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Champaign County Residents Organize Grassroots Push to Block AI Data Centers
A growing grassroots group in Champaign County is mobilizing against proposed AI data centers after a county moratorium, citing concerns over water, power, health, noise, and surveillance. Multiple developers have approached county villages about projects.
Cicero Woman Sues Uber and Driver Over Alleged Sexual Assault During Ride
A Cicero woman is suing Uber, a subsidiary, and a rideshare driver after an alleged sexual assault during an early morning ride in April. The lawsuit claims Uber failed to screen the driver for a prior criminal history.
Mold at Waukegan Police Station Prompts Environmental Testing: "It's alarming... because of the health concerns"
Waukegan City Council unanimously approved a professional environmental assessment of the police station after Chief Elias "Louie" Agalianos reported mold on the American and Illinois flags, on the walls, and on desks, with maintenance workers draining two to four five-gallon buckets of dirty water every day.
Elgin Community College Covered Flock Cameras With Trash Bags After Refusing to Let the Company Remove Them
Elgin Community College officials attempted to cover Flock Safety license plate readers with black trash bags after the surveillance company refused to uninstall the cameras. More than half of ECC's students identify as Latino, and enrollment dipped after ICE detained a student in the campus parking lot.
At Peoria Debate, Challenger Nolley on the Attack as Incumbent LaHood Touts Record
Democratic challenger Paul Nolley and U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood faced off in a WTVP PBS candidate forum, trading sharp accusations on Social Security, Iran, tariffs, healthcare and immigration ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
FEMA rejects Illinois disaster aid for August storms, Pritzker vows appeal
Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Cameron Hamilton denied Illinois' request for a major disaster declaration after severe August storms hit eight counties, including Cook and Will. Gov. JB Pritzker's office said the state will appeal the decision, and state Democrats accused the Trump administration of politicizing disaster relief.
Former Joliet police lieutenant charged with felony over alleged Flock system misuse
A former Joliet police lieutenant faces felony charges for allegedly using the city's Flock surveillance camera system for personal benefit, Illinois State Police say.
Aurora Man Sentenced to 33 Years in Prison for 2023 Fatal Shooting
Zahmeir Andrews, now 19, was sentenced by Judge David Kliment to 33 years in prison for the August 2023 shooting death of 19-year-old Edwin Varela during what authorities described as a drug deal gone wrong.
Rockford Confirms ICE Activity After Agents Spotted in Community
City officials confirmed Tuesday that federal immigration agents were operating in Rockford, but stressed that neither the city nor the police department had advance notice of the activity.
Sangamon County Sheriff's Lieutenant Cited After Striking Pedestrian in Springfield Crosswalk
Lt. Andrew Henton was cited for failure to yield after his squad car struck a pedestrian at Ninth and Monroe Streets on Sept. 24. The victim suffered 14 broken ribs and a lacerated kidney.
Bears Stadium Talks Revive: Illinois Makes Fresh Bid to Keep Team in State After Meeting With NFL Commissioner
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and state lawmakers met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in Chicago on Thursday, signaling a renewed push to keep the Chicago Bears in the state and build a stadium in Arlington Heights, even as the team continues to evaluate a Hammond, Indiana site.
Man and Woman Charged After Allegedly Assaulting, Spitting on Police in Palatine
Two Palatine residents face felony charges after allegedly punching, kicking, and spitting on officers who responded to a disturbance on East Osage Lane last weekend.
Alchemy Real Estate Sells 419-Room Marriott Hotel Portfolio in Schaumburg
A national hotel investor has acquired a three-hotel, 419-room Marriott-branded portfolio along Schaumburg's Woodfield corridor, according to a Thursday announcement from Alchemy Real Estate Advisors.
Audio of 911 Call Reveals Tense ICE Stop of U.S. Citizen in Evanston
A newly released 911 recording captures the moment a man told Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents he was a U.S. citizen during a mistaken detention on Howard Street in Evanston.
Quincy Human Rights Commission Sends Resolution to City Council
Quincy's Human Rights Commission adopted its first resolution in years, asking city leaders to affirm a commitment to a community of safety, dignity, and belonging after allegations that an alderman shared Islamophobic content online.
Burglary suspect found hiding inside hollowed-out rooftop air conditioner in Carbondale
A 34-year-old East St. Louis man was arrested after Carbondale police found him hiding inside a hollowed-out air conditioner unit on the roof of a business on West Main Street following a reported burglary on Thursday, Oct. 1.
Decatur Manufacturer TCCI to Be First Stop on State's 'Makers on the Move' Bus Tour
TCCI Manufacturing in Decatur will host the kickoff of the fifth annual "Makers on the Move" bus tour, which begins on Manufacturing Day and will visit more than 30 locations across Illinois.
