Local News
Chicago Department of Public Health Receives Continued Accreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is proud to announce that the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) continued its accreditation of the department following the February 12, 2026 decision by the PHAB Accreditation Committee. This continued accreditation reaffirms CDPH’s commitment to excellence, accountability, and national public health standards.
Giannoulias Announces 2026 Summer Job Program
Approximately 120 paid positions are available for college, trade school and graduate students, as well as graduating high school seniors who will be enrolled in college or trade school in the fall. A limited program is also available for 25 high school students ages 16 and older. Positions are offered across the Secretary of State’s 25 departments and at DMV facilities throughout the state.
MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON ANNOUNCES 2ND ANNUAL CHICAGO RIVER SWIM SEPT. 20 FOLLOWING HISTORIC FIRST YEAR, ESTABLISHING NEW CIVIC TRADITION
The Chicago River Swim presented by the City of Chicago and Mayor Brandon Johnson will return for its second annual event on Sunday, September 20, 2026, bringing swimmers back to the heart of downtown Chicago for another landmark civic moment.
The Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine Celebrates Students’ Major Step Closer to Vet Med Degrees
The Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM) celebrated students transitioning from the preclinical phase of veterinary curriculum into the clinical phase of their training at its annual White Coat Ceremony -- honoring 59 students, who will graduate in 2027, as they mark this pivotal step closer to veterinary medicine degrees.
A Conversation with Author Eve L. Ewing: Education, Equity and Justice from Original Sins to Superheroes
Dominican University’s School of Education presents an evening with writer, scholar and Chicago cultural organizer Dr. Eve L. Ewing on Thursday, April 16.
Gov. Pritzker Launches Down Payment Assistance Program for First-Time Homebuyers
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) launched IHDAccess Home (Access Home), a new program offering up to $15,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance for eligible first-time homebuyers statewide. The initiative expands IHDA’s popular Access mortgage suite and is designed to help more working families achieve homeownership amid rising housing costs.
MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON, DFSS ANNOUNCE REBRANDED “CHICAGO YOUTH WORKS” YOUTH EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE, CELEBRATE KICKOFF OF SUMMER APPLICATION PERIOD
Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) announced the launch of Chicago Youth Works, the City’s rebranded youth employment initiative, as well as the kickoff of the 2026 application period for summer employment and career exploration opportunities for youth ages 14 to 24. The online application portal is now live and can be accessed by visiting ChicagoYouthWorks.org. The deadline to apply is May 29.
SSHCO MODEL CUTS EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS BY 70%, AVOIDS $12.7 MILLION IN MEDICAL COSTS
The South Side Healthy Community Organization (SSHCO), a state-funded nonprofit healthcare collaborative working to close health gaps across Chicago’s South Side, released its latest impact data, demonstrating significant improvements in outcomes, service utilization, and cost efficiency, at both a system level and for South Side residents.
MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON, CDOT, AND LYFT ANNOUNCE EXTENSION OF $99 DIVVY MEMBERSHIP FOR NEW RIDERS AND MAJOR SYSTEM EXPANSION
Mayor Brandon Johnson, the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), and Lyft announced the continuation of the popular $99 Divvy annual membership for new and lapsed riders, a price freeze for current members, and the addition of 200 new or upgraded stations this year. Divvy, Chicago’s bike and scooter share system operated by Lyft, is coming off of a record-breaking 2025 and has already seen more than 500,000 trips in 2026 — outpacing previous winter ridership records.
State Treasurer Frerichs Announces 250,000 More Illinoisans with Disabilities Eligible for ABLE Accounts
Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced that an estimated 250,000 Illinoisans with a disability are now eligible to open ABLE accounts that allow them to save and invest money to improve quality of life without risking federal benefits.
Illinois Department of Revenue Alerts Taxpayers to Postal Service Changes that Could Impact Tax Filings
Chicago- The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) is alerting taxpayers that changes announced by the United States Postal Service (USPS) regarding postmarks could impact tax filings in 2026.
The Rich Get Richer…
Recent reports say the economy is now the top concern in many American households. Families feel it at the grocery store, gas station, when paying utility bills, and when trying to stretch a monthly budget. Official inflation numbers may tell one story, but everyday experience sometimes tells another. For many people, the cost of necessities feels far higher than it did just a few years ago. That raises a simple question: do the economic signals we hear truly reflect what Black households are living through?
Local Young Athletes Experience Major League Baseball With The Chicago White Sox
Four South Side student athletes had the opportunity to attend Spring Training camp with the Chicago White Sox recently. The White Sox Amateur City Elite (ACE) 13U players Rashaun Harris, James Nash, Parker Jones and Amir Walker were chosen to spend a few days at the Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz.
Bell Heir’s BBQ Is Open In The River Oaks Mall
Tyris Bell remembers being at his great grandmother Luella’s house, where the family would gather for holidays and parties and she would cook. Bell recently opened Bell Heir’s BBQ in the River Oaks Mall in Calumet City. The barbecue restaurant was previously located in Canaryville.
