IDNR hosts self-guided hikes in 17 state parks on New Year's Day 2026, as part of a national initiative and in celebration of America's 250th anniversary.

A well‑being check in unincorporated Harvard on Saturday left a woman dead and a man seriously injured. McHenry County investigators say the shooting appears isolated.

Gas prices in Peoria dip below $3 per gallon, reflecting a broader national trend of decreasing fuel costs, with GasBuddy reporting a fall in prices due to increased refinery output and OPEC oil production.

HUD’s inspector general has opened an audit of the Chicago Housing Authority’s checks for citizenship and criminal‑activity eligibility, a review that could affect thousands of households.

The long-shuttered Cinema Chatham at 210 W. 87th St. is up for a receivership online auction. Brokers are marketing the 65,000‑square‑foot site as a redevelopment play while neighbors push for arts uses.

A Chicago man who pleaded guilty in a 2023 Rochester apartment shooting received four years' probation after a presentence report recommended supervision. No injuries were reported.

A Saucy Porka chef suffered serious injuries in an October attack. Owner Amy Le has launched a fundraiser and will close the Loop outpost.

A man with a knife was shot by police in Gary, Indiana after he moved towards an officer and ignored orders to drop the weapon. His condition is unknown.

Aurora’s ethics overhaul cleared a committee with a higher donation cap and beefed‑up disclosure rules, but aldermen say gaps remain ahead of a possible council vote.

Cicero police identified a 73-year-old man killed in a Saturday night stabbing. A person of interest was detained after a brief expressway pursuit into Chicago.

A 47-year-old Chicago man was arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder after police say he fired at a 16-year-old in the 5000 block of W. Madison; the teen was not injured.

A woman died in Chicago's Logan Square from a collision involving a Buick Regal and a semi-truck. The crash ejected her from the car. Police seek information.

Chicago is expecting a shift from cold to milder weather, with mixed conditions including clouds, wind chill, and chances of rain and snow, but trending warmer towards Christmas.