ILLINOIS HEAD START ASSOCIATION

May 19 2026BUSINESS

Road work headaches: Ottawa County’s summer traffic shuffle

Starting this spring, Ottawa County drivers face a rolling series of detours while crews upgrade aging pipes and potholed roads. In Port Sheldon Township, 160th Avenue at Van Buren Street vanished for a water-line upgrade that won’t finish until late May. Commuters now snake through quieter side str

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May 13 2026ENVIRONMENT

Dust storms hit Illinois roads, raising safety concerns

Illinois is seeing more dust storms these days, and they’re not just an annoyance—they’re a serious danger. Strong winds can lift dry soil from farm fields, creating sudden walls of dust that reduce visibility to almost zero. These storms can appear quickly, turning highways into risky zones for dri

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May 11 2026HEALTH

How first-year students handle stress and why some struggle more than others

Starting university is often seen as a fresh start, but it can also bring unexpected pressure. Many students face state anxiety—stress that shows up in the moment—when dealing with new routines, academic demands, and social changes. Some handle it well, while others find it hard to adjust. Research

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May 09 2026FINANCE

China now allows two more firms to audit Hong Kong-listed firms

Starting mid-May, Chinese companies trading in Hong Kong will have more options when picking auditors. The country’s finance and stock market watchdogs just greenlit RSM and Baker Tilly, two accounting firms based in China, to handle these audits. This move follows a 2025 decision to expand the list

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May 08 2026ENVIRONMENT

Holyoke says goodbye to rat poison on public land

Starting next month, Holyoke will stop using poison to control rats on city property. The City Council voted unanimously to ban a group of strong rodenticides called second-generation anticoagulants. The move follows concerns about how these chemicals affect more than just rats—they can harm pets, b

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May 06 2026POLITICS

New Zealand Adds Citizenship Test for New Residents

Starting in 2027, people who want to become citizens of New Zealand will have to pass a new test. The exam will be held face‑to‑face and will contain 20 multiple‑choice questions written in English. Applicants must answer at least 15 correctly to qualify. The questions will cover a range of topics.

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May 02 2026POLITICS

A billionaire governor’s next big move

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is no stranger to writing big checks for political battles. But if he decides to run for president in 2028, he won’t be footing the entire bill himself. That’s according to people close to his inner circle, who say he’s already testing the waters with national fundraise

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Apr 29 2026FINANCE

New crypto rules in the UK: a tough road ahead for small players

Starting in 2027, the UK will enforce stricter rules for crypto businesses, and small firms might find it hard to meet the new standards. Any company that keeps customer money for more than a day or can change what users do must get a full license. This covers not just big exchanges but also smaller

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Apr 10 2026TRANSPORTATION

Chicago’s Bus Network Gets a New Route for Obama Center Visitors

Starting May 23, anyone heading to the new Obama Presidential Center can skip the transfers and take a direct ride. The CTA’s popular express bus route #10, which usually zooms from downtown to the Museum of Science and Industry, will now stretch an extra mile south to serve the center. What used to

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Mar 18 2026POLITICS

A New Senate Hope: Illinois Votes for a Black Woman with Big Support

Illinois voters have chosen a new face for the Senate, electing a Black woman who has long worked under Governor JB Pritzker. The win shows how powerful state politics can be when a governor’s backing is combined with substantial outside money. The campaign began when the incumbent senator, Richard 

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