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Fall Guide 2026

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Route 66 100 Year Anniversary Guide

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Upcoming Events

Friday, November 6th- 8th- Ansar Shrine Circus
Saturday, November 28th- IL Local Holiday Market

Music

3 days ago in Entertainment, Music

Jay-Z picks himself to headline the Super Bowl halftime show at SoFi Stadium in Southern California

The man who has helped produce the Super Bowl halftime show is stepping into the spotlight: Jay-Z will headline the show himself. The NFL, Apple Music and Roc Nation announced Monday night that Jay-Z will be the featured performer for the halftime festivities on Feb. 14 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

1 week ago in Entertainment, Music

Why big music stars like Harry Styles and Celine Dion are embracing residencies

For Harry Styles' dedicated audience, it is the can't-miss event of the year: Tens of thousands have descended on New York City's Madison Square Garden each night of his 30-date residency, rushing to catch the show before it concludes Halloween weekend.

1 week ago in Entertainment, Music

John Legend on Pharrell’s musical push, Jay-Z’s praise and new creative challenges with ‘Muse’

Jay-Z once told John Legend, "You're our voice." But Pharrell Williams had another idea for Legend's signature baritone: Sometimes, let it do more talking than singing.

3 weeks ago in Entertainment, Music

Linkin Park documentary ‘Unshatter’ tracks band’s emotional return to recording, touring

For years after the death of frontman Chester Bennington, members of Linkin Park weren't sure if the band would — or should — continue to exist. The new documentary "Linkin Park: Unshatter" takes fans inside the uncertainty, grief and creative risk behind their return, including raw footage of early recording sessions, conversations and experimentation that eventually led to Emily Armstrong joining the group.

3 weeks ago in Education, Entertainment, Fall Guide, Lifestyle, Local, Music

LLCC Choir and Band to perform fall concerts

Performances throughout October, November, and December.

3 weeks ago in Entertainment, Holiday Guide, IL State News, Lifestyle, Local, Music

Dolly Parton-created Christmas performance comes to UIS

Dolly Parton wrote music and lyrics for "Dolly Parton's Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol."

3 weeks ago in Business, Entertainment, Food Scene, IL State News, Illinois State Fair Guide, Lifestyle, Local, Music, Route 66 100th Anniversary Guide

Illinois state fairs attracted over 1 million visitors for second year in a row

A ribbon-cutting was held Saturday, August 22, for the new Cozy Dog monument that's part of the Route 66 Experience at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

The fairs were among the most affordable in the Midwest this year, according to Pritzker’s office.

4 weeks ago in Entertainment, Music

Quavo talks new album, fatherhood, viral ‘Hotel Lobby’ and working on Migos project with Offset

The Grammy-nominated rapper is moving forward with fatherhood, healing and a sense of purpose. Now a father to...

Lifestyle

3 hours ago in Lifestyle

Generations of anglers have made the pilgrimage to Montauk to catch striped bass

On most October nights, fishing guide Bill Wetzel can be found navigating the shores of Montauk, New York, in a modified 4x4 pickup truck, rumbling over boulders and thick sand as he scans the surface of the Atlantic for signs of life.

1 day ago in Lifestyle, Trending

Make no bones about it, the giant skeleton has become an American Halloween fixture

It reared its bony head in 2020, during that first, chaotic pandemic year that was rife with grief and fear but also toilet paper hoarding and questionable lockdown-inspired purchases. Behold Skelly, the 12-foot, 90-pound skeleton with glowing LCD eyeballs, on sale for $299 from Home Depot, just in time for Halloween — at least, if you can get your hands on one.

3 days ago in Lifestyle

Tours offer Halloween enthusiasts visits to former psychiatric hospital and funeral home

It's not enough these days for some Halloween enthusiasts to be scared by actors dressed up in spooky getups at makeshift haunted houses: They want the "real" thing.

4 days ago in Business, Fall Guide, Food Scene, IL State News, Lifestyle, Local, National

Instacart’s Illinois Halloween report: Reese’s is No.1, regional candy quirks and the iconic banana costume

Instacart reports on Halloween trends in Illinois and around the country.

4 days ago in Lifestyle, Trending

Halloween candy sales are off to a slow start amid high chocolate prices and affordability concerns

Halloween candy sales are off to a slow start this year as U.S. consumers grapple with high living costs and eye-popping chocolate prices. Halloween candy sales fell 6.7% in the month ending Oct. 17 compared to the same period last year, according to NielsenIQ, a market research firm.

5 days ago in Fall Guide, Food Scene, IL State News, Lifestyle, Local

Memorial Health dietitian highlights importance of blood sugar management

Zeff encourages people to schedule regular medical appointments and get their blood sugar tested, particularly those with a family history of diabetes.

1 week ago in Business, Entertainment, IL State News, Lifestyle, Local

Illinois regulators move to bring video gambling under self-exclusion program

Slot machines light up the front window of a bar in Golconda, Illinois. (Credit: Julia Rendleman for Capitol News Illinois)

The state’s extensive network of video gambling terminals is one of the largest gaps in the program.

1 week ago in Lifestyle

The new wedding budget: Where couples are spending more, and less

Modern Gents reports average wedding spending hit $34,200 in 2025, highlighting that couples prioritize experiences and personalization while balancing budgets amid rising costs.

Features

4 days ago in Features, Trending

‘Picasso of Pumpkin Carvers’ brings artistry to a Halloween tradition

When fall arrives and leaves start changing color, Mike Valladao, a systems engineer at a cybersecurity company, slips into his alter ego, "Farmer Mike," also known as the "Picasso of Pumpkin Carvers."

Entertainment News

3 hours ago in Entertainment

Prosecutors drop felony charge against rapper Rick Ross in domestic violence case

Prosecutors have dropped a felony charge against rapper Rick Ross a month after he was arrested in Miami Beach when a woman he was living with told police he hit her, court records said.

10 hours ago in Entertainment

Hugh Jackman, William Shatner and George Takei among those paying tribute to Patrick Stewart

The death of Patrick Stewart at 86 led to a slew of tributes, including from acting colleagues and even Marvel Studios. Known for his roles as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard in "Star Trek" and Professor Charles Xavier in the "X-Men" films, Stewart died in Los Angeles on Wednesday after what his spokesperson described as a "brief and poignant journey" with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy Body Dementia.

1 day ago in Entertainment, Trending

Patrick Stewart, legendary actor of ‘Star Trek’ and ‘X-Men’ fame, dies at 86

Patrick Stewart, the classically trained actor who added Shakespearean gravitas to the "Star Trek" and "X-Men" franchises, has died. He was 86. Stewart died Wednesday in Los Angeles, following "a brief and poignant journey" with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy Body Dementia, spokesperson Kelly Bush Novak said.

1 day ago in Entertainment

Hometown of ‘Addams Family’ creator becomes ghoulish Halloween destination

Before there was "The Addams Family," there was Westfield. Cartoonist Charles Addams, who created the eccentric, fictional family, drew inspiration for his signature macabre style from the elegant Victorian homes, historic cemetery and other landmarks of his New Jersey hometown.

1 day ago in Entertainment

South Carolina police close investigation into Hayden Panettiere’s death after coroner’s ruling

Police in South Carolina have closed their investigation into the overdose death of actor Hayden Panettiere following a coroner's finding that it was accidental. The decision was based on the medical examiner's determination as well as the findings of the investigation, Greenville police said Wednesday in a statement.