Chicago – October 05, 2026 -- McDonald's is giving away free bottles of its pickle brine to runners and spectators during Chicago Marathon weekend, betting on a long-rumored cramp remedy to win over endurance athletes.

Free samples hit the Lakefront Trail before race day

On Friday, Oct. 9, McDonald's will set up a "Pickle Boost Preview" station at 2401 N Lake Shore Drive from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CT, timed to catch runners during popular pre-race shakeout runs along the Lakefront Trail.

Chicago – October 02, 2026 -- The Aspen Group has launched new patient apps for Aspen Dental and ClearChoice Dental Implant Center, giving patients more control over booking, treatment tracking, and pre-visit steps directly from their phones.

Lisle, Illinois – October 01, 2026 -- The Morton Arboretum's holiday lights exhibition Illumination opens for its 14th season on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, and runs through Saturday, Jan. 2, 2027, adding four new large-scale installations and a model train experience called Pine Whistle Railroad.

Tickets went on sale to Arboretum members on Oct. 1 at 9 a.m. CT and open to the general public Oct. 15 at 9 a.m. CT through mortonarb.org/illumination.

Evanston – September 30, 2026 -- A new Mather Institute study finds that older adults who age alone and own pets report significant boosts to physical activity, emotional wellbeing and social connection, with dog owners showing the strongest gains.

The online survey of 900 solo agers aged 55 and older found that 76% reported improved emotional wellbeing, 62% reported reduced stress and 45% reported increased physical activity. Nearly half said pets help reduce loneliness, and a third said pets led to more social interactions through daily walks and outdoor time.

Oak Brook, Ill. – September 30, 2026 -- Vehicle thefts in the United States fell 21% during the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year, with all 50 states posting year-over-year declines, according to a new analysis from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).

A total of 268,415 vehicles were reported stolen to law enforcement between January and June 2026, translating to a national theft rate of roughly 77.81 thefts per 100,000 people.

Chicago – September 28, 2026 -- Two new picture books from the Princess Penelope's Purse of Preposterous Things series hit shelves on November 3, 2026, expanding a children's media franchise built by Emmy-winning creator Angela C. Santomero.

"Bunny Lala's Big Song" and "Pirate Argh's Treasure Hunt" arrive from 4U2B Books & Media, an imprint of Loyola Press, following the success of the show's earlier titles and its YouTube Kids series, which has drawn over 12 million views.

Galena, Ill. – September 24, 2026 -- Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa is offering a lineup of seasonal getaway packages this fall and winter, giving Midwest travelers a road-trip alternative about 150 miles west of Chicago in northwest Illinois' Driftless Region.

The 6,800-acre resort overlooks Lake Galena and sits within driving distance of Madison, Dubuque, Milwaukee, Rockford and the Quad Cities.

Chicago – September 23, 2026 -- Shokz has released the OpenRun Pro 2 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Co-Branded Edition, a limited-run headphone priced at $199.95 USD ($249.95 CAD), available now exclusively at Shokz.com ahead of the October 11 race.

The open-ear bone conduction headphones come in a deep blue and gold colorway, with the marathon route illustrated on the gift box and case. Additional units will be sold at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon Expo at Shokz Booth #339 from October 8 to 10, in both Standard and Mini sizes while supplies last.

Lisle, Ill. – September 22, 2026 -- Scientists at The Morton Arboretum are tracking how a strengthening El Niño could push back peak fall foliage across the Chicago region this year, potentially compressing the color season into a shorter, more intense stretch in late autumn.

New York – September 22, 2026 -- Teenagers across Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Iowa can now submit scripts for a 30-second TV public service announcement warning drivers about the dangers of speeding, with a top prize of $2,000.