Mayor Brandon Johnson said CARE will be available across all 77 community areas, sending clinicians and EMTs — not police — to eligible mental-health calls.

A stop at Kelley's Market turned into a $1 million surprise for an Island Lake man who bought a Millionaire Club scratch-off and scanned it in-store.

Border Tails Rescue in Northbrook is caring for beagles from Ridglan Farms and needs fosters, adopters and supplies as the dogs adjust to life outside a research facility.

A CPD memo says most police stations will stop accepting stray animals and owner surrenders, pushing finders toward shelters, vets and microchip scans.

Zion Elementary District 6 says revamped vaccination tracking and school‑based clinics pushed district measles coverage toward the 95% target, though some schools still trail. Officials point to tighter recordkeeping and mobile clinics as the fix.

Nearly 3,000 nurses at Endeavor Health's North Shore hospitals are organizing over pay cuts and staffing shortfalls, citing patient‑safety concerns.

A $1 million Lotto ticket sold at Lucky Mart in Ashburn remains unclaimed; the retailer will receive a $10,000 bonus and the winner has a year to claim.

A Better Chicago is investing at least $10 million over five years to fight chronic absenteeism in six South and West Side neighborhoods as CPS attendance topped 40% last year.

Mayor Brandon Johnson named Cornerstone to operate The Haven on Lincoln, converting a Lincoln Square motel into trauma‑informed transitional housing with on‑site health and social services.

Chicago-born Robert Prevost — Pope Leo XIV — is the first U.S.-born pope; Dolton bought his childhood home and locals are still reacting.

A South Elgin woman won $1 million after buying a $50 Illinois Lottery scratch-off at a Speedway; the retailer will collect a $10,000 selling bonus. The winner plans to travel and buy a house.

An 18‑year‑old Chicago native with stage 4 colon cancer may never see his parents again after they were detained in Arizona; hospital staff have appealed for compassion.

As ICE activity rose, Chicago high-school teachers organized off-duty sanctuary teams — running know-your-rights sessions, ICE-watch shifts, safe-passage routes and small emergency funds. These ad-hoc efforts aim to keep students learning while families cope with enforcement fears.