As Cook County property taxes hit Aug. 1, businesses and residents inevitably will see tax hikes. These rising bills, along with burdensome government regulations, make Illinois No. 2 in the nation for high property taxes and the most expensive state in the Midwest to build and buy homes.

Luckily, there is a solution that would cut government red tape and home prices. Suburban politicians, businesses and developers should get behind an initiative that can make it easier for those who want to build and add housing — self-certification.

A new study ranked Chicago the second worst in the nation for traffic. On average, Chicago drivers lost 96 hours to traffic in 2023. So what classic solution have Chicago leaders turned to? Taxes.

The City Council recently discussed levying 16 new tax hikes and fees, including a possible “congestion tax” to charge people for the pleasure of driving in high-congestion areas. New York City recently tried and failed to implement a similar regressive congestion tax after it was deemed politically unfeasible. That hasn’t stopped aldermen from supporting the tax as a way to raise revenue, “go green,” and relieve traffic in Chicago.

Former President Donald Trump questioned the racial identity of Vice President Kamala Harris in her historic candidacy as his Democratic challenger and told an audience of Black journalists in Chicago on Wednesday that he was “the best president for the Black population since Abraham Lincoln.”

In a 34-minute appearance before the National Association of Black Journalists, cut short from a scheduled hour, a feisty Trump came out on the attack. He criticized ABC News congressional correspondent Rachel Scott for her first question, in which she recited a list of his past disparaging comments about his political opponents of color, calling it “disgraceful,” “rude” and “nasty.”

Ribfest is officially over.

In a brief statement, the Exchange Club of Naperville — organizers of the longtime summer tradition — announced the festival would be no more.

Also on Wednesday, Emy Trotz, a leader of the civic group, confirmed the club itself is disbanding. The organization was formed in 1987, and the first Ribfest was held the following year.