Music

4 days ago in Agriculture, Entertainment, IL State News, Lifestyle, Local, Music, National

Country star Bailey Zimmerman, an Illinois native, to perform at Illinois State Fair

Bailey Zimmerman at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Festival held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, USA on September 19, 2025.

The fair announced Tuesday that Bailey Zimmerman will be the headlining grandstand act on "Ag Day" at the fair.

4 days ago in Entertainment, Music

Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show sparks global streaming surge, Apple Music data shows

Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime performance translated into an immediate surge in global listening, with new data from Apple Music showing sharp gains across streaming charts, playlists and music discovery platforms in the hours following the show.

5 days ago in Agriculture, Entertainment, IL State News, Local, Music

Matchbox Twenty to perform at Illinois State Fair

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - SEPTEMBER 20: Matchbox 20 band vocalist Rob Thomas(L) performs during the Rock in Rio 2013 concert , on September 20, 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Matchbox Twenty has sold over 40 million records globally.

1 week ago in Entertainment, Music

Fans race to learn Spanish before Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show

Bad Bunny is expected to perform the Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday entirely in Spanish — which has inspired fans to quickly learn the language.

2 weeks ago in Entertainment, Music, Trending

Bad Bunny wins album of the year at the 2026 Grammy Awards, a first for a Spanish-language album

Bad Bunny won album of the year at the 2026 Grammy Awards for his critically-acclaimed "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," closing out a surprising and history-making night. It is the first time a Spanish-language album has taken home the top prize.

2 weeks ago in Entertainment, Music

What to know about the 2026 Grammys

Sunday's Grammys mark a return to normalcy after the 2025 show was altered to focus on Los Angeles-area wildfire relief efforts.

3 weeks ago in Entertainment, Music

Taylor Swift, Kenny Loggins, members of Kiss and more get into Songwriters Hall of Fame

Taylor Swift, Kiss' Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, Alanis Morissette and Kenny Loggins make up the 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees.

4 weeks ago in Entertainment, Music

Harry Styles announces first album in 4 years, ‘Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally’

In this world, it's just him: Harry Styles has announced that his long-awaited, fourth studio album will arrive this spring.

Lifestyle

4 days ago in Lifestyle

What to know about student loan repayment plans and collections

It's been a confusing time for people with student loans. Collections restarted, then were put on hold. At the same time, borrowers had to stay on top of changes to key forgiveness plans.

4 days ago in Lifestyle

Why some women choose Galentines over Valentines. And how they might celebrate

Galentine's Day became a pop culture phenomenon with a 2010 episode of the TV comedy "Parks and Recreation" that celebrated female friendships around Valentine's Day. Amy Poehler's character, Leslie Knope, gathered her gal pals on Feb. 13.

1 week ago in Lifestyle

Renters use ‘rent now, pay later’ services to manage monthly payments, but fees raise concerns

Rent can eat up an entire paycheck at the start of the month, so a growing number of renters are turning to a financial product that promises relief by letting them split the bill — for a price.

1 week ago in Lifestyle

Backyard vegetable gardens are healthy for people and the planet. Here’s how to start yours

If you want healthy food, experts say to eat what's local, organic and in-season. Those foods benefit the planet too, because they are less taxing on the soil and they don't travel as far. It doesn't get more local, organic and in-season than a backyard vegetable garden.

2 weeks ago in Lifestyle, Trending

With caviar McNuggets and heart-shaped pizza, fast food chains hope to win Valentine’s diners

It's a tale as old as time, or at least as old as TikTok: chicken nuggets lovingly topped with a dab of caviar. McDonald's is embracing the trend this Valentine's Day with a limited-time McNugget Caviar kit. The free kit, which will be available on McNuggetCaviar.com on Feb. 10, pairs a one-ounce tin of Paramount's Siberian sturgeon caviar with a $25 McDonald's gift card to buy McNuggets.

2 weeks ago in Lifestyle

Where are those darn keys? Tricks for remembering where you put things

With a scarf dangling from your coat pocket and those gloves left behind at the coffee shop, there are simply more things to lose in winter. That's not counting your misplaced keys at home or those exasperated moments looking for your phone when you say, "I just had it!"

2 weeks ago in Lifestyle

Being a night owl may not be great for your heart but you can do something about it

Being a night owl can be bad for your heart. That may sound surprising but a large study found people who are more active late at night — when most of the population is winding down or already asleep — have poorer overall heart health than the average person.

