Local News

Munster Town Hall (Christin Nance Lazerus/Post-Tribune)

Munster raises storm debris removal contracts to $4.5 million

By Michelle L. Quinn

September 1, 2026 at 4:45 p.m.

The Town of Munster has more than doubled its budget for cleaning up the debris...

State Rep. Earl Harris, D-East Chicago, speaks in Indianapolis, Indiana, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. Harris announced Tuesday that he wants the Indiana FSSA and Gov. Mike Braun to “take immediate steps” to ensure disaster-affected residents don’t lose Medicaid coverage and in-home care. (Andy Lavalley/for the Post-Tribune)

State Rep. Harris pushes for Medicaid coverage protection after storm

By Maya Wilkins

September 1, 2026 at 4:14 p.m.

Indiana Rep. Earl Harris, D-East Chicago, said he wants the state to “take immediate steps”...

Students from Kahler Middle School work at solving problems in the space module at the Challenger Learning Center in Hammond in this 2016 file photo. (Post-Tribune archive photo)

After 27 years, Challenger Learning Center of NWI closing after fundraising mission fell short

By Carole Carlson

September 1, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.

Space enthusiasts at the Challenger Learning Center of Northwest Indiana, which inspired generations to love...

South Elgin's Jeremiah Torres (21) secures the ball and returns the kickoff for a TD against St. Charles North during a nonconference game in South Elgin on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)

High school football schedule and local scores for the Southland, Aurora, Elgin, Naperville and Lake County

By Josh Krockey

September 1, 2026 at 6:00 a.m.

High school and local college results and highlights from the Southland, Aurora, Elgin, Naperville and...

Caledonia Senior Living and Memory Care and Wally’s Hearth are teaming up for the first Telling the Bees Fest: a Chicagoland Deathcare Education & Resource Festival on Sept. 12 in North Riverside. Gus Noble, Chicago Scots and Caledonia president, talks with Wally’s Hearth board member Nancy Betker, center, and Tiffany Johnson, executive director and co-founder of Wally’s Hearth, on Caledonia’s grounds. (Caledonia Senior Living)

Deathcare Education Festival aims to connect people so ‘nobody goes through the big moments alone’

By Melinda Moore

September 1, 2026 at 5:03 a.m.

Telling the Bees Fest: a Chicagoland Deathcare Education & Resource Festival is a joint effort...

Wes Sanders makes an adjustment on his O scale model railroad in the basement of his Palos Park home. The railroad was the hook for a recent fundraiser Sanders and his wife hosted for the McCord Gallery and Cultural Center. (Jim Dudlicek/Daily Southtown)

Art imitates life in massive Palos Park model train display

By Jim Dudlicek

September 1, 2026 at 5:02 a.m.

A model train display that fills a Palos Park basement was the subject of a...

Interim Aurora Fire Chief Kevin Nickel speaks at the grand opening of the newly-relocated Fire Station 9 on Thursday, March 19, 2026. The Aurora City Council is looking at possibly changing residency requirements for the city's police and fire chiefs. (R. Christian Smith/The Beacon-News)

Proposal would loosen residency requirements for Aurora police and fire chiefs

By Addison Wright

September 1, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Aurora Ald. Carl Franco, 5th Ward, who is behind the proposed ordinance, said the measure...

Atif Bawahab, President and Chief Executive Officer of Insight Hospital & Medical Center Chicago, speaks on Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, during a public meeting at Malcolm X College in Chicago, about the closures of Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago and West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

Head of Chicago’s Insight hospital talks about future of West Suburban amid pushback from doctors, lawmakers

By Lisa Schencker

September 1, 2026 at 12:50 p.m.

The town hall took place the same day that a group of West Suburban doctors...

Chicago Christian’s Quinn Grevengoed (3) looks over at her coach between points against Lincoln-Way Central during a nonconference match in New Lenox on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026. (Jeremy Toney / Daily Southtown)

Jeff Vorva’s high school girls volleyball rankings and player of the week for the Southland

By Jeff Vorva

August 31, 2026 at 11:27 p.m.

Marist holds on to the top spot followed by Mother McAuley, while Lincoln-Way Central and...

Resident Judy Stamm dances with Moses Williams, executive director of the Oak Park Arms during the spring soiree dance, in June in Oak Park. (James C. Svehla)

Community news: Oak Park soiree a success, more mussels in Salt Creek

By Melinda Moore

August 31, 2026 at 5:23 p.m.

News from the community includes items from Oak Park, Forest Preserves of DuPage County, Elmhurst,...

People carry art treasures at the Port Clinton Art Festival in downtown Highland Park on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)

‘Art is bringing everybody together’ Port Clinton Art Festival attracts thousands to downtown Highland Park

By Karie Angell Luc

August 31, 2026 at 4:31 p.m.

An estimated 300 artists took part in this year’s Port Clinton Art Festival in downtown...

Aurora City Hall is at 44 E. Downer Place in downtown Aurora. (R. Christian Smith/The Beacon-News)

Aurora electoral board to decide if recall referendum questions will be on November ballot

By Addison Wright

August 31, 2026 at 4:26 p.m.

The electoral board is set to meet at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, in the...

Indiana governor Mike Braun speaks with Malisia Lemme and her husband Arthur following a press conference addressing continuing state and federal storm recovery efforts at the Hudson Campbell Sports and Fitness Center in Gary, Indiana on Monday, August 31, 2026. (Andy Lavalley/for the Post-Tribune)

Indiana Gov. Braun, FEMA assess NWI storm damage, offer resources

By Maya Wilkins

August 31, 2026 at 5:14 p.m.

The response to the Aug. 11 storm that hit Northwest Indiana and left hundreds of...