Three Chicago suburbs rank among America's wealthiest, with Hinsdale at number 7, and Lake Forest and Wilmette at 30 and 40 respectively, according to NBC Chicago and WBBM Newsradio studies.

A great-grandmother from Franklin Park won $1 million from a scratch-off lottery ticket purchased at a Walmart.

The article describes Esteban Pantoja's impact on Chicago's LGBTQ+ culture as "La Más Mejor" and Guillermo Barraza's role as a news host in drag in Mexico.

An Illinois man won nearly $1 million in the lottery's Fast Play Twenty 20s game, purchasing the ticket through the app, with plans for a European vacation. Over 567,000 tickets have won a collective $32.5 million this year in the game.

An Illinois resident won a $900,000 Lucky Day Lotto jackpot; the winning ticket was sold at Stop N Shop in Rockford with numbers 8, 11, 14, 33, 34. The store will receive a $9,000 bonus.

Residents of Franklin Park are shocked by huge water bills following new meter installations, leading to a communal outcry for explanations and solutions.

Candidates in Chicago begin filing papers to run in the city's first-ever elected school board, preparing for the November elections by gathering signatures and outlining platforms.

Chicago Teachers Union held its first public bargaining with CPS on the "Green Schools" initiative, focusing on the sustainable retrofitting of schools.

Illinois launches the Transgender and Gender Diverse Wellness and Equity Program to improve LGBTQ+ healthcare, focusing on access to gender-affirming care and addressing issues of systemic discrimination.

Northwestern University students staged a walkout at their commencement to protest in solidarity with Palestinians, amid calls for the university to divest from Israel.

Illinois recognizes nonbinary identities on licenses and IDs, allowing the option "X" alongside "M" and "F" for gender markers, reflecting inclusivity and practical safety benefits.

DuSable Lake Shore Drive in Chicago ranks 41st on Architectural Digest's list of the "71 Most Beautiful Streets in the World," noted for its lake views and skyline. The street was recently renamed to honor city founder Jean Baptiste Point DuSable.

Chicago is preparing for summer violence by empowering residents with bleeding control techniques and police will focus on high-violence areas. Community marches for peace and Mayor Johnson aims to train "youth peacekeepers" for prevention.