110 years ago today, the Chicago Municipal Flag Commission was created to design a flag for the city. The commission introduced a competition to the public as a way to generate ideas, and more than 1,000 applications were received. In the end, it was Wallace Rice, a writer and poet from the city and the competition’s creator, whose design was chosen. The flag was officially adopted by the state in 1917, yet it was not quite the same Chicago flag that flies today.

Though everyone today associates March Madness with the mania of the March NCAA tournament, did you know March Madness was originally the name of an Illinois high school basketball tournament over a century ago?

The original tournament was a high school boys’ basketball tournament sponsored by the IHSA beginning in 1908. By the 1930s, over 900 schools were competing in the tournament. The term ‘March Madness’ was first used in an article of the IHSA magazine, “Illinois Interscholastic,” by the assistant executive secretary of the IHSA. The term ‘Sweet Sixteen’ was used to describe the field of teams participating in the University of Illinois’ Huff Gymnasium tournament.

The term began being used by the IHSA on official merchandise and for the next several decades, March Madness was the common phrase for the tournament. By the 1980s, the IHSA had acquired ‘March Madness’ and ‘America’s Original March Madness’ as registered trademarks. Use of the phrase is now subject to licensing fees to the IHSA, of which a significant portion goes to scholarships for Illinois boys and girls.

You can read more about the origins of March Madness here.

Did you know Illinois has the seventh largest Irish population in the U.S.?

The rich history of Irish Heritage and culture in America began in the 18^th century, but grew largely in the 1820s, when more than half a million Irish Immigrants first arrived, many coming to Illinois. Besides Chicago, the early 19^th century wave of Irish immigrants settled largely in Randolph County, Gallatin County and Cairo. In the 1850s, the number of Irish in Illinois grew from around 20,000, to over 80,000.

Madison Keys from Rock Island won the Australian Open this year. The Australian Open is one of the “Big Four” Grand Slam tournaments, alongside the French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open. The tournaments represent the pinnacle of tennis competition and prestige in the world. This stunning accomplishment builds on Keys’ lifelong dedication to the sport.

Keys began playing tennis at a very young age and joined the Quad-City Tennis Club in Moline. When she was ten, her family moved her to Florida to train at the prestigious Evert Tennis Academy. Keys would go on to participate in tournaments at a high level, eventually defeating Venus Williams in the 2015 Australian Open but losing to Serena Williams in the final that year. Keys would return to Rock Island in 2017 to lead an anti-bullying assembly and launched FearlesslyGIRL, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering young women. After a decade of high placements at the Big Four and persevering through injury, Keys would go on to win the Australian Open in January of 2025.

Kindness Wins, a charity foundation launched by Keys, which promotes access to sports and education, moved their foundation to the Quad Cities Community Foundation. Rock Island has recognized and celebrated their champion with the mayor declaring Feb. 17 will be Madison Keys Day and will be placing a billboard commemorating her win.

Keys is now ranked Number 5 in the world, a career high, and will continue competing at the highest level of women’s tennis.