After closing its long-running riverboat casino along the Des Plaines River, Hollywood Casino’s brand-new $185 million land-based facility in Joliet, Illinois, will officially welcome the public on Monday. The expansive new property, located at the intersection of Interstate 80 and Interstate 55, marks a major shift from the riverboat era to a modern entertainment destination designed to draw both local and regional visitors.

A burglary-turned-violent incident unfolded early Thursday morning on Chicago’s Northwest Side when a group of armed suspects rammed a vehicle into a GameStop storefront, leading to a police-involved shooting, an officer injury, and a citywide search for the culprits. The situation has since drawn attention from law enforcement and oversight agencies as the investigation continues. The incident occurred at approximately 4:26 a.m. in the 2900 block of West Addison Street, where

Chicago is set to experience a food trend unlike any other as Heinz teams up with Smoothie King to launch the world’s first tomato ketchup smoothie. Known for its culinary traditions and strong opinions on condiments, the city will soon witness an unusual twist that blends its iconic ketchup with the vibrant flavors of a smoothie. This innovative drink is set to be available only for a short period, starting August 6, and will be offered at select Smoothie King locations across Chicago,

Chicago drivers should prepare for significant changes on the outbound Kennedy Expressway this week as the Illinois Department of Transportation begins a new lane configuration that will last approximately two weeks. As part of the ongoing Kennedy Expressway rehabilitation project, the number of lanes is temporarily reduced from six to four in a newly reconfigured construction zone. The rehabilitation work stretches from the Edens Expressway junction to Ohio Street and is one of the most exte

A well-known Chicago café and fast-casual restaurant is set to open its newest location in Wilmette in fall 2025. Goddess and the Baker, a popular eatery recognized for its vibrant menu and welcoming atmosphere, will move into Edens Plaza at 3232 Lake Avenue, taking over the space formerly occupied by Corner Bakery, which closed earlier this summer. The arrival of Goddess and the Baker marks a significant addition to Edens Plaza, a shopping center in West Wilmette that has

With cleanup crews hard at work and major streets reopening, another year of Lollapalooza has officially wrapped in Chicago. The four-day festival drew approximately 115,000 attendees per day, offering a wide range of music, food, and entertainment in Grant Park while maintaining a relatively calm public safety profile. Preliminary figures released by event organizers show that despite the massive turnout, only 12 arrests were made throughout the duration of the festival. This arr

Jack in the Box is making a strong comeback to the Chicago area with three new restaurant openings set for August 2025. After decades away from the region, the popular fast-food chain is re-establishing its presence with a series of new locations across the suburbs, offering residents a taste of its iconic menu. This expansion follows the brand’s earlier announcement of returning to Chicagoland with eight company-operated units, marking a significant milestone in its Midwest growth stra

  A new study ranking the safest suburbs across the United States has placed Highland Park, a Chicago-area community, among the top locations for safety and quality of life. The ranking, compiled by financial planning company SmartAsset, analyzed 360 towns located within a 45-minute drive of a major U.S. city. Highland Park secured the 14th spot on the list, making it one of the standout safe suburbs in the nation. The comprehensive ranking was based on several key

The Chicago Cubs remain actively linked to Washington Nationals pitcher MacKenzie Gore as speculation about a possible trade intensifies ahead of the MLB trade deadline. For days, reports have suggested that the Cubs have been exploring options to bring Gore to Chicago, with the aim of bolstering their starting rotation for the future. Despite the ongoing rumors, sources indicate that there is no immediate pressure on the Nationals to move the 26-year-old left-hander, leaving the situation fl

Illinois Congressman Danny Davis is preparing to announce his retirement, marking the end of an era in Chicago politics. After serving for nearly three decades as the representative of the 7th Congressional District, Davis will step down and endorse State Representative LaShawn Ford as his preferred successor. According to sources close to the matter, the announcement will be made during a scheduled press conference on Thursday. This decision will reshape the upcoming race as several Democrat