2 weeks ago in Lifestyle, Trending

Eating snow cones or snow cream can be a winter delight, if done safely

As the recent winter storm recedes, residents of lesser-affected areas might be tempted to whip up bowls of "snow cream" — snow combined with milk, sugar and vanilla — after seeing techniques demonstrated on TikTok. Others might want to try "sugar on snow," a taffy-like confection made by pouring hot maple syrup onto a plate of snow.

National

3 hours ago in IL State News, Local, National, Sports

Shelby Miller agrees to $2.5 million, 2-year contract with the Chicago Cubs, AP source says

Miller has agreed to a $2.5 million, two-year contract with Chicago, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on Friday on condition of anonymity because the agreement was pending a physical.

3 hours ago in Agriculture, Business, IL State News, Local, National

A judge says she’ll rule that the US still cannot force states to provide data on SNAP recipients

FILE - A SNAP EBT information sign is displayed outside of a convenience store in Baltimore, Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

The federal government said the previous ruling did not apply to its latest demands.

3 hours ago in Crime, IL State News, Local, National

Judge rules four people arrested by ICE without warrants should be released

National Immigrant Justice Center attorneys Mark Fleming and Keren Zwick, right, and ACLU of Illinois attorney Michelle García speak to reporters at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in downtown Chicago after a Feb. 13, 2026, hearing on warrantless immigration arrests amid Operation Midway Blitz. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Maggie Dougherty)

He also ordered Homeland Security to give notice to attorneys before releasing people from detention.

4 hours ago in Business, Crime, IL State News, Local, National

ICE agents detain five men on their way to work at a Du Quoin sawmill

Alstat Wood Productions sits along Illinois 127 Feb. 12, 2026 in Du Quoin, Illinois, where five of the men detained were working.

This marks one of the first reported mass ICE enforcement actions this far south in Illinois.

1 day ago in Business, Health & Wellness, IL State News, Local, National

Judge temporarily blocks Trump officials from rescinding health grants to some Democratic-led states

FILE - Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul speaks at a news conference in Chicago, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh,File)

California, Colorado, Illinois and Minnesota sued Wednesday to try to block the planned funding cuts to programs that track disease outbreaks and study health outcomes of LGBTQ+ people and communities of color in major cities.

1 day ago in Business, IL State News, Local, National, Sports

Prediction markets love sports, but the feeling isn’t exactly mutual

FILE - Advertisements by the American company Polymarket predict a victory for Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral election, Nov. 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Olga Fedorova, File)

The rapid growth of sports offerings on prediction markets — called event contracts — has captured the attention of the four major North American sports.

Sports

3 hours ago in IL State News, Local, National, Sports

Shelby Miller agrees to $2.5 million, 2-year contract with the Chicago Cubs, AP source says

Miller has agreed to a $2.5 million, two-year contract with Chicago, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on Friday on condition of anonymity because the agreement was pending a physical.

24 hours ago in Sports

Chris Paul, the ‘Point God,’ retires as All-Star weekend begins, ending a 21-season NBA run

Chris Paul, the "Point God" who was a 12-time All-Star selection and two-time Olympic gold medalist, announced his retirement on Friday in the capper of a 21-season career that will surely merit induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

24 hours ago in Sports

A healthy Shohei Ohtani eyes the one major award he hasn’t won — a Cy Young Award

Shohei Ohtani is a five-time All-Star, a four-time Most Valuable Player, a two-time World Series winner and a World Baseball Classic champion, giving him a sparkling baseball resume that no current player can touch. The only major honor he hasn't won? A Cy Young Award.

24 hours ago in Entertainment, Sports

Taylor Swift rumors spiked ticket sales for Pebble Beach golf tournament

Pebble Beach had an extra buzz Friday morning with rumors swirling in the cool Pacific breeze Swift would be there to watch her fiancé, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, playing in the PGA Tour event that combines corporate CEOs and celebrities with golf's best.

1 day ago in Business, IL State News, Local, National, Sports

Prediction markets love sports, but the feeling isn’t exactly mutual

FILE - Advertisements by the American company Polymarket predict a victory for Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral election, Nov. 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Olga Fedorova, File)

The rapid growth of sports offerings on prediction markets — called event contracts — has captured the attention of the four major North American sports.

1 day ago in Olympics, Sports

Norway’s Klaebo makes history on skis, ties all-time Winter Olympics gold record

Friday the 13th will be remembered as a lucky day for Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo. Norway's cross-country skiing star tied an all‑time Winter Games record by winning his eighth gold medal Friday at the Milan Cortina Olympics. The 29‑year‑old claimed victory in the men's 10 kilometer interval‑start race, for his third gold at the 2026 games.

