Rockford, Illinois

Illinois homeowners regularly raise the idea of scrapping property taxes, which fund schools, police, fire departments, and local governments statewide. Eliminating them is theoretically possible but would require replacing tens of billions of dollars in annual revenue. No large U.S. state has fully eliminated property taxes; states like Texas, Florida, and Hawaii that limit or forgo other taxes still lean on property taxes or alternative revenue like sales and tourism taxes. Education funding is the biggest obstacle, since schools depend heavily on local property tax dollars. Options to offset elimination include raising income or sales taxes, new statewide levies, or shifting school funding to the state—each with political tradeoffs. No major reform proposal has gained traction so far.

Illinois voters head to the polls Nov. 3 to fill an open U.S. Senate seat and decide contests for governor, attorney general, secretary of state, comptroller and treasurer. Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton faces Republican Don Tracy for the Senate seat being vacated by Dick Durbin. Gov. J.B. Pritzker, running with new lieutenant governor pick Christian Mitchell, seeks a third term in a rematch against Darren Bailey, who has Donald Trump's endorsement and running mate Aaron Del Mar.

Incumbent Attorney General Kwame Raoul faces Republican Bob Fioretti, while Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, now also running for Chicago mayor, is challenged by Republican Diane Harris. With Comptroller Susana Mendoza not seeking re-election amid her own mayoral bid, Democrat Margaret Croke and Republican Bryan Drew are competing for that office. Treasurer Mike Frerichs seeks re-election against Republican Max Solomon. The races will shape state policy on taxes, spending oversight, abortion access and Illinois' relationship with the Trump administration, with early and mail voting available ahead of Election Day.

Communities across the Grand Rapids, Michigan area held remembrance events marking 25 years since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, in which al-Qaida hijackers crashed four commercial planes into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, killing nearly 3,000 people. The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum hosted its annual Community Day of Remembrance and Scout Salute, bringing together Scouts, veterans, first responders, and residents to honor those killed and the heroism shown that day.

The anniversary coverage came alongside a roundup of other local stories drawing reader interest, including a school board censure in Rockford over a controversial employee email, the transformation of Grand Rapids' River North district, a leadership transition at furniture maker Steelcase, actor Bryan Cranston's expected appearance at ArtPrize 2026, and continued opposition to a proposed battery energy storage plant in Ottawa County's Blendon Township.

The Rockford Board of Education in West Michigan voted at a special meeting Tuesday to censure Trustee Barbara Helms over an email the board called "offensive, unwelcome, and race-based." In the Aug. 9 email to a district staff member, Helms asked whether the employee had "an association with the Muslim Brotherhood," a transnational Sunni Islamist group whose Middle Eastern chapters have in part been designated terrorist organizations by the Trump administration.

Superintendent Steve Matthews said he learned of the email after the staff member forwarded it to him, prompting consultation with legal counsel and the Michigan Association of School Boards before the censure vote. Helms admitted sending the message but called the board's action "politically motivated." Her attorney, Stephen Grimm, said she sent it on behalf of a parent and denied any racist or discriminatory intent, arguing the censure could chill free speech. Helms, absent from the meeting, said she will not resign and will finish her term, which ends this year; she is not seeking reelection.