Copyright (c) Daily Herald en-us http://www.dailyherald.com News from The Daily Herald https://www.dailyherald.com/20260717/news/pretty-wild-air-quality-forces-late-start-of-west-dundee-opener-of-the-14th-chicago-grit-bicycle/ The 14th Chicago Grit bicycle racing series was postponed for hours Friday due to poor air quality at its first stop, the West Dundee River Challenge. Dave Oberhelman Fri, 17 Jul 2026 17:52:17 -0500 117277b7-d629-4293-a527-3dc055fd9afe https://www.dailyherald.com/20260717/chicago-bears/at-lake-forest-event-stadium-property-taxes-and-world-cup-on-bears-presidents-mind/ Chicago Bears President/CEO Kevin Warren said the NFL club is performing due diligence for a potential stadium in Northwest Indiana, but at an event in Lake Forest Thursday night, he didn’t close the door on Arlington Heights either. Christopher Placek Fri, 17 Jul 2026 09:38:09 -0500 19819f8a-db06-43b0-b371-6c296b913a5a https://www.dailyherald.com/20260717/pets-and-animals/nature-is-so-healing-paws-chicago-breaks-ground-for-rescue-ranch-in-hawthorn-woods/ PAWS Chicago breaks ground on Rescue Ranch, a 20-acre homeless pet adoption, enrichment and education facility in Hawthorn Woods. Mick Zawislak Fri, 17 Jul 2026 12:14:44 -0500 c8ccfc7d-28c9-49e9-be49-fa48133ba569 https://www.dailyherald.com/20260716/crime/aurora-tops-again-in-state-for-dui-enforcement/ The Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists published its annual survey of DUI arrests in Illinois last week, and once again Aurora is at the top of the list. But also impressive is the work of its much-smaller neighbor West Chicago, which is eighth on the list. Charles Keeshan Susan Sarkauskas Thu, 16 Jul 2026 17:50:28 -0500 65a447f0-902a-495b-a349-4f2a41338fbe https://www.dailyherald.com/20260717/news/smoke-from-canadian-wildfires-could-begin-clearing-out-later-today/ Air quality in the Chicago area Friday is among the world’s worst for a second day due to wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota. Jake Griffin Fri, 17 Jul 2026 08:49:51 -0500 cbd27ee3-ff56-4655-94f7-4e7fc5dd1fd1 https://www.dailyherald.com/20260717/article/mother-charged-months-after-son-killed-in-mundelein-house-fire/ A former Mundelein woman has been arrested in connection with a March fire that left her 4-year-old son dead. Russell Lissau Fri, 17 Jul 2026 19:14:19 -0500 419fb1aa-c213-41bd-9235-ee8bac61a6ea https://www.dailyherald.com/20260717/illinois-state-politics/republican-darren-bailey-treads-water-in-governors-race-as-gop-candidates-struggle-to-raise-campaig/ Republican nominee for governor Darren Bailey treaded water in the opening stretch of his rematch against Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker in the Nov. 3 general election, raising about $1.33 million for his campaign fund while spending more than $1.28 million in the three full months since winning the March 17 GOP primary, state campaign finance records show. Fri, 17 Jul 2026 10:10:47 -0500 621a2605-74d5-4772-b1a1-364b61cb729d https://www.dailyherald.com/20260716/chicago-cubs/quest-for-chi-tober-what-cubs-white-sox-need-to-make-playoffs/ One of the rarest occurrences in all of sports has a chance to happen: Both the Cubs and White Sox making the playoffs. Here’s a look at how those teams can get it done. Mike McGraw Thu, 16 Jul 2026 20:31:03 -0500 9ba665f9-1faf-4418-a3ff-9ad780772389 https://www.dailyherald.com/20260716/news/bring-lots-of-water-kane-county-fair-exhibitors-beat-the-heat-with-fans-shade-and-ice-cream/ As temperatures reached the mid-90s and smoke from wildfires hung in the air at the Kane County Fair, exhibitors from 4-H clubs, show judges and a fair official revealed how they cope. Susan Sarkauskas Thu, 16 Jul 2026 16:23:34 -0500 b2586a9b-17f7-48a9-a391-d88f0ee5bcf8 https://www.dailyherald.com/20260717/news/aurora-police-investigating-after-two-men-were-shot-on-citys-east-side-thursday-night/ Aurora police are investigating after two men were shot Thursday on the city’s east side. Rick West Fri, 17 Jul 2026 14:46:23 -0500 7da2823a-421a-4813-b867-0a4823ed6c5e