Forbes released its 2015 rankings of the Midwest United States’ top 25 colleges, and Illinois schools are among the best.

Northwestern University in Evanston ranked second in the region and No. 16 in the entire country. The University of Chicago weighed in at No. 3 in the Midwest, climbing from a rank of 4th the previous year, and the University of Illinois ranked No. 11.

If you are in northern Illinois this summer, consider going to Rock Cut State Park to unwind and enjoy the outdoors. You won’t leave disappointed.

Located in Loves Park, Rock Cut State Park is known for its bodies of water that offer opportunities for recreation and fun.

Ricardo Andre' Lewis realized his passion for art in high school and came to Illinois in 1985. He received his M.S. in Art from Illinois State University in 1987 and currently serves as the Associate Dean of Students for the university. Lewis specializes in paintings and his current body of work is portraits of African American male students from Illinois State University. Read on to learn more about Mr. Lewis and check out his website for more information about his work.

Illinois is home to the world’s largest catsup bottle, located just 20 minutes from St. Louis in Collinsville.

“The catsup bottle was originally built as a water tower for the Brooks catsup processing plant,” said Mike Gassmann, President and CEO of World’s Largest Catsup Bottle, Inc. “Little did anyone realize that over 60 years later it would become a historic landmark known worldwide.”

As the Tour de France grinds on across the ocean, another group of equally dedicated cyclists pedals on right here in Illinois.

On Thursday afternoon, dozens of bikers clad in matching blue and gray kits rolled into Springfield and stopped at the Illinois Police Officers Memorial on the west side of the State Capitol. The riders were members of the Illinois chapter of COPS, which stands for Concerns of Police Survivors. The group is dedicated to helping survivors of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

The charity ride began earlier Thursday at the Mississippi River in Alton The riders arrived at the Capitol at about 4 p.m. and stopped to rest and reflect at the Police Officers Memorial. After about 30 minutes, the group resumed their ride, heading north. They are due to arrive at Gold Star Families Park and Memorial in Chicago sometime Sunday.
The national COPS organization was founded in 1984, and the Illinois chapter was established in April 2005.