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Secret Chicago

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Starting Jan. 1, 2027, Illinois landlords can’t charge more than $50 for a rental application or any fee to renew your lease

We have good news for Chicago renters: Starting Jan. 1, 2027 , Illinois landlords can’t charge more than $50 for a rental application, including a background check. They also can’t charge a fee to renew your lease. House Bill 3564, which Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed , amends the Illinois Landlord and Tenant Act (765 ILCS 705/35) and is enacted as Public Act 104-479. The rules apply to residential leases entered into on or after the effective date , including new and renewed leases. They do not cover units in an owner-occupied building with six or fewer units. The $50 cap and the first-page rule Every non-optional fee, one-time or recurring , must appear on the first page of the lease . If it doesn’t, you don’t have to pay it. A landlord can charge more than $50 for screening only if the actual third-party background-check cost is higher. The landlord must pay the provider first, then bill you with the provider’s receipts within 14 days . If the landlord misses that window, you don’t owe the fee. A landlord also can’t use an unpaid background-check fee as grounds for eviction during the first year of a lease. In Cook County,

Illinois · 1d
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chronicleillinois.com

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Democrats flip final Cook County Board seat

When Sean Morrison leaves the Cook County Board next month, so will any Republican voice on the government body. Cook County Democrats flipped his 17th District seat, which has been Republican since it came into existence in 1994. Only three Republicans – Herb Schumann, Elizabeth “Liz” Doody Gorman and Morrison – have served the district over its 22 years.

Cook County, IL · 5h
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hoodline.com

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St. Charles Lawsuits Allege Salvation Army Kept Warned Youth Pastor

Two women have filed separate Cook County lawsuits accusing The Salvation Army and affiliated organizations of leaving Brian Davis in ministry after repeated warnings about his conduct with girls. Davis was a youth pastor at the organization’s Tri City Corps in St. Charles. The suits allege he groomed and sexually abused girls in church youth programs in the late 1990s.

Cook County, IL · 3h
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ABC 7 Chicago

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Cook County Sheriff's Office transforms prison transport bus into mobile library for children

A former prisoner transport bus has been transformed into a mobile library, bringing thousands of books to children in Cook County communities with limited access to reading resources.

Cook County, IL · 2d

thelansingjournal.org

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Lansing Village Board celebrates America 250 Relay essay winners

LANSING, Ill. — Student essay winners from the American Discovery Trail Society America 250 Relay Event were recognized at the Lansing Village Board meeting on Nov. 4. The relay celebrating America’s 250th birthday began July 1 in California and will have covered 6,800 miles when it concludes in Delaware on Thanksgiving Day.

Lansing, IL · 1d

WTTW - Chicago PBS

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Pritzker Appeals FEMA’s Decision to Deny Illinois Disaster Aid

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. JB Pritzker appealed the Trump administration’s decision to deny Illinois' request for federal disaster relief on Thursday. The Federal Emergency Management Agency denied Illinois' request last month without explanation for federal resources to respond to August storms. In an appeal submitted to the agency, the state provided updated damage numbers showing the storm cost eligible for public assistance is now $43 million — up from $27.6 million in the original request and well above FEMA’s $24.9 million standard.

Illinois · 3d

WTTW - Chicago PBS

publisher · 12.7K followers

Share of Chicago Property Tax Revenues Claimed by TIF Funds Grew 2.1% in 2025: Report

The share of property taxes collected by Cook County and then claimed by Chicago’s tax increment finance districts increased by just 2.1% in 2025, the smallest increase in five years, according to a report by Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon. In all, $1.62 billion poured into the city’s 108...

Chicago, IL · 2d

vendingtimes.com

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Indiana students to operate vending machine as business learning project

Portage High School in Indiana is preparing to install a student-operated vending machine designed to provide hands-on business experience, according to a Post-Tribune report. The Portage Township School Board approved the donation of a $1,000 machine from the school's Academic Booster Club to its Work-Based Learning Club. Students will be responsible for learning inventory management, purchasing, stocking, cash handling and financial recordkeeping as part of the educational initiative.

Portage, IN · 15h

Q985

partner publisher · 3.8K followers

Guy Fieri Says 2 Of The 5 Best U.S. Restaurants Are In Illinois

Guy Fieri has strong opinions about where to eat, and two Illinois spots made his national top five. Here's what he loves about them.

Chicago, IL · 4h

Fox 32 Chicago

publisher · 67.1K followers

Chicago Bears stadium plan: $10B lakefront proposal pitched by developers

Developers unveiled a $10 billion Bronzeville Lakefront plan with a new domed stadium to keep the Chicago Bears in the city. The 100-acre district would include over 5,000 new housing units, hotels, a 28-acre park, and major transit upgrades. To sweeten the deal, investors offered to buy the Bears' Arlington...

