This marks the fifth year that luxury and lifestyle magazine Condé Nast Traveler has ranked Chicago as the No. 1 big city in the U.S. for its vibrant restaurants, museums, and architecture.

Traveler also published a list of the top hotels in Chicago. The Gwen, a luxury collection hotel on Michigan Avenue, was ranked as the No. 1 hotel in Chicago, followed by the Hotel Julian, Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, as well as Nobu Hotel Chicago in Fulton Market.

The Old State Capitol building in Springfield will once again be accepting visitors to take tours of its historic interior beginning Oct. 7. The building has been closed since last spring to facilitate work on repairs.

Many of the repairs, managed by the Illinois Capital Development Board, involve installation of a new roof on the drum that supports the Old Capitol dome, along with restoration of the drum columns and drum windows.

This year, the state of Illinois was recognized by the Springfield Historic Sites Commission with the 2021 Historic Preservation Award to honor and recognize efforts to preserve historical buildings in downtown Springfield.

The state has made a strong effort to preserve many old buildings in Springfield, including the Illinois State Armory, Old State Capitol dome, former State Journal Register building and the Chase/Marine building. This recognition comes as Central Management Services continues to optimize the state’s real estate portfolio and redevelop several properties for the state to use in the upcoming Capital Complex Master Plan for 2050.

This year, at the 2021 Illinois State Fair, more than 472,000 visitors walked through the gates, marking the second highest attendance since the Illinois Department of Agriculture began tracking the numbers back in 2014. This year’s attendance was surpassed only by the historic record set in 2019.

The first week of the fair, more than 15,000 more people joined the celebration in 2019. Grandstand ticket sales and revenue saw over 40,000 tickets sold, generating $1.5 million in revenue.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale has stopped their downward trend in enrollment by bringing in their largest freshman class in five years. This fall, 1,422 Salukis are starting their college career, bringing an increase of 4.5% from previous years.

“Our faculty, staff, students and alums have gone above and beyond to change the downward trajectory of the declines we have experienced since 2016,” said SIU Carbondale Chancellor Austin Lane. “I want to personally thank each of them for rallying around enrollment and working tirelessly to show the unique opportunities future Salukis have. Today’s news is the result of all that effort.”