Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.

Illinois Budget Criticized for Tax Hikes Impacting Families and Businesses
BARRINGTON HILLS – State Representative Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) slammed the latest round of tax increases set to take effect July 1st after Governor JB Pritzker signed off on Democrats’ Fiscal Year 2026 state budget last week—the...

Illinois Boosts College Financial Aid Support for High School Students
High school students across Illinois could soon find more support when applying for college financial aid, thanks to new laws championed by State Senator Javier Cervantes. The legislation requires every high school to appoint a staff member as a...

Illinois Expands Childhood Lead Testing to Over 1,350 High-Risk Areas
The Illinois Department of Public Health has expanded its effort to combat childhood lead exposure, adding 180 new ZIP codes to its testing list. Now, more than 1,350 high-risk areas are included statewide. Starting next year, Illinois will move...

It’s All Our Fault? Here’s Why Fireflies Are Going Extinct In Illinois
Remember those summer nights as a kid, chasing glowing fireflies through the backyard? Well, those magical little lights might soon become just a distant memory. Fireflies, the glowing icons of summer evenings and childhood awe, are quietly...

Michael McDowell Was Shane van Gisbergen’s Biggest Threat During NASCAR Chicago Cup Race—Until He Wasn’t
Shane van Gisbergen turned Chicago into his personal playground, stamping his authority on the streets with a sweep of both top-tier NASCAR races. But while SVG stole the show, things might have played out differently had Michael McDowell’s car...

Micky Horstman: Illinois needs the nuclear option for our energy needs
New York just did what Illinois lawmakers have failed to do for nearly four decades: commit to building a real nuclear power plant. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced plans to add at least one gigawatt of new nuclear capacity — power...

These two Black transgender women are ‘shining beacons’ leading Chicago through anti-trans backlash
As political forces — including the country's president — take aim at transgender Americans, two Black trans leaders in Chicago say they are not only resisting — they are building. Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ+ news and politics. Sign up for...

Chicago PD Ruins Its Best Halstead & Upton Replacement Couple Way Too Early, And I Hate It
Chicago PD lost one of its main love stories when Halstead and Upton left, and although the series attempted to replace them, the new relationship was over before it ever really began. The crime drama has been no stranger to torrid romances over...

Chicago mass shooting • Pride Parade arrest • Nissan recalls
In this episode of "Week in Review," we cover the major stories making headlines: A tragic mass shooting in River North shakes the community, Diddy's court case reaches its conclusion, new taxes are introduced in Illinois, and an alleged 'chop...

City of Champaign City Council will meet July 8
City of Champaign City Council will meet July 8 Here is the agenda provided by the council: I. CALL TO ORDER II. INVOCATION III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IV. ROLL CALL V. SPECIAL RECOGNITION VI. APPROVAL OF MINUTES • June 17, 2025 Community Civic...

New Illinois program to make accessing college easier
QUINCY (WGEM) -A new Illinois law is trying to make it easier for high school students to go to college. The Direct Admissions Program has been approved by the state and will soon begin to impact students throughout Illinois, taking effect in...

Chicago: At Least 50 Shot So Far During July 4th Weekend
At least 50 people were shot Thursday into Sunday morning of July 4th weekend across Mayor Brandon Johnson’s (D) Chicago. Six of the shooting victims succumbed to their wounds. ABC 7 reported one of the shooting fatalities occurred around 12:30...

Over a Third of Chicago’s Fatal Shooting Cases Are Closed Without Being Resolved
Lewis Parker will never forget the face of the man who shot and killed his brother, Jeremiah Lee. The man attacked the siblings in an attempt to steal their car. Jeremiah, 17, fought him, but the man shot him. “I was frozen,” Parker said. “I...

CEO of company speaks up after alleged data grab in Illinois
Texas law enforcement allegedly accessed Illinois license plate data through Flock Safety's system, raising concerns about potential violations of Illinois law protecting abortion access. Flock Safety's CEO stated the data access was part of a...

Oak Park trustees ask for more action on racial equity issues
Oak Park village trustees reviewed a consultant’s report on the village’s racial equity needs with an hours-long discussion last week. The Racial Equity Assessment Report was prepared by the University of Illinois Chicago’s Great Cities Institute,...

Illinois AG mandates open meetings for Peru’s Pool Committee
The Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor has issued a binding opinion concerning the City of Peru’s Pool Committee, declaring it a subsidiary body of the city council and thus subject to the Open Meetings Act (OMA) and the Freedom...
Rockford officials stand in solidarity with Texas flood victims
Rockford City Council rose for a moment of silence during its July 7 meeting to mourn the deaths of at least 104 people in catastrophic flooding in Texas and honor the first responders and residents working to rescue survivors. The Guadalupe River...

Municipal government buys house where Pope Leo XIV grew up: unanimous decision
(ZENIT News / Dolton, USA, 07.05.2025).- The small village of Dolton, Illinois, has taken an unexpected leap. On July 1, the village council voted unanimously to purchase the childhood home of Robert Francis Prevost—now Pope Leo XIV—the first...

Chicago Bulls Navigate Josh Giddey’s Contract Talks Amid Lonzo Ball Trade
The Chicago Bulls are focused on securing Josh Giddey, a restricted free agent, following a recent trade of Lonzo Ball. Negotiations with Giddey's representatives are ongoing and positive, though they are insisting on a contract valued at $30...

‘A shift going on’: Fulbright scholars at NU and abroad discuss impact, program’s future amid political uncertainty
The day before Ramadan began, Heba Khaldi discovered that her monthly Fulbright stipend would be delayed. As a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) from Kuwait, Khaldi spent the 2024-2025 academic year teaching Arabic at...