Sales tax dispute reignites between McLean County and Bloomington and Normal
A legal cease fire between the Town of Normal and City of Bloomington on one side and McLean County government on the other is showing signs of collapse. The two sides, locked in a nearly two-year-old fight over shared sales tax money, are again headed for court after the city and town hired outside lawyers and issued a mid-October compliance deadline.
Two Teenagers Arrested in Champaign Shooting That Injured 16-Year-Old
Champaign Police arrested a 14-year-old and a 17-year-old in connection with a shooting on N. Third Street that left a 16-year-old boy hospitalized with a leg wound. Three unlawfully possessed firearms were recovered during the investigation.
Cicero man charged with multiple felonies after drugs and guns found in home
Salvador Rodriguez, 38, was taken into custody after investigators found suspected cocaine, marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, cash and two firearms during a Sept. 22 search of his home on South 57th Court.
ICE agents return to Waukegan and Lake County as fear lingers one year after Midway Blitz
Federal immigration agents apprehended two men in Waukegan this week and were seen patrolling Gurnee Mills and Round Lake, reigniting anxiety in immigrant communities one year after Operation Midway Blitz.
Elgin Area School District U-46 to Spend $62.6 Million on 25 School Construction Projects
Elgin Area School District U-46 is planning to spend nearly $62.6 million on 25 projects beyond the new school construction, expansions, and renovations already under way. The largest single project is a $14.6 million remodeling of the science wing at Elgin High School.
Body Camera Video, 911 Audio Reveal New Details in Peoria Council Member DUI Arrest
Newly released police records provide fresh details about the arrest of Peoria City Council member Kiran Velpula on suspicion of DUI, including body camera video and 911 audio that paint a detailed picture of a Sept. 11 incident involving erratic driving, multiple property-damage reports, and a breath test reading of .285.
Naperville Begins Enforcing Ban on Kratom Sales After Four Overdoses in Six Months
Smoke shops in Naperville can no longer sell kratom as the city enforces its new ban. Mayor Scott Wehrli said the city recorded four kratom-related overdoses in the first half of 2026. Possession and personal use remain legal.
Joliet's St. Joseph Hospital Shuts Maternal Care Unit, Raising Fears for Expectant Mothers
St. Joseph's Hospital in Joliet closed its OBGYN and maternal care services on Wednesday. Its for-profit owner Prime Healthcare blames financial strain and a declining birthrate, while local nurses warn low-income and minority patients face the greatest risk.
Aurora Police Arrest Four Gang Members in Back-to-Back Gun and Drug Investigations
Aurora police Special Operations Group made four felony arrests over two days, recovering firearms, more than 1,500 grams of suspected cocaine, hundreds of pills, ammunition, and cash during separate investigations targeting confirmed gang members.
Comer Industries turns Loves Park plant into its flagship hub of U.S. operations
The Italian manufacturer completed a three-year, roughly $65 million renovation of its Windsor Road facility, doubling its size and establishing it as the flagship hub of its American operations while employing 352 people with room to grow to 500.
Springfield airport wins $11.8 million federal grant to rebuild a crosswind runway
Abraham Lincoln Construction at Springfield's Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport will use an $11.8 million FAA grant to rebuild the nearly 30-year-old Runway 13-31, a 7,400-foot crosswind runway that gives pilots a 90-degree landing option during changing weather. Work is set to begin in early 2027 and finish by fall.
Chicago City Council Committee Advances Mayor Johnson's Renters' Ordinance
The Chicago City Council Housing Committee narrowly approved and advanced Mayor Brandon Johnson's Protecting Renters Ordinance on Wednesday, after a key relocation assistance provision was dropped. A competing FAIR ordinance pushed by a coalition of aldermen is scheduled for a Zoning Committee hearing Thursday.
College Now: Palatine-area high school juniors now earning two degrees at once
The first cohort of more than 40 students from three districts has begun a new Harper College partnership that lets high school juniors earn an Associate in Arts degree and a diploma at the same time.
CBP Officer Luis Uribe Found Guilty of Using Gun and Badge to Sexually Assault Four Women in Schaumburg and Naperville
A federal jury has found a Customs and Border Protection agent guilty on all counts in a case involving a series of sexual assaults against four women in Chicago suburbs in 2022.
Evanston restaurant owners vow to stay open after pickup crashes through storefront
Owners of a downtown Evanston Chinese restaurant say the eatery will remain open despite a pickup truck crashing through its storefront Monday morning after a medical emergency behind the wheel. No one was inside the building when the crash occurred, and the driver was the only person taken to the hospital.
