Each year, state transportation projects are celebrated and recognized through America's Transportation Awards – and an Illinois bridge came home as a winner. The awards recognize America's best transportation projects – those that prioritize safety, maximize accessibility, utilize resources effectively and incorporate innovative elements such as green space, bike paths, technology and access to public transit.

Last month, judges for the 2022 Midwest Region awards announced that the Interstate 74 Corridor Project, which connects Iowa to Illinois via a multi-use bridge over the Mississippi River, won top honors in the Quality of Life and Community Development category.

For this project, the Illinois and Iowa Departments of Transportation teamed up to take on the task of upgrading the 86-year-old bridge, which was in need of repair. The project was completed and fully opened to traffic on Dec. 2, 2021, and now carries nearly half of all traffic in the Quad Cities region. It was the biggest construction project in the cities' history, with a budget of $981 million.

According to Time Out’s annual survey that ranks the best cities in the world, Chicago was named second on the list in 2022, not only to live in but as to visit. The qualities that caused Chicago to soar to the top of the list included aspects such as local food and drink, culture scenes, friendliness, affordability and livability.  

The attractions Chicago possesses are endless. Summer is a booming time for the city due to it being home of hundreds of events such as summer festivals, outdoor events and art exhibitions. Not to mention, Chicago hosts many different events on the weekend that are often free to the public. It is hard to not love this city, as there seems to be something always occurring for people to enjoy.

All of the events Chicago has is one thing that makes the city so great, but one of the best aspects of the city is by far the amount of restaurants it has. Chicago has a vast number of food options that puts the city so high on the ranking list. There are food and drink options all over the city that can please anyone’s taste buds, no matter what they’re craving. Aside from the variety of places to enjoy great food and drinks in Chicago, the city is also known for their beloved deep dish pizza, so it checks out that food is a reason Chicago is ranked so high on the list.

To see the full list of cities ranked on the list visit Time Out’s best cities in the world for 2022

A new corporate headquarters is arriving in Illinois after cereal and snack food giant, Kellogg, announced that it will move its corporate headquarters to Chicago.

Kellogg produces cereal and convenience foods, including crackers and toaster pastries, and markets their products by several well-known brands including Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, Frosted Flakes, Pringles, Eggo, and Cheez-It.

In 1894, Company founder, W. K. Kellogg, was assisting his brother in research aimed at improving the vegetarian diet of the sanitarium patients in Battle Creek, Michigan. This led to the invention of Kelloggs’ most famous product, breakfast cereal corn flakes. One night, John Kellogg, W.K. Kellogg’s brother, left a batch of wheat-berry dough sitting out. Rather than throwing it out the next morning, he sent it through the rollers and was surprised to obtain delicate flakes, which could then be baked. W. K. Kellogg persuaded his brother to serve the food in flake form. Soon the flaked wheat was being packaged to meet hundreds of mail-order requests from guests after they left the Sanitarium. W. K. launched the Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Company on Feb. 19, 1906. Convincing his brother to relinquish rights to the product, Will's company produced and marketed the hugely successful Kellogg's Toasted Corn Flakes and was renamed the Kellogg Toasted Corn Flake Company in 1909, taking on the current name of the Kellogg Company in 1922.

This week, the North American chocolate company Ferrero announced an expansion of its chocolate plant in Bloomington. Ferrero will invest up to $214.4 million in expanding its chocolate processing and production right here in Illinois.

The chocolate company announced its new expansion that will add 169,000 square feet to its current plant and is dedicated to producing Kinder Bueno, a popular Ferrero premium chocolate bar. This expansion hopes to bring more than 200 jobs to Bloomington within the next four years. Construction on the new plant will begin this fall and is expected to be complete in 2024.   

Ferrero, a business operating since 1946, has had a long history of producing sweets in the United States. Ferrero is famously known for their hazelnut spread Nutella. Throughout its years of operation, it has acquired companies and brands from Fannie May in Chicago, to Nestle plants for Baby Ruth and Butterfinger, and several others.

The new Kinder Bueno production facility is an expansion of the existing plant in the Ferrero Bloomington manufacturing center, which is also under an expansion process for the chocolate Crunch, 100Grand, Raisinets, and other Ferrero products.

Lake County is home to a beautiful forest preserve bordering Lake Michigan with a unique history.  When renowned landscape designer O.C. Simonds came up with the plans for the Fort Sheridan army base in 1889, he met both the military’s needs while also making breathtaking views of Lake Michigan a priority. The site of the historic U.S. Army post (1887–1993) holds national significance for its landscape and architecture design, and for the preparation and training of American soldiers for military service. In 1982, Fort Sheridan was designated a National Historic Landmark by the United States Secretary of the Interior. Fort Sheridan joins 2,540 sites across the country recognized as places that possess exceptional value and quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States. Currently, Ninety-four buildings at the Fort are designated National Historic Landmarks. The Fort was officially closed in 1993 and the land was transferred to the Lake County Forest Preserve.

A scenic destination, this forest preserve offers a variety of opportunities for recreation at the lakeshore. Fort Sheridan is one of only a few places in Lake County that offers free public access to Lake Michigan and an awe-inspiring lake overlook perched on a 70-foot-high bluff. Known for its pristine natural areas and excellent birdwatching, Fort Sheridan is home to several rare species not found elsewhere in the region. The preserve's savanna, ravines and lakefront location allow visitors to observe one of North America’s busiest flyways for migratory birds. At least 236 species of birds have been seen here.