'Chainsaw Massacre' Attack On Child, Woman | Boy Faces Hate Crime | 'Bright Soul' Teen Mourned: IL News

Plus: Mystery lotto winner sought | 4 hurt in fire, 57 people displaced | Cops warn of frisky deer | Suburban man shot to death in truck

Mom & Daughter Marathoners, Students Give Back: Good News, Illinois

See which recent Illinois Patch stories filled our hearts with joy.

Widespread Rain Returns Next Week To Chicago Area After Mostly Dry Weekend

Here's what to expect as more rainy weather settles in.

Mom Was 'Psychotic' At Time Of Toddler's Slaying, Needs Hospitalization, Lawyer Says | Illinois PatchPM

Huge celebrities selling Illinois home | Man accused of attempted murder in attack on woman, teen | 4 hurt in apartment building fire

10 Fall Events You Shouldn’t Miss In Illinois

Patch has rounded up some ways to enjoy fall with friends and family.

Praying Mantis Stops By, Butterfly Takes A Break And Toad Hides In The Garden: IL In Photos

This week's photo roundup from across Illinois.

Man Fatally Ran Down Pedestrian After Weed Deal Gone Bad: Cops | Illinois PatchPM

Legionnaires’ disease at hotel | More gaming machines smashed | Black mold, dilapidated home sparks village to take action

Toys'R'Us Makes A Comeback In IL 8 Years After Mass Closures

The toy retailer said 160 standalone U.S. stores are expected to be open by the holiday season, including a new Illinois location.

IL Farmer Sentenced To Prison For Multimillion-Dollar Bank Fraud Scheme: Authorities

The judge found that the farmer should face increased punishment because of his untruthful testimony under oath, authorities said.

Illinois Becomes First Midwest State To Allow Medically Assisted Death As 'Deb's Law' Goes Into Effect

A diagnosis of a rare, aggressive form of cancer had forced her into retirement after three decades of working with homeless youth.

Benefits Change With New Federal Fiscal Year Oct. 1: What To Know In IL

See which benefit programs are set to change in Illinois and how this might impact your pocketbook.

America's Happiest States: See Where IL Ranks

To determine where Americans have the best combination of economic, emotional, physical and social health, WalletHub looked at 30 metrics.

Dad Fatally Shoots Son 5 Times | Illinois PatchPM

Olympic star's Porsche stolen from Chicago-area home | Family seeks help finding son missing nearly 3 weeks | Gel blaster robbery

These Are The Top IL Colleges In 2027 U.S. News Rankings

U.S. News changed both its scoring formula and the categories in which many schools compete for this year's ranking.

Illinois Lottery Looking For Mystery $550K Jackpot Winner

Check your tickets! Were you the winner of last weekend's Lucky Day Lotto jackpot?

Girl, 14, Shot In Face | Pedestrian Dead In Hit-And-Run | Teen's Backpack Program Offers Hope: IL Weekend

Fed injures U.S. citizen, cops say | Woman dies in crash with police car | Apartment fire displaces a dozen families | Kids offered cannabis

More Rain To Start The Week Before Big Temp Plunge For Chicago Area

Fall lovers will be happy this week as cooler temperatures hit.

8-Year-Old Boy Dies After Being Struck While Riding Electric Scooter | Illinois PatchPM

Steel Beams Spill On Edens | 3 IL Children’s Hospitals Ranked | Man Accused Of Setting Relatives' Home On Fire | Hospital Worker Attacked

Woman Cut In Neck, Teen Hurt In Barricade | Racist Taunts Fallout | Body Found In Cop Car: IL News

Plus: 650 Rolls Of TP Seized | Robbery Suspect Shot | Backyard Chicken Ban Stays |

Frog In Hiding, Touchdown Celebration And A Spider Visits The Lake House: IL In Photos

This week's photo roundup from across Illinois.

Flood Risk As Up To 4 Inches Of Rain Possible By Sunday In Chicago Area

Those with outdoor plans this weekend might be disappointed.

Woman Gets 40 Years For Killing 3-Year-Old Nephew Near Navy Pier | Illinois PatchPM

CPS Bus Aide In Gun Case | 6 Officers On Leave | 3 Girls Charged In School Threat | Teen Attacked With Pipe | $23K Dyson Stash

Here's How Much Snow IL Can Expect This Winter, Old Farmer's Almanac Predictions Say

The Almanac says El Niño is one of the major factors shaping the 2026-27 outlook.

Fall 2026 Concerts We’re Most Excited To See In Illinois

Fall is always a peak time for concerts in Illinois as artists kick off or wind down national tours.

3 IL Children’s Hospitals Ranked Among Nation’s Best By U.S. News

See which Illinois hospitals made U.S. News & World Report's list of the 2026-27 Best Children's Hospitals.

Police Respond After Person Climbs Tower, School Buses Rerouted | Illinois PatchPM

Missing man's death undetermined | Coach fired at 4-0 | E-bike lawsuit | TP attack arrest | Billionaires make list | Trump backs Bailey

IL's Richest Person Is Worth $44.4B, Ranks 24th On Forbes 400

A total of 18 Illinois residents made the 45th annual list from the global media and publishing company.

Popular Retailer Closes Over 100 Stores Nationwide, Including In IL

No official reason has been given by brand leadership for the nationwide closures of Scrubs & Beyond stores.

Spirit Halloween Opens 56 Stores In IL: Here's Where

While spooky season is still a month away, some of the nation's most popular Halloween stores are already open.

Sponsors sought for Forest Preserve District’s 2027 Centennial Celebration

A variety of sponsorships are being offered by The Nature Foundation of Will County as a way to show support for the District.

Trump Endorses Darren Bailey In Illinois Governor's Race

The president praised Bailey while criticizing Gov. JB Pritzker as the November rematch takes shape.

Halloween 2026: Submit Your Haunt For Patch's Tour O' Scary Yards

Patch is compiling its 2026 guide to Chicagoland's Best Halloween Yard Displays. You know what to do: submit your yard haunt today.

Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes Near Chicago: Fall 2026 Guide

Farms around Chicago are welcoming visitors who make the trek out to pick pumpkins, collect apples and stock up on all things fall.

What IL Lawmakers Are Saying About $5K ‘Trump Dividends’

Trump's promise of $5,000 if Republicans maintain control of the House and Senate has been met with skepticism from IL lawmakers.

Addicted To Love: A Robert Palmer Dance Party- live on the Outdoor Rooftop

Addicted To Love: A Robert Palmer Dance Party- live on the Joliet Museum's Outdoor ROOFTOP on Friday, Sept. 18th at 7pm (doors open 6:15pm)

Chance Of Storms, Summer-Like Humidity To Return Later This Week To Chicago Area

Tuesday and Wednesday could see a few severe storms.

Boy Critically Injured On Electric Scooter | Perfect ACT Score | Dealership Worker Killed: IL Weekend

A Lake Michigan death, a fatal motorcycle crash and an opioid prescription scheme are also among the stories Illinois readers were following

Dog Boat, Hawk's-Eye View And Spider Hits The Bullseye: IL In Photos

This week's photo roundup from across Illinois.

Hottest Summers On Record: How This Year Ranked In Illinois

Most of the U.S. saw some of their hottest summers on record, but that wasn't the case in the Midwest.

Racism At Homecoming Game | Slain Officer Honored | Immigration Blitz Anniversary: IL News

Plus: Sheriff horse auction, man who died in plunge from rocks ID'd, National Guard soldier killed.