Quincy Powerball Winner Claims $1.04 Billion Jackpot, Earning $450.5 Million in Cash
The winner of the $1.04 billion Powerball jackpot sold at a Quincy Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh has come forward to claim the prize, the second-largest lottery prize in Illinois history.
Johnson City man killed in Carbondale motorcycle crash
Wayne Aydt, 59, died after his motorcycle was struck by a vehicle on West Main Street in Carbondale on Friday evening. Illinois State Police are investigating the crash.
Decatur Woman Jailed Over Bomb Threat Against 22nd Street Viaduct
A 44-year-old Decatur resident has been charged with making a terrorist threat after phoning a bomb threat against the William B. Sands Viaduct, forcing a temporary closure of the 22nd Street Viaduct and a multi-agency security sweep on Wednesday.
Gov. Pritzker cuts ribbon at Illinois State's new College of Engineering campus in Bloomington
Illinois State University opened its new 392,000-square-foot College of Engineering campus in Bloomington on Tuesday, with Governor JB Pritzker joining university leaders, students, and community partners for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Illinois Sets Record With Largest Freshman Class Ever as Enrollment Tops 61,000
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has announced a record-breaking fall 2026 enrollment, welcoming its largest freshman class in school history and crossing the 61,000 total student mark for the first time.
Cicero Rolls Out $96 Million Flood Prevention Program for Homeowners
Nearly three years after historic flooding, the Town of Cicero is installing free check valves in qualifying basements through a federally funded program expected to help about 3,000 homes.
Lake County Approves 8-Month Moratorium on Data Centers in Unincorporated Areas
The Lake County Board on Tuesday voted to impose an eight-month moratorium on data center applications in unincorporated Lake County, giving officials time to develop new regulations. The move comes just a week after Grayslake granted the first building permit for a massive T5 data center campus.
More Than 50 Cars Burned in Elgin Salvage Yard Fire
A large fire at a Copart auto salvage yard in Elgin consumed between 50 and 75 vehicles early Sunday morning. Firefighters from multiple districts worked more than 3.5 hours to contain the blaze. No injuries were reported, and the cause remains under investigation.
Peoria Coroner Confirms Woman's Death After High-Rise Apartment Fire
Lynn E. Hinkley, 70, was pronounced dead at OSF HealthCare St. Francis Medical Center following a fire on the 11th floor of the B'nai B'rith Apartments in Peoria early Sunday morning. At least one other person was hospitalized.
Naperville City Council rejects $8.3 million security camera expansion
Naperville City Council voted down an $8.3 million project to replace and expand the city's security camera network, demanding written privacy policies and more justification before approving the spending.
Two Joliet Police Employees Placed on Leave After Flock Safety Technology Misuse
A Joliet police officer and a public safety dispatcher have been placed on paid administrative leave after the department discovered alleged misuse of Flock Safety license plate reader technology. The matter has been referred to the City of Joliet Inspector General and the Illinois State Police.
Aurora Launches Community Solar Program Aimed at Lowering Utility Bills
Aurora residents can subscribe to a new community solar program that could cut their monthly electric bills by around $105 per year, without installing panels or switching providers.
Rockford man charged with first-degree murder in death of 11-year-old child
Michael Wilson Jr., 38, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the August 2025 death of an 11-year-old in Rockford, Illinois.
Springfield City Council withdraws $1.1 million ShotSpotter contract renewal
Springfield's city council pulled a three-year, $1.1 million renewal deal for gunshot-detection technology after questions surfaced over its effectiveness and civil rights concerns. The mayor says the city is working with SoundThinking to revise the contract before a new ordinance is introduced.
Chicago Police Superintendent Search Moves Forward With Community Listening Sessions
The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability is leading the search for Chicago's next police chief, with a deadline of Nov. 12 to name three finalists. The next public listening session is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 10.
Teamsters end 16-day strike at Cook County Forest Preserves
A 16-day strike by roughly 230 Forest Preserves of Cook County workers ended Wednesday after Teamsters Local 700 voted to ratify a new contract, sending employees back on the job Thursday morning.
Buttermilk Cafe and Your 3rd Spot to bring dining and nightlife to Veridian in Schaumburg
Buttermilk Cafe and Your 3rd Spot have signed leases for One Veridian, a 321-unit high-rise apartment building at the 225-acre Veridian redevelopment of the former Motorola Solutions campus at Algonquin and Meacham roads in Schaumburg.
Tower Crane Rises at 1621 Chicago Ave as The Legacy Breaks Ground in Downtown Evanston
After years of rejected plans and council pushback, developer Horizon Realty Group has started vertical construction on The Legacy, an 11-story, 110-unit residential building in downtown Evanston.