Get the latest news from around Illinois.
The Center Square: Illinois lawmakers react to SCOTUS decision ending affirmative action in universities
The United States Supreme Court voted to overturn affirmative action in colleges and universities, ending the use of race as a factor in admissions. Illinois lawmakers are split on what it means.
Affirmative action became law in the U.S. in 1961 as a way to combat racial discrimination in the hiring process and when applying for colleges.
Chicago Tribune: After nearly a year of planning, the NASCAR Chicago Street Race is here. Will it rev up the city’s economy as promised?
After months of planning, weeks of disruption and an 11th-hour push to complete the transformation of Grant Park into a pop-up NASCAR track, ready or not, the inaugural Chicago Street Race has arrived.
The July Fourth weekend event is expected to draw 50,000 fans, generate nearly $114 million in economic impact and provide hours of national TV coverage to burnish Chicago’s image as a gleaming lakefront tourist destination — assuming the Canadian wildfire haze dissipates.
Chicago Sun-Times: Staffing shortages are hindering reforms in Chicago Police Department, court monitor tells mayor
The court-appointed monitor overseeing reform of the Chicago Police Department is calling on newly elected Mayor Brandon Johnson to address longstanding staffing problems that have slowed down — and made it difficult to even measure — improvements mandated by a federal consent decree.
In a report filed in federal court Thursday, monitor Maggie Hickey’s team offered three broad agenda items for the mayor, who will decide on a new superintendent over the next several months.
State Journal-Register: Straight line winds cause damage in Springfield, 30,000 CWLP customers without power
Damaging straight line winds plunged about half the city of Springfield into darkness Thursday afternoon, felling tree limbs and power lines in the process.
According to City Water, Light and Power officials, outages and damage stemming from the brief but intense storm have been reported throughout the city.
Daily Herald: Plan for big crowds at O'Hare and Midway over holiday weekend, and on the Kennedy
With thousands of July Fourth vacationers and NASCAR fans passing through Chicago’s airports this holiday, travelers should plan accordingly, officials said.
Nearly 1.5 million passengers are expected at O’Hare and Midway over the long weekend, the Chicago Department of Aviation predicts.