Local News
Be the Drum Major
On Tuesday, Nov. 3, we have a chance to shape decisions that reach from Washington to Springfield to Cook County, and into our own neighborhoods. Voting can feel like one more task on a crowded calendar. This year, make it something you look forward to: a shared outing, a chance to reconnect, and a practical way to have a say in the choices that affect daily life.
Alzheimer’s Foundation of America offers tips to help families create a safe, comfortable and dementia-friendly Halloween
Frightful sights, scary sounds, and costumed strangers might be Halloween traditions, but they can be unsettling for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-related illnesses. With October 31 approaching, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) is offering tips to make Halloween S.A.F.E.R. for loved ones living with dementia.
MEGA MENTAL HEALTH GATHERING TO BE HELD AT THE OBAMA CENTER
As Chicago prepares for colder temperatures and the emotional challenges that often accompany the fall and winter seasons, The Link & Option Center, Inc. is taking a bold step toward addressing one of the region's most urgent public health concerns: equitable access to mental health care. On Friday, November 13, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., the organization will host its inaugural reception, “Launching a Mobile Mental Health Equity Initiative,” at the historic Obama Presidential Center's Nelson Mandela Sky Room, located at 6001 S. Stony Island Avenue in Chicago. The awesome occasion is being hosted by Dr. Twin Green, Founder, President, and CEO of The Link & Option Center, Inc., alongside the organization's Board of Directors. The event will be followed by an Exclusive Museum Tour Experience beginning at 9:00 PM.
HOMECOMING: Living Fresh Market Celebrates Five Years of Community Impact with Celebrity Guests, Shopping Sprees, Marching Band and Family Fun
Five years ago, when the operator of the supermarket inside Forest Park Plaza walked away, the future of fresh food access for thousands of residents hung in the balance.
Aetna Better Health® of Illinois hosts statewide Style & Smile Barbershop Takeover
Aetna Better Health of Illinois, a CVS Health® company (NYSE: CVS), will host a statewide Style & Smile Barbershop Takeover on Monday, October 26. The community event will provide no cost haircuts and simple styles for children and adults at participating barbershops across Illinois.
CHICAGOANS AND THE STEPPIN WORLD MOURNS THE PASSING OF DJ SAM CHATMAN
It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of the legendary DJ Sam Chatman. Known as the Godfather of Steppin’, Sam helped shape, preserve, and elevate a uniquely Chicago-born dance culture into an international phenomenon.
Clerk’s Office Expands Early Voting to 56 Locations in Suburban Cook County
Clerk Monica Gordon has announced the expansion of Early Voting to 56 locations for the November 3 Gubernatorial General Election, providing suburban Cook County voters with more options and greater flexibility to cast their ballots.
Weather keeping you grounded this season? These 4 tips can help you plan a holiday “staycation” in Chicago.
Holiday travel can be exciting, but winter weather, crowded airports and packed schedules can sometimes make the idea of staying at home much more appealing.
Rich Township District 227 and Partners Turn Richton Park Home into Real-World Classroom
Rich Township High School District 227, in partnership with the Land Bank, the Village of Richton Park, Natural Catastrophe Solutions, the Illinois State Board of Education, and Pepper/Ujamma, will celebrate the acquisition of a Richton Park home that will become a hands-on learning environment for students.
Cradles to Crayons® Aims to Collect 50,000 Coats to Keep Chicagoland Children Warm This Winter
One in two children in Chicagoland face Clothing Insecurity, meaning they lack reliable access to affordable, adequate and appropriate clothing. As colder weather sets in, that challenge can become even greater for families already struggling to afford everyday necessities. To help children stay warm and prepared throughout the season, Cradles to Crayons® Chicago (C2C®) is launching its annual “Gear Up for Winter” initiative with a goal of collecting 50,000 winter coats for children across Chicagoland.
Voices and Visions Revisited: New Interview Series Explores the Black Experience at Northwestern University Amid a Changing National Landscape
At a moment when institutions of higher education across the nation are grappling with unprecedented challenges to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, the authors of Voices and Visions: The Evolution of the Black Experience at Northwestern University are returning to the stories, voices, and history that continue to shape the Black experience at Northwestern.
$21.8 Million Funding Opportunity Open to Address Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities
Springfield --Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Director James Jennings today announced a second round of funding for projects addressing emerging contaminants in drinking and/or source water in small or disadvantaged communities. A total of $21,806,000 is available through the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) Grant Program to assist communities in completing construction projects to address Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) or Manganese in drinking and/or source water. A Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for this opportunity has been posted to the Illinois EPA website.
IDPH Urges Illinoisans to Get Vaccinated Against Measles as Cases Rise
As measles cases across the country increase, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reminding residents to protect themselves by confirming they are vaccinated against the disease. While the risk for getting measles remains very low for residents, vaccination is the most effective step people can take to protect themselves and their loved ones.
Lights, Camera, Conservation: Humboldt penguins steal the spotlight in new holiday movie filmed at Brookfield Zoo Chicago
From snow-dusted pathways and twinkling holiday lights to unforgettable animal encounters, Brookfield Zoo Chicago will step into the spotlight as the primary filming location for the upcoming holiday film “Christmas at the Zoo,” premiering on Tubi on November 10.