Stories by Eunice Alpasan

The protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and two-time presidential candidate will lie in repose for two days at the headquarters of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition before events in Washington, D.C., and South Carolina, where he was born.

Several Democratic members of the Illinois congressional delegation have announced they would not attend the speech, citing their disapproval of the president.

The Bucktown studio features 10 vintage analog and “digital-retro” photo booths — with the oldest working photo booth from 1946.

The “Neighborhood Conditions for Adults with Disabilities in Chicago” report released Monday aimed to better understand the experiences and needs of Chicagoans with disabilities across neighborhoods. The report was created in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities and the Chicago Department of Public Health.

Members of the Jackson family, at times fighting back tears, spoke about the impact the Rev. Jesse Jackson has had on them. They highlighted his fight against injustice and inequality throughout his life, especially in his advocacy for voter rights, education and ending poverty.

Early voting for the March 17 primary election is now open at the Chicago Board of Elections office, located at 69 W. Washington St. on the 6th floor, and at the new Chicago Board of Elections supersite, located at 137 S. State St.

Supporters argue that not opting in would leave money on the table that could otherwise go to support students in the state. Those opposed argue the program diverts public dollars to private schools while public schools remain underfunded.

In celebration of Black History Month, Chicago filmmakers will be showing their short films at Music Box Theater and Facets.

A new music festival celebrating early 2000s R&B and house music will be held at Union Park in Chicago on Memorial Day weekend.

Veterans Affairs medical workers, alongside veterans and community allies gathered Tuesday at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center to commemorate the life of fellow VA nurse Alex Pretti, who was fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis over the weekend.

More work lies ahead in preventing shootings and in saving lives, according to stakeholders working to reduce violent crime and provide needed support to victims and their families.

The grant is part of a $25 million commitment by the Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation to expand or establish five Ralph Lauren-named centers in the U.S.

The Chicago Department of Transportation added 140 new Divvy stations with more than 2,000 new docks last year, along with expanding in-station charging for e-bikes and e-scooters, according to a news release.

The food hall, which first opened in 2019, was created by the media company Time Out to “bring together the best of the city under one roof.” The 50,000-square-foot food hall houses more than 15 food vendors, three bars and a rooftop terrace across three floors, according to its website.

Mayda Alexandra del Valle will serve a two-year term and receive $70,000 to commission new works and create public programming. As Chicago’s second poet laureate, del Valle will serve as an ambassador for the city’s literary and creative communities.

The employees will serve as the public face of the Obama Presidential Center, helping to support the visitor experience for the hundreds of thousands of visitors expected each year, according to a news release. Applications are open until Jan. 31.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Monday it is no longer recommending that all children receive vaccines against: RSV, flu, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, meningococcal disease and rotavirus. Instead, the federal government now only recommends protection against these diseases for certain children at high risk.

The enhanced tax credits that have helped reduce the cost of health insurance for the vast majority of Affordable Care Act enrollees expired at the end of 2025. More than 500,000 Illinoisans depended on these credits to make health coverage affordable, according to U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi.

Flu activity in suburban Cook County jumped from “low” to “high” during the week ending in Dec. 20, according to health officials. Chicago’s public health department reported “high” levels of emergency department visits and hospitalizations for flu late last week.

The Intuit Art Museum in West Town champions the work of self-taught artists, those who create art outside of the mainstream art world. “Catalyst: Im/migration and Self-Taught Art in Chicago” has been extended through March 22.

The Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace are encouraging residents to celebrate responsibly and take advantage of the free late-night transit services to get around on New Year’s Eve.

Before testing positive for rabies, the dog was surrendered to a local rescue and euthanized after the dog had a “marked” change in behavior on Dec. 16, according to a news release.

More than 550 personalized license plate requests were denied by the Illinois Secretary of State’s office this year after it deemed them inflammatory, profane, offensive or too difficult to read.

This year marks the first time “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” will feature a live broadcast from downtown Chicago, with the show’s first Central time zone midnight countdown.

The frequent service network consists of 20 key bus routes throughout the agency’s service area that are scheduled to have service every 10 minutes or less from 6 a.m.-9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m.-9 p.m. on weekends, according to the CTA.

A review of the gas market in northern Illinois released by the consumer advocate groups Citizens Utility Board and Illinois PIRG highlighted that rising natural gas prices, in addition to rate hikes from gas utility companies, are creating a “double-whammy” for customers.