Local News
MAYOR JADA D. CURRY OFFICIALLY DECLARES THE VILLAGE OF LYNWOOD A DISASTER AREA
Jada D. Curry- Mayor of Lynwood, Illinois- has officially declared the Village of Lynwood a disaster area. This comes immediately following today’s horrific tornado type-storm that has caused significant damage throughout the village. Numerous media outlets have reported possible tornado type activity within the Village of Lynwood as well as surrounding communities.
RICH TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR REFLECTS ON PARTNERSHIPS AMID THE RECENT VIOLENT STORM THAT CHALLENGED THE SOUTHLAND
Calvin Jordan- Supervisor and Democratic Committeeman of Rich Township- is expressing his profound gratitude to a wealth of local governments, State agencies and the Governor Pritzker’s offices for their collective efforts in navigating resources amid the recent violent storms that rocked the southland.
COMMISSIONER KISHA MCCASKILL URGING 5TH DISTRICT RESIDENTS IMPACTED BY RECENT STORMS AND TORNADOES TO COMPLETE CRITICAL RELIEF SURVEY
In the wake of recent severe storms and tornado activity that impacted communities throughout Cook County’s 5th District, Cook County Commissioner Dr. Kisha McCaskill is urging residents who experienced storm-related damage or other impacts to complete the 5th District Resident Relief Survey as soon as possible.
Illinois Sees Record Minority Business Starts — But Too Few Reach $1 Million. Joseph Business School’s Access to Capital Forum Targets the Scaling Crisis
Illinois is experiencing one of the most active periods of business creation in the country. More than 189,000 new business applications were filed last year, and the Chicago metropolitan area was ranked the #1 U.S. region for corporate expansion for the 13th consecutive year. Yet behind this surge lies a troubling reality: as many businesses are closing or relocating as are opening, creating a high‑churn environment that makes it difficult for new ventures to survive, let alone scale.
North Suburban Homeowners See Slower Burden Shift in 2025 Reassessment
Homeowners in Cook County’s north and northwest suburbs bear roughly two-thirds of the tax base in that part of the county, according to new data from the Cook County Assessor’s Office.
ILLINOIS TOLLWAY BOARD APPROVES $26.5 BILLION CAPITAL PROGRAM TO REDUCE CONGESTION, MODERNIZE TOLLWAY SYSTEM
The Illinois Tollway Board of Directors today approved Driving Connections, a $26.5 billion capital program that will shape investment across the Tollway system through 2042, addressing congestion, aging infrastructure and the transportation needs of a growing region.
Christmas in the Wards 365 Hosts Major Back-to-School Celebration at Malcolm X College
On Friday, August 21, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Christmas in the Wards 365 (CITW), in partnership with City Colleges of Chicago, In His Hands Resource Center, S2 Grills, Black Men United, Buddy Bear Car Wash and participating local aldermen, will host a large-scale Back-to-School Celebration and Giveaway at Malcolm X College, 1900 West Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL. Cook County Board President, Toni Preckwinkle, will be on hand to greet parents and students to kick off the NEW SCHOOL SEASON!!!!
We Don't Have to Choose Between Keeping Kids Safe and Keeping Opportunity Within Reach
As a father, an uncle, and someone who has spent more than two decades working to improve opportunities for young people in Chicago, I know how much families worry about keeping children safe online. I also know that today's young people live in a digital world, and our responsibility is to make that world safer—not to shut them out of it.
What Say You?
When I first started writing this column, I stayed close to the focus of my training: providing financial advice, particularly stressing the importance of succession planning so that hard-earned assets could be passed on to loved ones and become part of a legacy for which you would be fondly remembered.
HIRE360 AND COMED CELEBRATE GRADUATES OF THE TAKE CHARGE EV PRE-APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
HIRE360 and ComEd celebrated 15 graduates of the Take Charge Pre-Apprenticeship program, a nine-week training program that prepares participants for careers in the skilled trades that support electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure.
Illinois Housing Development Authority Releases Plan to Create and Preserve Affordable Housing
The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) has published its 2027-2028 Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP), which establishes the rules and criteria governing Illinois’ Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program, the state’s primary tool for financing the creation and preservation of affordable housing. The new QAP is part of Governor Pritzker’s broader housing strategy to address Illinois’ housing from multiple facets: maximizing limited federal resources for affordable housing while also supporting the conditions needed for more homes of all types to be built in communities across the state. Together, these efforts advance the goal of ensuring every Illinoisan has access to safe, stable, and affordable housing.
Greenwood Project, Focusing on Workforce Development in Chicago, Recognized by Old National Bank Foundation Through ‘20 for 20’ Campaign
As part of its 20th anniversary celebration, and two decades of helping build stronger, more vibrant and prosperous communities, the Old National Bank Foundation in 2026 is donating a total of $20,000 to 20 nonprofit organizations throughout its nine-state footprint, including Greenwood Project, located in Chicago, Ill.
Rich Township High School District 227 Builds on Student Success as 2026–2027 School Year Approaches
Rich Township High School District 227 is preparing to welcome students and staff back for the 2026–2027 school year with excitement, renewed energy, and a continued focus on students and student success.
Chicago Children’s Theatre grows staff, appoints Jamal Howard as Associate Artistic Director, Catherine Councell as Director of Education
“I am thrilled and honored to add such experienced, passionate artists/administrators to our small but mighty staff at Chicago Children’s Theatre,” said Jacqueline Russell, Co-Founder and Artistic Director. “Both Catherine and Jamal have years of experience and proven dedication to creating significant work for young people. The gifts that these two professionals bring to CCT will allow us to further deepen our service and offerings to the children of Chicago.”