Local News
SOUTH CHICAGO DANCE THEATRE PRESENTS THREE WORLD PREMIERES AT THE HARRIS THEATER IN ONE CELEBRATORY EVENING, MAY 1, 2026
South Chicago Dance Theatre (SCDT) presents its ninth annual home season concert, An Evening with South Chicago Dance Theatre, featuring three electric world premieres by award-winning choreographers Natasha Adorlee, David Dorfman, and SCDT Founder and Director of Vision and Strategy and Resident Choreographer Kia S. Smith. The four-part mixed repertory program concludes with a powerful work by renowned choreographer Donald Byrd. An Evening with South Chicago Dance Theatre takes place for one night only at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 West Randolph, on Friday, May 1, 2026.
Assessor Kaegi, Joined by Lawmakers, Clergy, and Community Leaders, Calls for Reducing Barriers to Property Tax Relief for Seniors
Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi was joined by state lawmakers, community groups, and clergy at a press conference Wednesday morning calling for better access to property tax relief for low-income seniors.
Leadership Greater Chicago Selects Distinguished Chicago Leaders for The Daniel Burnham Fellowship 2026 Cohort
Leadership Greater Chicago (LGC) announced the eighth cohort of The Daniel Burnham Fellowship. The cohort includes 27 prominent CEOs and senior executives representing a diverse cross-section of corporate, nonprofit, government, philanthropic, cultural and educational organizations. These dedicated civic leaders, who join LGC’s network of more than 1,600 committed change agents, will tackle complex challenges – including affordable housing, education, workforce and economic development, food insecurity, and access to quality healthcare – to create lasting impact across the region.
Rep. Kelly introduces two bills to hold gun industry accountable
U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) introduced two bicameral bills to investigate marketing practices of the gun industry and to implement consumer safety standards for guns. After years of evading commonsense consumer practices, the gun industry will be held to the same safety and marketing standards as other industries under Rep. Kelly’s Responsible Firearms Marketing Act and Firearm Safety Act.
Giannoulias Expands Electronic Lien and Titling to Deliver Faster, More Secure Vehicle Titles
Illinois motorists, lenders and dealers will soon experience faster title processing, fewer delays and stronger fraud protections as the Secretary of State’s office transitions to mandatory participation in its Electronic Lien and Titling (ELT) program statewide, Secretary Alexi Giannoulias announced.
Exclusive scholarship program for CHA residents now accepting applications
The application period for the 2026-2027 CHA/Springboard to Success (S2S) College Scholarship is open and accepting applications. There are 175 scholarships valued at $2,000 each.
From Breadbasket to the Rainbow
Before the presidential campaigns. Before the Rainbow Coalition. Before the global diplomacy and Presidential Medal of Freedom — there was a basement in Chicago, a handful of ministers, and a bold idea: economic power could be organized. Rev. Jesse L. Jackson’s national profile would eventually span continents, but his economic justice framework began in the crucible of the Civil Rights Movement — under the mentorship of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).
Keeping Hope Alive Through Legacy Planning
Black History Month invites us to remember courage under pressure. It reminds us that our ancestors survived systems designed to exclude them. They built families, churches, businesses, and neighborhoods anyway. Survival was not optional. It was necessary.
Rising optimism among small and middle market business leaders suggests growth for Illinois
Business optimism is returning for small and midsize business leaders at the start of 2026, fueling confidence and growth plans.
Chicago Native Appointed New Executive Director of Chicago United for Equity
Jerry L. Hawkins has been appointed as the new Executive Director of Chicago United for Equity (CUE). Hawkins, a Chicago native, previously worked for the Chicago Urban League and Dallas Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation, and has been grounded in doing racial equity work throughout his career.
George Ellzey, Jr. To present Film Screening In March
Filmmaker George Ellzey, Jr. is presenting his work at a film screening titled INTERIOR on March1st at Facets Film Forum, located at 1517 W. Fullerton Ave. INTERIOR will include five completed short films, along with two new works he has in progress.
La Femme Dance Festival Set For Late March
Red Clay Dance Company will host its La Femme Dance Festival from March 26th through the 28th, with its culminating dance performance set to take place at 7;30 p.m. Saturday, March 28th, at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, located at 205 E. Randolph St. This is the fifth year for the biennial festival, which was developed by Vershawn Sanders-Ward, Founding Artistic Director and CEO of Red Clay Dance Company.
Afton Battle Appointed Director Of The Land School And General Manager Of Rebuild Foundation
Afton Battle has been appointed to the role of Director of The Land School and General Manager of Rebuild Foundation. She said that being part of Rebuild means a great deal to her. It is the second job she has had where she feels like she can authentically be herself.
The Village Of Ford Heights Receives Its First Dine-In Restaurant in Sixty Years
Andre Williams and Suheir Barakat opened their first S2 Grills in 2017. They recently opened a location in Ford Heights, giving the small Southland village one of its only sit-down restaurants in sixty years.