Chicago, IL · 10h

nadignewspapers.com

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NW Side aldermanic races already heating up

Northwest Side challengers and incumbents in aldermanic races in next year’s Feb. 23 municipal election hit the ground running just as the mid-terms wrapped up last week. At a meeting of the Old Irving Park Association on Nov. 4, candidates in the 45th, 39th and 30th wards echoed their campaigns and voiced concerns about neighborhood issues.

Chicago, IL · 1d

Block Club Chicago

publisher · 7.3K followers

Ald. Jason Ervin Faces 1 Challenger In 28th Ward Race

GARFIELD PARK — Ald. Jason Ervin (28th) is facing one potential challenger as he seeks a fifth City Council term — but her candidacy is currently being contested. Precious Joy Frasier is the only candidate who filed petitions to take on the incumbent alderperson in the February municipal election.

Chicago, IL · 2d

Block Club Chicago

publisher · 7.3K followers

Ald. Emma Mitts Faces 4 Challengers In 37th Ward Race

AUSTIN — Ald. Emma Mitts (37th) is seeking an eighth term in City Council, and she’ll face four challengers in the West Side’s most crowded aldermanic race. Mitts is being challenged in the February municipal election by Carmelita Earls, Michael Murphy, Kobey Lofton and Howard Ray, according to the Chicago Board of Elections.

Chicago, IL · 1d

American Songwriter

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Born 83 Years Ago Today in the Windy City, the Drummer Whose Band Went From the Top 5 to Making Commercials for Coca-Cola and the US Navy

On this day (November 9) in 1943, Lee Graziano was born in Chicago, Illinois. He is best known as the drummer for the 1960s pop band The American Breed. They notched a few top 40 hits in the mid-60s. Their biggest chart success was the 1967 single “Bend Me, Shape Me,” which landed in the top 10 in the United States and Canada. They also recorded jingles for major corporations, including Coca-Cola, Bell Telephone, the United States Navy, and American Airlines.

Chicago, IL · 3d

ABC 7 Chicago

partner publisher · 193.4K followers

Chicago celebrates 1st flush of self-cleaning public toilet on NW Side

Chicago is celebrating the installation of the city's first automated public toilet.

Chicago, IL · 1d

Wonderwall

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Former Chicago Mayor and rumored 2028 presidential candidate Rahm Emanuel throws down with Fox News hosts over antisemitism: ‘With all due respect, I’m not taking a lecture from any of you on antisemitism’

Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel got into a heated exchange with 'Fox & Friends' hosts. BY: FOX NEWS CLIPS/YOUTUBE Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel got into a heated exchange with Fox & Friends hosts after they asked him about antisemitism in his party.  Emanuel first spoke with Brian Kilmeade, Ainsley Earhardt and Lawrence Jones about the midterm elections, saying the results were a “repudiation of President Trump, Project 2025 and Republicans.”  However, things got...

Chicago, IL · 3d

blockclubchicago.org

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5 Challengers Join Ald. Derrick Curtis In 18th Ward Race

ASHBURN — The ballot for Chicago’s 18th Ward race could be crowded when residents cast their vote in February. Ald. Derrick Curtis (18th) is running for reelection to his fourth term as alderperson but faces five challengers: Joshua Barksdale, Nicole Allison, Artemiza “Tammy” Chavez, Glenford Flowers Jr. and Toni C. Galloway.

Chicago, IL · 11h

CBS Chicago

partner publisher · 230.9K followers

Crowd of hundreds try to push The Bean 7 inches to the left

Hundreds of people gathered in downtown Chicago Sunday to try to push the Bean seven inches to the left.

Chicago, IL · 3d

hoodline.com

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Albany Park's Lawrence Gateway Tops Out, Bringing 40 Homes Across From Ronan Park

Developer MAS Ventures LLC and Malek Abdulsamad marked a major construction milestone this week, celebrating the topping out of Lawrence Gateway, a five-story mixed-use building rising across from Ronan Park in Albany Park. Chicago's Department of Planning and Development Commissioner Ciere Boatright joined the celebration, underscoring the city's stake in a project that pairs market-rate apartments with affordable housing and ground-floor retail.

Chicago, IL · 5h

harveyworld.org

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Meet Harvey’s 2027 6th Ward candidates

Stray dogs, abandoned homes, fires, drug zones, and potholes galore. The 6th Ward arguably takes the title for the area most challenged by a decline in everyday quality-of-life. A particularly infamous problem? Illegal dumping. It’s not uncommon to traverse the great 6th Ward and find boats, mattresses, garbage bags, and...

Harvey, IL · 2d