former U.S. Steel South Works site near the lakefront.
IL State Rep. Du Buclet Supports Balanced Budget that Invests in Working Families, Economic Growth, and Community Stability
State Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet, D-Chicago, supported a balanced Fiscal Year 2027 budget that protects essential services, strengthens Illinois’ economy, and makes targeted investments in working families, education, public safety, and health care.
ComEd to Provide $2.5 Million in Bill Relief to Help Small Businesses Offset Rising PJM Supply Costs
ComEd, together with its community partners, announced $2.5 million in new bill assistance that will soon be available to help eligible business customers cope with higher PJM supply costs during the summer. Backed by Exelon, ComEd’s parent company, this extension of last year’s Customer Relief Fund will offer a one-time, matching grant of up to $500 to eligible small- and medium-sized business customers located within ComEd’s northern Illinois service territory.
CPS Magnet Schools Reach Record-Breaking National Honors for Academic Excellence
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is celebrating a historic milestone as 10 magnet schools across the District have been named 2026 Schools of Excellence or Schools of Distinction by Magnet Schools of America (MSA). This achievement marks the highest number of CPS magnet schools ever to receive these prestigious national honors in a single year. In addition, a CPS magnet high school attained national recognition as a certified magnet demonstration school. Finally, one CPS principal has been recognized as the 2026 Regional VI Principal of the Year, representing a 12-state region across the Midwest.
FIELDS GOOD LAUNCHES COOKIES WITH BENEFITS, BACKED BY $1.8M FROM FEMALE FOUNDERS FUND
Fields Good, a new functional cookie brand founded by Ashley Fields, daughter of Debbi Fields (founder of Mrs. Fields Cookies), and Kim Anderson, debuts today with three ready-to-eat cookies designed to support focus, protein, and sleep without sacrificing taste or texture. Backed by a $1.8 million pre-seed round led by Female Founders Fund, the brand introduces a new kind of cookie: one that delivers the nostalgic, homestyle experience people love, with smart ingredients designed for how they want to feel. Pre-order is available today at fieldsgood.co.
General Assembly Passes Giannoulias Measure Targeting Emerging Distracted Driving Threats from AI Wearable Technology
The Illinois General Assembly has approved legislation backed by Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias to modernize Illinois distracted driving laws by addressing the use of artificial intelligence smart glasses and other emerging technologies behind the wheel.
June is National Homeownership Month
June is National Homeownership Month, and the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), the state’s leading financier of affordable housing developments and homebuyer down payment assistance, is reminding residents about the tools and resources available to achieve the dream of homeownership in Illinois.
Thornton Township High School District 205 Deploys ZeroEyes AI Gun Detection and Intelligent Situational Awareness Technology
ZeroEyes, creators of the leading multi-analytics weapons detection and threat intelligence platform, today announced the deployment of its AI gun detection and intelligent situational awareness solution by Illinois’ Thornton Township High School District 205. The district has added ZeroEyes to its multi-layered safety program to help mitigate the threat of gun-related violence.
