103 years ago this week, construction was finished on Chicago’s Wrigley Field. It cost $250,000 to build the field, which opened as Weeghman Park. Back in 1914, the field was home to the upstart Federal League team, the Chicago Whales. At this time, the Cubs were playing at Chicago’s West Side Grounds.

Weeghman Park had a seating capacity of 14,000 with four acres of Kentucky bluegrass blanketing the outfield. Then in 1915, the Federal League disbanded. The Chicago Cubs took advantage of the opening and moved in to the new park, shortly thereafter naming it Cubs Park.

In the 1920s, the Cubs began renovating the field. During the 1922-1923 off season, wooden bleachers were installed and the capacity increased to 20,000. Then in 1926, the field’s name was changed from Cubs Park to Wrigley Field in honor of team owner William Wrigley, Jr.

It wasn’t until 1937 that some of Wrigley Field’s most famous features were added, including the 27- by 85-foot manually-operated scoreboard, the outfield bleachers and the signature ivy.

Several seating additions throughout the years have led to the current game-day capacity of more than 38,000. Although many renovations have taken place during Wrigley Field’s 103 year history, the field still looks largely the same as it did in 1914. Wrigley’s old-time charm is just one of the countless reasons why fans keep coming back year after year.

On Aug. 21, the first total solar eclipse visible from the continental United States in nearly 40 years will occur, and Southern Illinois will offer a front row seat. The point of the eclipse’s greatest duration will occur over the Shawnee National Forest.

A solar eclipse happens when the moon blocks the sun. The August eclipse will cross the United States from Oregon to South Carolina and will be the first one in nearly 100 years to do so.

A total solar eclipse occurs much more infrequently than partial eclipses. While partial eclipses occur between two and five times each year, a total eclipse only occurs approximately once every year and a half, though often it is only visible over the ocean.

Communities across Southern Illinois are celebrating the eclipse in a variety of ways. Southern Illinois University Carbondale has partnered with NASA and the Adler Planetarium to offer a day of events and eclipse viewing in the football stadium. Carterville is hosting a Moonstock festival with Ozzy Osborne headlining. Additionally, there are 12 Illinois state parks within the portion of the state where the eclipse will be visible.

On March 9, 1832, 23-year-old Abraham Lincoln announced he would run for the Illinois State Legislature as a member of the Whig Party. During Lincoln’s race, he ran on a platform centered on improving navigation of the Sangamon River. He was also determined to bring more revenue to the region.

Most of Lincoln’s campaign was spent serving in the Black Hawk War. He joined the militia in April and served two months without seeing the battlefield.  While in the militia, Lincoln was elected by his comrades as their captain, an honor he said which gave him "more pleasure than any I have had since."

When election votes were announced in August, Lincoln had finished eighth in a field of thirteen candidates. He received 277 of 300 votes from his own district.

Two years later Lincoln returned to campaigning and on August 4, 1834 he was elected to the Illinois General Assembly.

Click here to read Abraham Lincoln's first political announcement.

It could be the cheering of the crowd, the wild mascots energizing the crowd or the mounting tension in the last few seconds of a close game, but no matter the reason, high school basketball serves as a focal point for many people. The Prairie State is home to many amazing high school basketball players. The stars of the team are remembered, and the trophies they win are fixtures in high schools around the state as a sign of their success. Not all players go on to play professionally, but they still deserve to be recognized for their contributions to basketball.With the state finals approaching, the Chicago Tribune created a 100 greatest players ever list that spans the course of Illinois’ 118-year-old high school basketball history.  

Read more ...