Artist of the Month: Chicago Boyz

Did you know Chicago is home to an acrobatic team consisting of young men from the area?

Tim Shaw, a professional gymnast with over 30 years of experience in circus performing, wanted to find a way to support youth in his area and provide greater opportunities. As a result, he formed the acrobatic group “Chicago Boyz” whose performances include stunts, tumbling and cool tricks such as catapulting off mini trampolines.

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Illinois is 2025’s seventh best state to raise a family

According to a recent study from the personal finance outlet WalletHub.com, Illinois is 2025’s seventh best state to raise a family. The ideal state is one that’s affordable to live in, offers a high degree of safety and good job prospects, and demonstrates quality in education, health care and entertainment.

In this study, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 50 key indicators of family-friendliness. The data set includes factors like the median annual family income, housing affordability, health care quality, crime rate and school quality.

Illinois is ranked second for family fun, third for the highest median family income and seventh for the overall score.

For more information on this study, visit WalletHub.com.

Batman to baseball: Films shot in Illinois

Long before motion pictures had sound and color, and even before Hollywood became the “film capital of the world,” Illinois has stood as a central hub for motion picture production. Throughout Illinois’ long film history, there have been a wide variety of motion pictures filmed throughout the entire state.

Charlie Chaplin, one of the most famous filmmakers in the history of cinema, produced and starred in films all across the globe. This includes a quick stop in Chicago to star in a short silent film called “His New Job,” filmed in 1915.

Fast forwarding to the 1950s, the American folk hero Davy Crockett had a successful run of film and television series releases. This included “Davy Crockett and the River Pirates,” a classic western shot at the Cave-in-Rock State Park just along the Ohio River.

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Southern Illinois Reptile and Exotics Show

Are you looking for a fun, cheap and family-friendly event this weekend? This Sunday, Feb. 23, check out the Southern Illinois Reptile Show in Marion, IL!

The show will include thousands of scaly animals for guests to observe, touch or even adopt! There will be reptiles, amphibians, mammals (including kangaroos) and more. Feeders and pet supplies will be available for those looking to treat their pets at home.

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