Local News
U.S. CONGRESSMAN RAJA KRISHNAMMOORTHI RECEIVES HUGE ENDORSEMENT FROM PASTOR JOHN HARRELL
John Harrell- CEO of Black Men United – was joined by westside community civic and clergy leaders in a unified embrace and engagement of U.S Congressman Raja Krishnammoorthi. Pastor Harrell, who is also a candidate for Illinois State Representative of the 8th District, openly endorsed Congressman Raja. In return, Congressman Raja endorsed Harrell’s campaign. The event took place on Monday, October 6, 2025 at the Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church located at 116 S. Central in Chicago
COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER BILL LOWRY HOSTS CHICAGO’S LARGEST MEN’S & FAMILIES’ HEALTH FAIR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH “COOK COUNTY HEALTH”
COMMUNITY HEALTH ADVOCATES HELP RESPOND TO ALARMING PROSTATE CANCER, HYPERTENSION, AND WELLNESS ISSUES IMPACTING BLACK MEN’S HEALTH Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry, 3rd District and Chairman of the Cook County Health and Hospitals Committee, proudly partnered with Cook County Health to host one of Chicago’s largest Men’s and Families’ Health Fairs, drawing hundreds of participants for an afternoon dedicated to wellness, education, and prevention. The impactful event was held at New Life Covenant Southeast Church on Thursday, September 25th, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The notable fair featured an array of free health screenings, educational resources, and interactive activities tailored to address the most pressing health disparities impacting Black men and their families.
“EVERYTHING MUST BE DISCUSSED-FROM DEI, THREATS AGAINST BLACK CULTURE AND HEALTHCARE”
Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Joint Chairwoman, Illinois State Senator Lakesia Collins (5th District) will be joined by Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch, ILBCF Executive Director Tiffany Hightower, ILBC Members, Countywide elected officials, Civic Leaders, Clergy Leaders, and various other key stakeholders of the African American communities throughout Illinois and the United States in a 9:30 AM Kick off press conference to the start of an impactful two-day Policy Summit.
Cook County Confirms Another Measles Case
Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) has confirmed the third suburban Cook County measles case this year. The case was identified in a suburban Cook County adult whose vaccination status is unknown. Public health officials believe the case was acquired from exposure to the last reported measles case announced on 9/16/2025. CCDPH is working to identify and notify people who may have been exposed to this new case.
Giannoulias Launches Self-Service Emissions Testing Kiosk at Chicago South DMV
Chicagoans now have a new city-based option for getting their vehicle’s emissions test completed. Following the success of the vehicle emissions Mobile Testing Unit pilot at the Chicago South DMV, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias moved forward with installation of a permanent emissions testing self-service kiosk at the facility. This is in partnership with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA).
Landmarks Illinois awards $43,000 in grant funding to preservation efforts across Illinois
Landmarks Illinois has awarded $43,000 in grant funding to 10 preservation projects across the state through three grant programs: the Preservation Heritage Fund, Barbara C. and Thomas E. Donnelley II Preservation Fund for Illinois and the Timuel D. Black, Jr. Grant Fund for Chicago’s South Side.
NATIONAL ROAD SAFETY FOUNDATION AND CHICAGO AUTO SHOW INVITE TEENS TO CREATE SCRIPT FOR TV PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE ABOUT DANGERS OF SPEEDING
Teens from Chicagoland and throughout Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Iowa are invited to help promote safe driving by creating a message about the dangers of speeding.
New PBS documentary highlights enduring legacy and evolving future of HBCUs
A new documentary, Opportunity, Access & Uplift: The Evolving Legacy of HBCUs, hosted by journalist Brandis Griffith Friedman, is now airing nationwide on more than 300 PBS member stations and online throughout the country. This documentary is funded by Lumina Foundation.
Richard J. Daley College to Offer Aquatics Classes Through its Continuing Education Department
Richard J. Daley College is pleased to announce that Chicagoans can dive into the fun with its Aquatic program, that will be opening to the public through its Office of Continuing Education starting on Tuesday, Oct. 14, so register today!
Gov. Pritzker Issues Executive Order to Protect Life-Saving Immunization Access for Illinoisans
Governor JB Pritzker signed Executive Order 2025-04 launching a statewide effort to protect vaccine access during the fall respiratory virus season.
Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller Convenes Third Hearing to Examine Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Rates in Cook County
Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller convened a hearing of the Cook County Board’s Health and Hospitals Committee to hear from stakeholders about ways Illinois can better protect women during and after pregnancy and childbirth. In June 2023, Commissioner Miller held the first hearing on the topic after reports showed that in 2020, Illinois had a maternal mortality rate of 23 deaths per 100,000 live births, and for Black women, that rate was six times higher — surpassing the national average. Although the Illinois Department of Public Health noted an improvement in 2024, with Black women being three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related conditions than white women, the disparity remains alarming.
2023 Data Shows Life Expectancy Nearing Pre-Pandemic Levels, CDPH Reports
New data from the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) highlights a third consecutive year of growth in life expectancy for Chicagoans, reaching 78.7 years in 2023. This marks an increase of 1.5 years since 2022, when life expectancy was 77.2 years. The latest data brings the city close to its pre-pandemic peak of 78.8 years in 2019, which was the highest life expectancy ever recorded in Chicago.
Giannoulias Awards Over $28 Million in Library and Literacy Grants
Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias awarded $28.3 million for library services and literacy programs throughout the state.
Poetry Foundation Announces 2025 Recipients of the 21st Annual Pegasus Awards
The Poetry Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Pegasus Awards, a suite of literary prizes established by the Foundation in 2004