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Chicago's most beautiful houses of worship face off

Vote your favorites through our 16-site bracket to crown Chicago's most picturesque place of worship.

Culture

This month&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios Chicago tournament" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/10/27/best-living-chicago-celebrity-murray-pope-oprah-cusack-obama" data-vars-content-id="17e46c77-73fa-41c5-8ff2-d84bbe247d57" data-vars-headline="Chicago&#x27;s most beautiful houses of worship face off" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/10/27/best-living-chicago-celebrity-murray-pope-oprah-cusack-obama" target="_self">Axios Chicago tournament</a> is about the best-looking houses of worship in the Chicago area.Between the lines: We&#x27;re not talking faith. We&#x27;re talking architecture.

Darren Bailey pledges free Illinois tollways

The Republican gubernatorial candidate unveiled a four-point plan, but it lacks details.

Transit

Illinois gubernatorial candidate <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Darren Bailey" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/03/18/bailey-wins-gop-primary-pritzker-rematch-illinois-governor" data-vars-content-id="478f836d-2a1b-41ec-b9ee-a56419d0277a" data-vars-headline="Darren Bailey pledges free Illinois tollways" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/03/18/bailey-wins-gop-primary-pritzker-rematch-illinois-governor" target="_self">Darren Bailey</a> wants to make the state’s toll roads free, reviving a decades-old promise that’s much easier said than financed.Why it matters: Eliminating tolls would upend a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="transportation funding system" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/10/31/illinois-fall-veto-session-transit-deal" data-vars-content-id="478f836d-2a1b-41ec-b9ee-a56419d0277a" data-vars-headline="Darren Bailey pledges free Illinois tollways" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/10/31/illinois-fall-veto-session-transit-deal" target="_self">transportation funding system</a> lawmakers just expanded. <ul><li>Last year&#x27;s sweeping transit package called for higher tolls to help finance a new multibillion-dollar Tollway construction program, while shifting other state transportation revenues toward mass transit.</li></ul>

New Chicago murals honor Caleb Williams, Stacey King and John Prine

The murals honor two Chicago legends and one trying to cement his legacy in real time.

Things to Do

Three new murals have sprung up in Chicago recently, celebrating two legends — and one young star building his legacy in real time. Why it matters: Chicago has long turned blank walls into tributes to icons.

Trump's Indiana storm declaration puts Illinois FEMA aid in spotlight

Is Illinois getting the shaft on federal storm aid due to politics?

Climate

President Trump&#x27;s rapid emergency declaration for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="storm-ravaged Indiana" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2026/08/17/indiana-launches-emergency-assistance-housing-vouchers-for-flood-victims" data-vars-content-id="5db2749c-7612-4556-901a-5f0771ddb6f5" data-vars-headline="Trump&#x27;s Indiana storm declaration puts Illinois FEMA aid in spotlight" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2026/08/17/indiana-launches-emergency-assistance-housing-vouchers-for-flood-victims" target="_self">storm-ravaged Indiana</a> is renewing Democratic concerns about partisanship in federal disaster aid.Why it matters: Thousands of Illinoisans are dealing with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="damaged or lost property" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/08/12/illinois-derecho-tornado-indiana-south-suburbs-trees-power-flooding" data-vars-content-id="5db2749c-7612-4556-901a-5f0771ddb6f5" data-vars-headline="Trump&#x27;s Indiana storm declaration puts Illinois FEMA aid in spotlight" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/08/12/illinois-derecho-tornado-indiana-south-suburbs-trees-power-flooding" target="_self">damaged or lost property</a> from the same derecho that produced eight tornadoes, power outages and flooding on both sides of the state line.

Illinois Republicans target Pritzker at State Fair rally

Darren Bailey and the slate of Illinois GOP candidates rallied supporters in Springfield on Thursday.

Politics

The Republicans took their turn at the Illinois State Fair on Thursday, blasting Democrats as soft on crime, immigration, property taxes and the economy.Why it matters: This <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="second day of partisan politicking" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/08/19/illinois-state-fair-democrats-pritzker-durbin-gop-trump-rally-alexi" data-vars-content-id="793b0c43-699a-44f3-b047-560e6d2eba38" data-vars-headline="Illinois Republicans target Pritzker at State Fair rally" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/08/19/illinois-state-fair-democrats-pritzker-durbin-gop-trump-rally-alexi" target="_self">second day of partisan politicking</a> at the fair is illuminating the two sides&#x27; campaign strategies for the upcoming election.

At Illinois State Fair, Democrats target Trump

Democrats took to the stage at the Illinois State Fair to rally the party faithful.

