Bison are once again roaming Illinois prairies. It's been more than 175 years since the last wild bison died in this state, but as of October they are back, thanks to The Nature Conservancy project in western Illinois called Nachusa Grasslands.

Donna Arduin Praised, Panned for Work on State Finances

Gov. Bruce Rauner lauds Donna Arduin as “the best [budget person] in America,” justifying an eye-opening four-month contract that will pay her firm $120,000 to provide “consulting services” on this year and next year’s budget.

Chicago mayoral candidates—Ald. Bob Fioretti, Cook County Commissioner Jesús "Chuy" García, and businessman Willie Wilson—gave a brief news conference following the forum.

Buildings, Libraries & Train Stations

Discover Chicago's Ivy League enclave, a no-nastiness library, and a train station namesake on the south side.

Early Monday morning, longtime Chicago Ald. Bernie Stone died. Watch John Callaway's 2007 Friday Night Show conversation with Stone.

The Atlantic correspondent and author Ta-Nehisi Coates discusses his thoughts on the students at North Lawndale College Prep, his mea culpa for glossing over the accusations against Bill Cosby in the past, and he explains why The Case for Reparations is unrelated to the black conservatives’ argument.

Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, who died at the age of 70, is remembered for her personality, beliefs, and sense of style. 

Free Museum Visits, Camels & Remittance Drive

Geoffrey Baer answers your questions about visiting local museums for free, camels in Chicago, and how to get to Remittance Drive in this web exclusive edition of Ask Geoffrey.

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The University of Chicago and the University of Illinois-Chicago are going head to head on their plans to lure the Obama Presidential Library and Museum to Chicago.

A Chicago mentoring program that strives to ensure that 100 percent of participating students graduate high school, enter college, and gain skills to succeed in the workplace, participates in The White House College Opportunity Day of Action.

When Atlantic magazine correspondent Ta-Nehisi Coates wrote his article, The Case for Reparations, he sought out to tell the history of the North Lawndale neighborhood, to educate readers, and encourage critical thinking among the masses. What he didn’t expect was for his piece to be used as a teaching tool and the premise for senior projects at North Lawndale College Prep. 

The Memory Archives aims to preserve the stories of Holocaust survivors in the Chicagoland area. The joint project between Northwestern and University of Hamburg students premieres Thursday night.

U.S. Senate candidates for Illinois  -- Sen. Dick Durbin and Jim Oberweis -- gave a brief news conference following the forum.

Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia is mulling whether or not to take on Rahm Emanuel and run for mayor, according to sources within the Democratic party, and within Chicago’s Latino and progressive communities.

Monday marked the beginning of early voting in Illinois and emotions are running high in this close election. While some machine malfunctions are not uncommon in state races, the Illinois GOP is calling foul over ballot counting procedures in Rock Island and voting machine calibrations in the northern suburbs.

The Illinois Network of Charter Schools says the Institute on Metropolitan Opportunity’s report on Chicago charter schools is inaccurate.