3 weeks ago in Entertainment

YouTuber box office boom: ‘Backrooms’ and ‘Obsession’ draw Gen Z to theaters

Young audiences turned out in droves to movie theaters around the country this weekend. It wasn't for the big budget "Star Wars" movie, "The Mandalorian and Grogu, " which fell sharply in its second weekend, however, but for a small budget horror from a 20-year-old first-time filmmaker that began on the internet.

3 weeks ago in World

Rescuers search for alternative route to reach 2 missing in a flooded Laos cave

Rescue workers in Laos searched Monday for an alternative passage into a flooded cave where two people are believed to have been trapped for nearly two weeks after heavy rainfall flooded the main entrance, making it impassable.

3 weeks ago in Sports

The trophy returns: NBA releases images of how Finals courts will look in San Antonio, New York

It's official: The NBA Finals logos are back at the NBA Finals. With no fanfare other than a social media post, the NBA announced Sunday that the image of the Larry O'Brien Trophy — the one given to the winner of the finals — will be painted at midcourt for games at both the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio and Madison Square Garden in New York for this season's title series.

3 weeks ago in Business, Lifestyle, Local, ZZZ App Top Stories

Former Sangamo Club could become housing –SBJ

Asking price for the former Sangamo Club was around $600,000.

3 weeks ago in Business, IL State News, Local, Sports, ZZZ App Top Stories

Illinois lawmakers fail to pass Bears bill despite goal line push

Senate approves bill aimed at addressing concerns, but House punts the issue.

3 weeks ago in Business, IL State News, Local, ZZZ App Top Stories

Session slog ends in $56B budget, new taxes on social media companies, crypto, fantasy sports

Gas tax increase suspended while new taxes on businesses plug revenue hole.

3 weeks ago in IL State News, Local, Sports, ZZZ App Top Stories

Hope remains, but time is short, for a Bears bill

A budget bill awaits debate and vote.

3 weeks ago in Education, History, IL State News, Lifestyle, Local, Route 66 100th Anniversary Guide, ZZZ App Top Stories

Route 66 exhibit opens at Illinois State Museum

Museum officials said the collection includes a variety of Route 66 memorabilia, such as vintage souvenirs, neon signs, fiberglass advertising figures and Burma-Shave signs.

3 weeks ago in IL State News, National, Sports, ZZZ App Top Stories

White Sox place slugger Munetaka Murakami on IL, call up INF Jacob Gonzalez

Following Friday’s 4-3 win over Detroit in 10 innings, Venable told reporters he thought Murakami might miss “a couple of weeks" after he got hurt beating out a double play in the third inning.

3 weeks ago in Entertainment, Local, ZZZ App Top Stories

Fun all around Springfield is on its way in June

Amy Beadle of Visit Springfield Stopped by The WTAX Morning NewsWatch to discuss all these amazing events.

3 weeks ago in IL State News, Local, ZZZ App Top Stories

Honoring ‘The Notorious BFC’

Much still undone at the Capitol.

3 weeks ago in IL State News, Local, National, Sports, ZZZ App Top Stories

Stojakovic returns to Illinois after withdrawing from NBA Draft

Illini wing gives Illinois another major boost heading into 2026-27 season.

3 weeks ago in History, IL State News, Lifestyle, Local, National, ZZZ App Top Stories

In farm country, an old American pickup truck becomes more than a workhorse

Pickups were made for work. Until the first purpose-built ones rolled off American assembly lines in the early 20th century, people DIY-ed their own.

3 weeks ago in Business, Education, History, IL State News, Lifestyle, National, ZZZ App Top Stories

In a city with an iconic skyline, the Obama presidential museum aims to reshape Chicago architecture

Residents have compared it to a grain elevator, ship from “Star Wars” and a mausoleum.

3 weeks ago in Crime, IL State News, National, ZZZ App Top Stories

Chicago mayor sees Pope Leo XIV as key ally on social justice, migration after Vatican meeting

The mayor said it was comforting to know that someone who comes from the city of Chicago "can speak to justice” and defend “the most vulnerable among us.”

3 weeks ago in Entertainment, IL State News, National, ZZZ App Top Stories

Top federal prosecutor in Chicago denies investigation into E. Jean Carroll, disputing media reports

Andrew Boutros, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, issued a statement roughly 24 hours after the first report was published saying that his office “has not opened — and has never opened — a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll.”

3 weeks ago in IL State News, National, ZZZ App Top Stories

A White Sox pope and a Cubs mayor find common ground in a private Vatican meeting

Johnson diplomatically brought gifts from both crosstown rivals, and invited the pope to visit his hometown.

3 weeks ago in Business, Entertainment, IL State News, Lifestyle, National, ZZZ App Top Stories

ABC stations call FCC’s early call for license renewal ‘unconstitutional’

The FCC's move in April to begin early reviews of the broadcast licenses of ABC-owned stations in eight local markets attracted particularly close attention.

3 weeks ago in IL State News, National, Sports, ZZZ App Top Stories

Bears coach Ben Johnson says he is ‘buying Luther Burden stock’ going into the season

“Yeah, I’m buying Luther Burton stock right now," coach Ben Johnson said. “Just how he’s approached his offseason, it’s been electric. It showed up yesterday. He had numerous explosive plays. ... So he’s in a really good spot.”

3 weeks ago in National

Pam Bondi faces a closed-door questioning from House lawmakers over the Epstein files

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi is testifying before House lawmakers investigating Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse cases, a long-awaited appearance that brings fresh scrutiny of the Trump administration's botched release of the Epstein case files.