Ifest 2026 Schaumburg will bring culture, creativity and community service together on Saturday, August 15, at National India Hub in Schaumburg, Illinois. The free cultural fest will feature dance, music, fashion and multilingual performances while creating opportunities for people to connect. Schaumburg event celebrates cultures together Ifest 2026: A Celebration of Culture, Unity & Commun

  Illinois back-to-school sales tax holiday 2026 runs August 7-16, cutting the state portion of sales tax by 5 percentage points on eligible school supplies and qualifying clothing and footwear under $125 per item, while local taxes still apply across the state. Illinois shoppers can pay a reduced state sales tax rate on qualifying back-to-school purchases during a 10-day tax holiday ru

Illinois water cyberattack reporting remains split across general safety rules and federal guidance. A pending bill would require cybersecurity programs and incident procedures as utilities confront threats to connected control systems across the state. Illinois reporting rules leave a cyber gap Illinois water systems operate under general emergency-notification rules, but the state still lacks

Chicago storms swept across northeastern Illinois and northwest Indiana on Monday, July 27, 2026, producing winds above 100 mph, large hail, flash flooding, widespread power outages, possible tornado reports and major travel disruptions. 100 mph winds sweep across the region A powerful line of Chicago storms crossed northeastern Illinois and northwest Indiana on Monday, July 27, 2026, producing

The Illinois tax holiday comparison shows major differences across nearby states in 2026. Illinois offers a 10-day state-rate reduction, Iowa provides a two-day clothing exemption, and Missouri removes state and local tax from qualifying school purchases for three days. Illinois offers the longest nearby holiday

Illinois tax holiday savings depend on how much a family spends on qualifying products from August 7-16, 2026. The state rate falls by five percentage points, producing savings of $5 per $100. Clothing and footwear must cost under $125 per item, while eligible school supplies have no price cap. Families save $5 for every $100 For the full schedule, reduced tax rate and shopping rules, read our

The Illinois tax holiday eligible-items checklist explains what receives the reduced state tax rate from August 7-16, 2026. Clothing and footwear must cost under $125 per item, while qualifying student school supplies have no price cap. Computers and textbooks remain excluded. Reduced rate applies only to listed products

The Illinois tax holiday 2026 runs from Aug. 7 through Aug. 16, reducing the state sales tax portion by five percentage points on qualifying clothing, footwear and school supplies. Apparel and shoes must cost under $125 per item, while eligible student supplies have no price cap. Illinois tax holiday begins August 7

Illinois drivers will not face the scheduled 1.3-cent motor fuel tax increase in 2026. The Illinois gas tax will remain at 48.3 cents per gallon through Thursday, December 31, 2026, before rising to 49.6 cents on Friday, January 1, 2027. Illinois Gas Tax Increase Delayed for Six Months The scheduled increase was suspended beginning Wednesday, July 1, 2026. The temporary pause does not reduce the existing gasoline tax. It postpones only the inflation-link

Illinois universal lead testing for children began Wednesday, July 1, 2026, replacing the state’s previous ZIP code-based approach. Under the new standard, children across Illinois are to receive automatic blood lead tests at 12 and 24 months, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Illinois Universal Lead Testing Replaces ZIP Code Limits IDPH announced the change on Thursday, June 25, 2026. Previously, automatic testing requirements foc

Workers and employers across the Chicago area will face different minimum wage rates beginning Wednesday, July 1, 2026, depending on the location of the job. Illinois’ statewide minimum wage will remain $15 per hour for workers age 18 and older, while the base rate for tipped employees will stay at $9 per hour. The statewide increases required under a 2019 law ended after those rates took effect on Wednesday, January 1, 2025. Chicago Minimum Wage Rises to $17.05

Tick-bite emergency room visits are rising as Illinois tick season reaches one of its busiest periods. Federal health data shows weekly tick-bite ER visit rates in every U.S. region except the South Central states are at their highest level for this point in the year since 2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Illinois tick season brings several species into focus The Illinois Department of Public Health says

CHICAGO — Obama Presidential Center museum tickets were sold out for the grand opening weekend as the new cultural and civic institution welcomed the public on Friday, June 19, 2026. The South Side center opened one day after a dedication ceremony on Thursday, June 18, 2026, featuring performers, speakers, celebrity guests and three former U.S. presidents. The public debut coincided with Juneteenth. Former

Fashion Outlets of Chicago has been named the best outlet mall near O’Hare in a national ranking of shopping centers across the United States. The Rosemont, Illinois, destination earned the No. 1 position for its combination of outlet stores, dining, entertainment, contemporary art and convenient access for Chicago-area residents and airport travelers. Why the Best Outlet Mall Near O’Hare Ranked First The two-level, 530,000-square-foot shop

WASHINGTON — Illinois hospital price transparency warnings have been issued to 21 facilities as federal officials intensify enforcement of rules requiring hospitals to publish clear pricing data. The notices are part of a nationwide action involving more than 500 hospitals, The Associated Press reported on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. Since April 2026, hospitals have received warning letters or, in more serious cases, requests for corrective action plans. Hospitals that do not

New Illinois laws taking effect July 1 will change driver’s license renewals for older adults, broaden school cyberbullying rules and require permits for some school bus operators. The state will also pause its customary inflation-linked fuel tax increase. The measures take effect on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. While several make technical changes to existing statutes, they could affect drivers, students, families and school transportation providers across Illinois.

Chicago weekend storms remain possible as humid air stays over the region, bringing mid-80s temperatures, lakefront cooling and a stronger rain chance before 90-degree heat returns later in the week. The source forecast did not provide confirmed calendar dates, so weekday references are preserved without adding unverified dates. Thunderstorms moved through the Chicago area overnight, but by about 7 AM Central time, most of the activity had shifted south and was leaving the

A Melrose Park Amazon shooting left one person dead on Thursday, June 4, 2026, after gunfire was reported at an employee garage in the Chicago suburb, officials said. Authorities are searching for the suspect after the fatal shooting at an Amazon Fulfillment Center facility on North Fifth Avenue in Melrose Park, Illinois. Melrose Park Amazon Shooting Under Investigation Police were called shortly after 9:00 AM local time on Thursday, June 4, 2026, after reports

Chicago green fireball boom reports spread across the Midwest after a bright green object crossed the night sky over the Chicago area on a Monday night. The source material did not provide a calendar date or exact time, but reports described sightings from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio. Chicago Green Fireball Boom Reports Across the Midwest Hundreds of people reported seeing a bright green fireball over the Chicago area and ne

Illinois lawmakers voted to delay the state’s swipe fee law for another year, keeping the fight over card fees on sales taxes and tips in court and before federal regulators. The delay affects the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act, or IFPA, a first-of-its-kind Illinois law that would restrict banks, credit unions and card companies from collecting interchange fees on the tax and tip portions of debit and credit card transactions. Illinois Swipe Fee Law Delay Exten