Election season may not traditionally kick off until after Labor Day, but in Illinois, the campaign calendar gets going in mid-August at the state fair.Catch up quick: Democrats rallied supporters during Governor&#x27;s Day at the State Fairgrounds in Springfield. Gov. JB Pritzker, U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, and Senate candidate Juliana Stratton headlined the affair Wednesday. Why it matters: The ramp-up to the November election has started. That means more ads, more debates and a lot more politics.

New rules could complicate Chicago condo sales

Sellers may need to pay closer attention to their building's finances, reserves and repair plans.

Real Estate

Some condo owners could find it harder to sell their units under tougher new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac " data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/12/trump-fannie-mae-freddie-mac" data-vars-content-id="f46acb3f-6acf-44d1-a5e1-cc21e59ab058" data-vars-headline="New rules could complicate Chicago condo sales" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/12/trump-fannie-mae-freddie-mac" target="_self">Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac </a>lending standards.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The rules" data-vars-click-url="https://guide.freddiemac.com/app/guide/bulletin/2026-C" data-vars-content-id="f46acb3f-6acf-44d1-a5e1-cc21e59ab058" data-vars-headline="New rules could complicate Chicago condo sales" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://guide.freddiemac.com/app/guide/bulletin/2026-C" target="_blank">The rules</a> put new pressure on condo associations to stay on top of repairs and financial reserves, making sellers more dependent on the building&#x27;s overall appeal — not just their condo&#x27;s — to sell.

Social media influencers add new angle to Chicago mayoral race 

Mayor Brandon Johnson has paid at least one and Mendoza says she will use them as well.

Earlier this week, Mayor Brandon Johnson&#x27;s political operation drew scrutiny for paying a social media creator to post a supportive video about him on her account. Why it matters: The move kicks off a campaign season when Chicagoans are likely to see a lot more paid and unpaid collaborations with influencers blurring the lines between opinions, grassroots support and paid messaging.

Chicago Bears move forward with Indiana stadium plans

The Hoosier State is on its way to being the future home of Chicago's NFL franchise.

Business

The Chicago Bears confirmed Thursday they are moving forward with two sites in Indiana for a new stadium. Why it matters: After 106 years in Illinois, the Bears are inching closer to becoming Indiana&#x27;s team.

Is Chicago prepared for more powerful storms? Derecho puts region to the test

Severe weather is making this a record summer for storm damage.

Tuesday&#x27;s derecho wasn&#x27;t just a storm; it was a stress test. The latest: The fast-moving, powerful storm produced three tornadoes and battered several south suburban and Northwest Indiana communities. <ul><li>The storm has been blamed for a house explosion that killed a person in Portage, IN. </li><li>Power is still out in several area suburbs and a fuel shortage is affecting Lake and Porter counties in NWI. </li><li>With the three tornadoes from Tuesday, Illinois has become the second state on record to surpass 200 tornadoes in a single year. </li></ul>

Exclusive: New Meta Lab coming to Chicago

The Gold Coast shop will let customers try Meta's AI glasses and VR gear ahead of the holidays.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Meta" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/10/zuckerberg-ai-manifesto-meta" data-vars-content-id="258e7338-dcc7-40d5-9c9c-aa0caf6f3e6b" data-vars-headline="Exclusive: New Meta Lab coming to Chicago" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/10/zuckerberg-ai-manifesto-meta" target="_self">Meta</a> is opening a Meta Lab store in Chicago&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Gold Coast" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/12/12/zillow-most-popular-chicago-thompson-house-gold-coast" data-vars-content-id="258e7338-dcc7-40d5-9c9c-aa0caf6f3e6b" data-vars-headline="Exclusive: New Meta Lab coming to Chicago" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/12/12/zillow-most-popular-chicago-thompson-house-gold-coast" target="_self">Gold Coast</a> neighborhood. Driving the news: The company confirmed to Axios on Wednesday that it&#x27;s opening its first Midwest location at 932 N. Rush St., the former home of Glossier.

White Sox to retire Ozzie Guillen's No. 13

The event will take place before Saturday night's game vs. the Gardians.

News

One of the Chicago White Sox&#x27;s most beloved figures will receive one of the franchise&#x27;s highest honors this weekend.The latest: Ozzie Guillen&#x27;s No. 13 will be officially retired by the organization with a ceremony before the White Sox take on the Guardians at the Rate on Saturday night.

News 🗞

Illinois Republicans target Pritzker at State Fair rally

At Illinois State Fair, Democrats target Trump

Trump's Indiana storm declaration puts Illinois FEMA aid in spotlight

New rules could complicate Chicago condo sales

Darren Bailey pledges free Illinois tollways