Music

2 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.

2 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.

3 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.

7 days 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.

1 week 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

2 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.

2 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.

7 days 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.

1 week 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

50 minutes ago in Health & Wellness, IL State News, Local, National

Democratic-led states sue to stop Trump from withholding $600M in health grants

Fresh
FILE - A sign marks the entrance to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)

The Department of Health and Human Services told Congress on Monday that it planned to withhold about $600 million in grant funding allocated to the four states: California, Colorado, Illinois and Minnesota.

1 hour ago in Crime, IL State News, Local, National

Lawyers of Chicago woman shot by federal agents say documents show how DHS lies about investigations

Fresh
Marimar Martinez, a woman who was shot by a Border Patrol agent last year, sits with her attorneys during a press conference Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

In a statement Wednesday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said use-of-force incidents “are thoroughly investigated” and the agent involved, Charles Exum, was placed on administrative leave.

2 hours ago in Business, Food Scene, IL State News, Local, National

McDonald’s: Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Fresh

The Chicago-based company said it had net income of $3.03 per share.

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

Ten years after winning World Series, Cubs enter 2026 with similar expectations

Fresh
FILE - Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga (18) delivers during the first inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, Oct. 6, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf, File)

It's safe to say elite expectations will be back at Wrigley Field this summer.

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

Several ICE agents were arrested in recent months, showing risk of misconduct

Fresh
In this screengrab made from body camera footage provided by the Othello, Wash., Police Department, police officers arrest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement supervisor Koby Williams in July 2022 during an underage sex sting operation. (Othello Police Department via AP) Screenshot

When officers in suburban Chicago found a man passed out in a crashed car in October, they were surprised to discover the driver was an ICE officer who had recently completed his shift at a detention center and had his government firearm in the vehicle.

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

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese unite on a star-studded US World Cup qualifying roster

Fresh
FILE - Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, left, fouls Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese, center, during the second half an WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Saturday, May 17, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast, File)

Clark and Reese have helped the rise of women's basketball over the past few years, starting with their memorable meeting in the NCAA championship game in 2023 that LSU won.

Sports

1 hour ago in IL State News, Local, Sports

Illinois Girls High School Basketball Poll

Fresh
High School Girls Basketball

Who's tops in girls basketball this week?

2 hours ago in IL State News, Local, Sports

Illinois Boys High School Basketball Poll

Fresh
High School Boys Basketball

Who's #1 in classes 1A through 4A?

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

Ten years after winning World Series, Cubs enter 2026 with similar expectations

Fresh
FILE - Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga (18) delivers during the first inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, Oct. 6, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf, File)

It's safe to say elite expectations will be back at Wrigley Field this summer.

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

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese unite on a star-studded US World Cup qualifying roster

Fresh
FILE - Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, left, fouls Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese, center, during the second half an WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Saturday, May 17, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast, File)

Clark and Reese have helped the rise of women's basketball over the past few years, starting with their memorable meeting in the NCAA championship game in 2023 that LSU won.

2 hours ago in IL State News, Local, Sports

Bulls’ Collin Sexton fined $35,000 for inappropriate hand gesture during loss to Nets

Fresh
Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton (33) shoots over Chicago Bulls guard Collin Sexton (2) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

The incident happened during Chicago's 123-115 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Monday.

Entertainment

7 hours 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.

23 hours 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.

1 day 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.

2 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.

2 days ago in Entertainment

Catherine O’Hara died from a pulmonary embolism. Cancer was the underlying cause

A Los Angeles County death certificate issued Monday lists the pulmonary embolism, which occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery in the lungs, as the immediate cause of the actor's Jan. 30 death at age 71. Rectal cancer was the long-term cause.

Local News from Capitol City Now

6 minutes ago in IL State News, Local

‘More listening and less talking’: Darren Bailey insists results will be different in 2nd run for governor

Fresh
Former Republican nominee for governor Darren Bailey greets supporters at Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Aug. 18, 2022. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)

Bailey leaning on running mate from Cook County to win over urban voters.

50 minutes ago in Health & Wellness, IL State News, Local, National

Democratic-led states sue to stop Trump from withholding $600M in health grants

Fresh
FILE - A sign marks the entrance to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)

The Department of Health and Human Services told Congress on Monday that it planned to withhold about $600 million in grant funding allocated to the four states: California, Colorado, Illinois and Minnesota.

1 hour ago in Crime, IL State News, Local, National

Lawyers of Chicago woman shot by federal agents say documents show how DHS lies about investigations

Fresh
Marimar Martinez, a woman who was shot by a Border Patrol agent last year, sits with her attorneys during a press conference Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

In a statement Wednesday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said use-of-force incidents “are thoroughly investigated” and the agent involved, Charles Exum, was placed on administrative leave.

1 hour ago in IL State News, Local, Sports

Illinois Girls High School Basketball Poll

Fresh
High School Girls Basketball

Who's tops in girls basketball this week?

2 hours ago in IL State News, Local, Sports

Illinois Boys High School Basketball Poll

Fresh
High School Boys Basketball

Who's #1 in classes 1A through 4A?

2 hours ago in Business, Food Scene, IL State News, Local, National

McDonald’s: Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Fresh

The Chicago-based company said it had net income of $3.03 per share.

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23 hours 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.

23 hours 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.