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Illinois public universities see highest enrollment in over a decade

• Higher Education
• FY27
• Enrollment
• Public Universities

For the third consecutive year, public universities in Illinois have seen increased enrollment with more than 190,000 students enrolled during the fall semester of the 2026-27 academic year. This is the highest enrolment since 2015.

Total student enrollment across Illinois’ 12 public universities increased to 190,114 students, up 287 students from last year.

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Plainfield resident breaks Illinois record for largest pumpkin at 2,492.5 pounds

• Pumpkin
• Record-breaking

Stroll through your local neighborhood and you may see 10-pound jack-o’-lanterns galore, but Plainfield resident Phil Groenewold’s yard is turning heads with a striking 2,492.5-pound pumpkin on display.

The feat broke an 11-year-old state record by 347 pounds at the Bluegrass Championship Weigh-Off in Kentucky on Sept. 12.

Groenewold shared that there wasn’t one distinguishing factor that led to the pumpkin’s success. However, he picked the pumpkin two weeks early to ensure he could make it to the championship in Kentucky. Care and attention were two primary ingredients in Groenewold’s high-performing routine, which consisted of using the right seed, adding nutrients to the soil and watering the plant with 80 gallons per day. 

Oct. 26 marks the annual celebration of National Pumpkin Day to honor the festive foods and fall activities that are centered on the iconic squash. Groenewold’s record-breaking pumpkin is the ultimate way to honor the holiday this season.

Best places to see fall colors in Illinois

Autumn is one of the most beautiful times to explore Illinois as the state’s many forests, parks and scenic byways transform into a brilliant spectacle of red, orange and gold. From the rolling hills of Southern Illinois to the wooded trails of the north, the Prairie State offers plenty of destinations for enjoying the season’s changing leaves.

Starved Rock State Park is an excellent destination for fall foliage fans. Located along the south bank of the Illinois River near Utica, the park features sandstone canyons, towering bluffs and miles of hiking trails surrounded by colorful trees. Matthiessen State Park, just a short drive away, offers another great viewing opportunity with its wooded ravines, waterfalls and many trails.

In the West Suburban area, Morton Arboretum in Lisle is another wonderful choice for experiencing nature in autumn without having to venture too far from the Chicago area. It spans 1,700 acres with over 4,000 types of trees, offering dedicated fall color reports and walking trails. Nearby, Chicago Botanic Gardens in Glencoe offers access to picturesque gardens, lakeside views and an abundance of paths surrounded by seasonal foliage.

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Cubs and Sox give baseball fans a season to remember

• Baseball

Chicago baseball fans may be putting away their postseason gear for the winter, but 2026 gave the city something it has rarely experienced with both the Cubs and White Sox playing postseason baseball.

The two teams reached the postseason in the same year for just the fourth time in history, joining the 1906, 2008 and 2020 seasons. The Cubs and Sox also clinched bracket positions on the same day within minutes of each other, giving fans across the city reason to celebrate. This year was the first year that both teams clinched a spot in the playoffs on the same day.

Although neither team reached the championship round, this season gave fans of both teams plenty to look forward to in the future.

For the Cubs, this marks the second consecutive year the team got to play postseason baseball, building on a campaign that featured an MVP-caliber year from star center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. The Cubs overcame injuries to their pitching staff, periods of inconsistency and a difficult summer to secure a postseason berth.

The Cubs run ended quickly, however. The team had the best offense in the National League in 2026 and scored the most runs but was held to just one run in two games against the San Diego Padres.

On the other side of town, the White Sox made history. The team became the first ever to make the playoffs immediately after having back-to-back seasons with 100 losses. In fact, the team set the record for the most losses in major league history in the 2024 campaign where they lost 121 games.

The Sox came out blazing in the Wild Card round against the Houston Astros, sweeping the series in two games on the road. The dagger came in game two when second baseman Chase Meidroth hit a three-run home run late in game two that gave the Sox the insurance needed to finish the job.

The Sox would ultimately lose to the Cleveland Guardians in the next round in heartbreaking fashion, setting the record for strikeouts in a postseason game with 21 strikeouts in game five. Nonetheless, the team overachieved in virtually every metric. With all the young talent, and a strong farm system, the best is yet to come at 35th and Shields.