Local News
LIVING WORD CHRISTIAN CENTER RALLIES CHICAGOLAND COMMUNITIES TO MEET REAL NEEDS WITH REAL LOVE ON GOOD NEIGHBOR DAY
Living Word Christian Center (LWCC) in Forest Park, Illinois, has been selected as the Chicago flagship location for Good Neighbor Day, a nationwide day of service taking place on Saturday, May 16, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The local event will take place in front of the Forest Park Plaza, located at 7630 West Roosevelt Road.
Not Now, Not Ever
There is something happening in this country that too many of us are watching—but not responding to. Rights are rarely taken away all at once. More often, they are narrowed quietly, adjusted incrementally, and redefined slowly—until one day, what was once permitted is no longer allowed—gone.
Historic Inaugural Chicago HBCU Baseball Classic Draws Fans, Celebrates Culture at Wrigley Field
History was made under the lights at Wrigley Field as Alabama A&M University defeated Prairie View A&M University, 10–7, in the inaugural Chicago HBCU Baseball Classic — the first time Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) competed on one of baseball’s most iconic stadiums. Alabama A&M first baseman Zack Rice earned Most Valuable Player honors following a standout performance that helped secure the victory.
Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs Relaunches State Retirement Program for Small Businesses with Lower Fees and New Name
Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced lower fees and technology improvements for employers and savers of the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program, which will take effect in June 2026.
Healthy Beginnings: Public Health Nurses Provide Home-based Care for Expectant Moms and Newborns
As a new mother, Matteson resident Zaharia McLaurin had understandable concerns about whether she was doing everything right for her newborn baby, Za’Mor Caldwell.
ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL’S $7.4 BILLION OPIOID SETTLEMENT WITH PURDUE GOES IN EFFECT; ILLINOIS TO RECEIVE AN ESTIMATED $148.8 MILLION
Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced that a $7.4 billion settlement reached with Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family, has become legally effective, capping nearly a decade of work by attorneys general from across the country who pursued investigations and litigation over Purdue’s and the Sackler family’s role in fueling the opioid crisis.
Illinois Engineering Firms Win Industry Excellence Awards
Six American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC Illinois) member firms will receive national recognition at the 2026 American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC National) Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) to be held May 5 in Washington. The national Engineering Excellence Awards are an annual celebration of engineering excellence, honoring projects worldwide that demonstrate innovation, creative problem-solving, and engineering’s unique ability to improve our world. The competition is juried by a panel of industry, government, and academic experts.
Luvme Launches Its First Celebrity Co-Created Collection with Hollywood Hairstylist Kim Kimble
Luvme, a leading brand in premium human hair wigs, proudly announces the launch of its first-ever celebrity co-created collection, the RAW MAGIC x Kim Kimble ICON Collection, developed in collaboration with renowned Hollywood hairstylist Kim Kimble. With a career spanning decade at the highest level of the beauty industry, Kim Kimble is a world-renowned celebrity hairstylist who has created some of the most iconic hair moments in entertainment and is widely recognized as a defining force behind modern Black Hollywood beauty.
BlackDoctor Names Akinwole "Aki" Garrett Chief Executive Officer, Appointing a New Generation of Leadership to Drive the Company's Next Chapter
BlackDoctor, the leading digital health media platform dedicated to the health and wellness of Black Americans, today announced the appointment of Akinwole "Aki" Garrett as Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1, 2026. Garrett, who has served as the company's President and Chief Operating Officer, steps into the role with a clear mandate: accelerate BlackDoctor's growth, expand its platform capabilities, and deepen its impact on the communities it serves. Reginald Ware, who founded the company and has led it since inception, will transition to Executive Chairman of the Board.
LOCAL ORGANIZATION STEPPING UP TO PROVIDE RESOURCES AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS THAT EMPOWER RESIDENTS AND ENSURE SAFER DRINKING WATER
Now more than ever, families and communities rely on organizations to help them make smarter choices, manage household expenses, put food on the table, and stay healthy. Local organizations and municipalities are stepping up to provide resources and educational materials that empower residents to take practical steps toward energy savings, improve home efficiency, and ensure safer drinking water.
Illinois Department of Corrections Hosts Freedom Reads for Inside Literary Prize Events at Logan and Shawnee Correctional Centers
The Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) welcomed the national non-profit Freedom Reads to Logan and Shawnee Correctional Centers to facilitate book discussions, voting, and author events for the third annual Inside Literary Prize. During the visit to Logan Correctional Center, Freedom Reads also opened seven new Freedom Libraries in housing units throughout the facility, expanding access to literature and creating lasting spaces for connection and reflection. The new libraries at Logan Correctional Center bring the total to 35 Freedom Libraries installed in four IDOC facilities since 2022, including six at Decatur Correctional Center, 16 at Illinois River Correctional Center, and one at Lincoln Correctional Center.
Deadline to Apply for Property Tax Savings is May 15
Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi announced the deadline for homeowners to apply for property tax exemptions is Friday, May 15.
Giannoulias Unveils First-Ever Business Services Center, Streamlining Services for Faster, More Convenient Access
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced the opening of the office’s first-ever Business Services Center in downtown Chicago, bringing together key business-related services in a centralized, customer-focused location while reducing operational costs.
A Day of Wellness + Jump Rope-a-Thon Fundraiser Focused on Movement, Healing, and Community Care
Black Girls Jump, the nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the art of Double Dutch and promoting health through culturally relevant fitness, proudly announces Jump, Heal & Thrive — A Day of Wellness + Jump Rope-a-Thon, taking place Saturday, May 16th in Chicago.