Illinois gas tax pause talks remain active as a scheduled fuel tax increase approaches on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. Gov. JB Pritzker has said he is open to considering a pause, but state leaders have not announced a final plan. The Illinois General Assembly faces a key deadline on Sunday, May 31, 2026, when the spring legislative session is scheduled to adjourn. That gives lawmakers limited time to act before the automatic increase takes effect. Illinois gas tax pa

A Dallas apartment gas explosion killed three people and injured five others after firefighters responded to a reported gas leak in Oak Cliff. Dallas Fire-Rescue Chief Justin Ball said all known residents of the destroyed apartment building had been accounted for after crews searched the site into Friday, May 29, 2026. What happened in the Dallas apartment gas explosion? The explosion happened on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at an apartment complex

Six horses were seized in West Texas after a traffic stop in Presidio County raised concerns about suspected livestock smuggling and possible animal health risks. Deputies stopped a vehicle on FM 170 to verify required Coggins test documentation for the horses, according to the supplied report. The date of the traffic stop was not provided in the source material. USDA Quarantine Ordered After West Texas Horse Seizure During the stop, the driver

A 17-year-old boy was hospitalized after a shark bite near Galveston, Texas, turned a boating trip into a medical emergency on Monday, May 25, 2026. The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office contacted the U.S. Coast Guard at about 3:15 p.m. local time after reports that the teenager had suffered a shark bite while on a boat near Galveston. Coast Guard Responds After Shark Bite Near Galveston Authorities said the teen was on a boat with his father

CapMetro Bikeshare suspended in Austin after a fire damaged bike batteries and charging equipment at the agency’s East Ben White facility. The service remains unavailable, and CapMetro has not announced a timeline for when Austin Bikeshare will return. CapMetro said the fire happened on May 23 at its Bikeshare facility in the 5300 block of East Ben White Boulevard in Austin, Texas. The source information did not provide the year,

Peelander-Z, the Austin-based Japanese punk band, is receiving support from fans after a serious New Mexico I-40 crash left all three members hospitalized during their spring tour. The crash happened on Monday afternoon, May 18, 2026, New Mexico time, while the band was traveling westbound on I-40 east of Albuquerque. KOB reported that authorities said a semi-truck rear-ended the band’s tour van less than an hour from the city. An exact crash time

Bexley High gown rentals helped reduce graduation costs and clothing waste during the school’s 2026 commencement in Bexley, Ohio, on Sunday, May 24, 2026. The student-led effort gave seniors an option to rent gowns instead of buying apparel used for one ceremony. The initiative was led by senior Prudence Kiener, who connected the project to both affordability and sustainability. Kiener said the goal was to help every senior fully participate in commencement withou

Dallas families are being urged to take extra fire and water safety precautions during the Memorial Day weekend as outdoor gatherings, pool visits, lake trips and backyard cooking increase across the area. Parkland Health officials say close supervision around grills, campfires and water can help prevent serious injuries involving both children and adults. The warning comes as many families prepare for the unofficial start of summer, when children are often near open flames, backyar

Chicago street closures will affect downtown traffic during Sueños Festival, which is scheduled for Saturday, May 23, 2026, and Sunday, May 24, 2026, at Grant Park. Drivers traveling near Grant Park, the Loop and the downtown lakefront should expect delays during Memorial Day weekend as several roads remain closed for festival operations and public safety. Roads Closed Near Grant Park

Stone Elementary in Addison, Illinois, was evacuated on Thursday afternoon, May 21, 2026, as police investigated emergency activity and a possible swatting call near Lombard Road. Addison police said students and staff at Stone Elementary School were evacuated safely as a precaution while police officers, fire crews and school administrators responded to the situation. Officials did not immediately report any injuries or confirm whether a credible threat had been fo

The FAA is investigating an O’Hare taxiway scrape after a United Airlines Boeing 737 made light contact with an All Nippon Airways aircraft at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. The incident happened just before 10:00 AM CT on an unspecified Thursday, according to the information provided. The exact calendar date was not included in the source details. FAA reviews O’Hare taxiway scrape involving United and ANA The Federal Aviation Admi

Texas Memorial Day travel is expected to reach record levels in 2026, with AAA Texas projecting 3.7 million Texans will travel at least 50 miles from home during the holiday period. The Memorial Day travel window runs from Thursday, May 21, through Monday, May 25, 2026, and road trips are expected to dominate across Texas and the United States. AAA Texas projects about 3.2 million Texans will travel by car, making driving the top choice for holiday getaways, family visits,

Houston power outages affected more than 13,000 customers early Wednesday, May 20, 2026, after severe thunderstorms moved across Southeast Texas overnight. Utility outage data showed more than 13,000 customers in the Houston region were without electricity as of 7:00 AM local time on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. The outages followed a round of severe weather that began Tuesday evening, May 19, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and widespread weather-rel

A new Jersey City beach shuttle stop is giving local riders a more direct way to reach popular Jersey Shore destinations during the summer travel season. Park Avenue Worldwide is adding a weekend pickup location at the ACME on 18th Street in Jersey City, expanding its Shore-bound service for riders from Jersey City and nearby Hoboken. Jersey City Beach Shuttle Pickup Added at ACME on 18th Street The new stop will serve passenge

Raging Waves opening day 2026 is set for Saturday, May 23, 2026, as the Yorkville, Illinois water park begins its summer season over Memorial Day weekend. The park is scheduled to operate from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM local time on Saturday, May 23, Sunday, May 24, and Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, according to the official Raging Waves park calendar. The calendar also lists the park’s Salute to Heroes event across all three opening weekend dates. Yorkville Water Par

Columbus City Council changed part of a soccer facility land deal by removing 10 acres on Greenlawn Avenue from the agreement tied to the city’s push for a women’s professional soccer team. The change came after questions from residents and city leaders about how the land would be used, especially because the Greenlawn Avenue parcel had been connected to earlier expectations for a therapeutic center. The revised deal separates that parcel from the broader soccer facility plan.

Ohio social media warning label bill HB 808 would require notices on platforms that use addictive features to keep users scrolling for long periods. The bill was introduced in the Ohio House on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, by state Representatives Christine Cockley of Columbus and Jodi Salvo of Bolivar. Legislative tracking records show the measure was later referred to the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, with no

The Pass Fire near Livermore burned 69 acres after starting near Altamont Pass Road in Alameda County, California, at 12:03 PM PDT on Sunday, May 17, 2026, according to CAL FIRE. CAL FIRE’s Santa Clara Unit handled the response to the vegetation fire near Altamont, northeast of Livermore. The agency said the cause remained under investigation, and no incident management team was assigned. Fire Started Near Altamont Pass Road

Santa Clara data centers are facing renewed scrutiny over water use as AI and cloud-computing demand expands across Silicon Valley. A Next 10 report released on Thursday, May 14, 2026, titled “The Intersection of Data Center Development, Water Availability, and Environmental Justice In California,” warned that California’s data center boom is moving into regions already facing water scarcity and environmental justice concerns. The report was l

The LIRR strike has suspended Long Island Rail Road service, forcing commuters and baseball fans to look for alternate travel options across the New York City area. The MTA said LIRR service was suspended systemwide because of a strike on Saturday, May 16, 2026, with the disruption affecting hundreds of thousands of daily riders. The agency advised passengers to avoid nonessential travel, work from home when possible and allow extra time for alterna