As the countdown begins for the highly anticipated Lollapalooza festival in Chicago, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning fans to stay vigilant against a surge in ticket-related scams. With the four-day music event set to take over Grant Park from July 31 to August 3, scammers are expected to exploit the urgency of last-minute ticket buyers with fake websites, counterfeit tickets, and fraudulent merchandise. BBB President and CEO Steve J. Bernas cautioned that scammers prey o

A heartfelt memorial of flowers, hats, and memorabilia grew outside Wrigley Field on Tuesday as fans gathered around the statue of Ryne "Ryno" Sandberg to pay their respects. The Chicago Cubs legend, beloved by generations of baseball fans, passed away at the age of 65 after a courageous battle with metastatic prostate cancer. Sandberg’s fight against the disease began in January 2024. Following chemotherapy and radiation, he experienced a brief remission, but in Dec

Air travel into Chicago faced significant disruption Monday afternoon as a ground stop was implemented at one of the city’s major airports due to an intense thunderstorm system. Flights scheduled to land were held at their origin airports following a federal directive issued just after noon. The weather event causing the delay is bringing dangerous conditions, including high winds, hail, and torrential rainfall. The ground stop took effect at 12:20 p.m. and was expected to r

A hospital in Chicago placed its emergency room on full bypass Monday morning after experiencing a critical air conditioning failure, just as a heat advisory went into effect across the region. The failure, caused by a chilled water line issue, led to the temporary loss of cooling inside the facility’s tower building and impacted several vital areas, including patient care zones and essential equipment rooms. The extreme weather conditions made the situation even more urgent

Cook County Crime Stoppers has announced a $1000 reward for any information that can help identify and locate the driver involved in a fatal hit and run that claimed the life of 22 year old Marcella Herrera. The tragic incident occurred on the evening of Saturday, July 19, along South Ashland Avenue near West 19th Street on Chicago’s Southwest Side. Marcella was crossing the street with her fiancé when a silver SUV struck both of them, killing her and leaving her fiancé se

A serious service disruption affected South Shore Line trains early Thursday morning after a person was struck by a train in Gary, Indiana. The incident prompted a full stop of several inbound trains heading toward Chicago, leaving many commuters facing delays at the start of their day. At around 6:10 a.m., the South Shore Line released an alert indicating that train operations were halted due to a pedestrian strike. Emergency crews were reported to be on the scene assessing the situation. No es

In a touching moment that has captured hearts across the globe, a Chicago family’s thoughtful gesture and clever planning led to an unforgettable encounter with Pope Leo XIV during their recent trip to Rome. The Munoz family, visiting Italy together, took it upon themselves to bring a piece of Chicago to the Vatican. Their tribute came in the form of custom-made “Da Pope” shirts, creatively styled with Chicago Bears colors and inspired by the city’s iconic cultural the

As the Chicago Bears gear up for the start of their 2025 NFL training camp, there’s already no shortage of headlines surrounding the team’s roster, injury list, and offseason decision-making. The team enters camp with rising expectations following a busy offseason and the highly anticipated debut of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. However, questions remain about the health of some key players, particularly one of the defense’s most vital members, and whether the team has

Three suburbs in the Chicago metropolitan area have once again been recognized among the wealthiest in the United States. Hinsdale, Lake Forest, and Wilmette ranked in the top 50 richest suburbs nationwide in a 2025 study based on household income data from 2023. These affluent Illinois communities stood out for their high average household earnings and consistently strong home values, reinforcing their status as some of the most desirable places to live in the Midwest. To qualify

Lake Michigan beaches across Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan are under a high swim risk warning through Thursday and Friday as dangerous weather conditions take hold of the region. The National Weather Service issued alerts forecasting wind speeds reaching up to 20 miles per hour and waves cresting as high as seven feet, making swimming and boating hazardous and potentially life-threatening. These conditions follow closely on the heels of a powerful line of thunderstorms that tore across the