Are you familiar with these holiday traditions and characters from the Prairie State? ...

In this latest holiday gift guide, the jolly old elf shares a few of his favorite locally owned businesses where you’re sure to find gifts that surprise, delight and amaze even the grinchiest among us. ...

We all know the story about Mrs. O’Leary’s cow and the Great Fire that leveled Chicago 100 years ago. But did you know that, on the same day, a bigger, more deadly fire ripped across Wisconsin? Join Jon McGinty as he explores these parallel disasters. ...

Now that summer is here, it’s time to get a much-needed change of scenery. Our region is ripe with luxurious hotels, thriving state parks, bustling downtowns and hidden attractions that bring you face-to-face with the refreshing waterfront. Where do you want to begin? ...

They were once a center of activity in rural America, until the highways came to town. Loved and then abandoned, train depots are finding new life thanks to dedicated citizens. Jon McGinty explores five places where depots have found new life. ...

This may be “flyover country,” but our region has led the nation through many important milestones, both in social movements and product innovations. See if you can figure out which state each occasion took place, marking I for Illinois, or W for Wisconsin. ...

As Illinois and Wisconsin raced to be the first states that enshrined women’s voting rights in the Constitution, a wider movement was being led by women with deep ties to our region. A century later, their work is still being felt. ...

The Land of Lincoln officially turns 200 years old on Dec. 3, 2018. As part of a year-long celebration, see if you can answer these questions. ...

In celebration of Illinois’ bicentennial, explore how the Prairie State became central to the U.S. in terms of economy, culture and politics, and learn how you can join in on the celebrations happening through this year. ...

Our nation is very young, but thousands of important events have already been forgotten. Test your knowledge of the region once known as the “Old Northwest Territory." Scroll down for answers. 1. Which state university was established first? A) Illinois State University in Normal B) University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana C) University of Wisconsin 2. Which of these Wisconsin-area native ...