Entertainment

24 hours ago in Entertainment, Sports

Taylor Swift rumors spiked ticket sales for Pebble Beach golf tournament

Pebble Beach had an extra buzz Friday morning with rumors swirling in the cool Pacific breeze Swift would be there to watch her fiancé, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, playing in the PGA Tour event that combines corporate CEOs and celebrities with golf's best.

24 hours ago in Entertainment

After 800 episodes, ‘The Simpsons’ creators look back — and ahead

Eight hundred episodes, 37 seasons, and one four-fingered family that refuses to age. As "The Simpsons" hits a milestone few series have ever glimpsed this weekend, the architects behind Springfield are reflecting on the choices that turned crude 1987 shorts from "The Tracey Ullman Show" into a cultural juggernaut.

2 days ago in Entertainment

Actor Blake Lively and director Justin Baldoni go to New York in required effort to avoid trial

Actor Blake Lively and director Justin Baldoni came to a New York courthouse on Wednesday to see if her lawsuit alleging sexual harassment on the set of the 2024 romantic drama "It Ends With Us" could be settled before a May trial.

3 days ago in Entertainment, Trending

James Van Der Beek, the ‘Dawson’s Creek’ star who later mocked his own hunky persona, has died at 48

James Van Der Beek, a heartthrob who starred in coming-of-age dramas at the dawn of the new millennium, shooting to fame playing the titular character in "Dawson's Creek" and in later years mocking his own hunky persona, has died. He was 48.

3 days ago in Entertainment

Oscar hopefuls including Jessie Buckley and Timothée Chalamet gather for luncheon and class picture

Nearly all of the 230 people up for Oscars across 24 categories gathered Tuesday for the Academy Award nominees luncheon, an event that functions as a celebration, group portrait session and orientation for next month's big ceremony.

Local News from Capitol City Now

3 hours ago in IL State News, Local, National, Sports

Shelby Miller agrees to $2.5 million, 2-year contract with the Chicago Cubs, AP source says

Miller has agreed to a $2.5 million, two-year contract with Chicago, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on Friday on condition of anonymity because the agreement was pending a physical.

3 hours ago in Agriculture, Business, IL State News, Local, National

A judge says she’ll rule that the US still cannot force states to provide data on SNAP recipients

FILE - A SNAP EBT information sign is displayed outside of a convenience store in Baltimore, Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

The federal government said the previous ruling did not apply to its latest demands.

3 hours ago in Crime, IL State News, Local, National

Judge rules four people arrested by ICE without warrants should be released

National Immigrant Justice Center attorneys Mark Fleming and Keren Zwick, right, and ACLU of Illinois attorney Michelle García speak to reporters at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in downtown Chicago after a Feb. 13, 2026, hearing on warrantless immigration arrests amid Operation Midway Blitz. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Maggie Dougherty)

He also ordered Homeland Security to give notice to attorneys before releasing people from detention.

4 hours ago in Business, Crime, IL State News, Local, National

ICE agents detain five men on their way to work at a Du Quoin sawmill

Alstat Wood Productions sits along Illinois 127 Feb. 12, 2026 in Du Quoin, Illinois, where five of the men detained were working.

This marks one of the first reported mass ICE enforcement actions this far south in Illinois.

8 hours ago in Business, Food Scene, IL State News, Local

New liquor control and compliance portal launched by ILCC

liquor store

Licensees are encouraged to register their ILogin account by February 18th.

9 hours ago in IL State News, Local

Survey says Illinoians want safety reforms before driverless vehicles

Traffic

Residents were surveyed in Cook County and the Metro East Area (Madison and St. Clair Counties).

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3 days ago in Sports, Trending

Seahawks enjoy morning beers, praise ‘best team in the world’ as Seattle celebrates Super Bowl title

Ernest Jones IV dropped a few choice words while praising his defensive teammates, his offensive line, his quarterback and the city of Seattle ahead of the Seahawks' Super Bowl victory parade on Wednesday.

3 days ago in Entertainment, Trending

James Van Der Beek, the ‘Dawson’s Creek’ star who later mocked his own hunky persona, has died at 48

James Van Der Beek, a heartthrob who starred in coming-of-age dramas at the dawn of the new millennium, shooting to fame playing the titular character in "Dawson's Creek" and in later years mocking his own hunky persona, has died. He was 48.