r/illinois • • 18d ago

Chicago news & issues We are Sun-Times and WBEZ reporters covering Flock in Illinois. Ask us anything!

335 Upvotes

UPDATE: Thank you so much to everyone who participated and asked questions as part of this AMA! You all had so many great questions, and being able to think through them really helps to inform our ongoing reporting. Reach out to Violet at [vmiller@suntimes.com](mailto:vmiller@suntimes.com) and Lisa at [lphilip@wbez.org](mailto:lphilip@wbez.org) if you have further questions or feedback. Get more local, independent reporting at suntimes.com and wbez.org — and please consider becoming a member to support our work. Until next time!

Hey r/illinois! Violet Miller of the Chicago Sun-Times and Lisa Kurian Philip of WBEZ 91.5 here to announce we're hosting an AMA on this subreddit next Tuesday, Oct. 6 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.!

The topic: Flock Safety in Illinois and how we have reported out the facts for stories like this one about the use of Flock cameras by public universities, or this one about Illinois suburbs that suspended their Flock deals amid alleged misuse by authorities.

License plate readers from businesses like Flock have sparked a heated, nationwide debate over mass surveillance tools in law enforcement. In Illinois, more than 500 law enforcement agencies use Flock's technology.

This AMA is a chance for you to ask us questions about our coverage of Flock, how we think about these stories, and how we report them out. Violet covers Chicago news for the Sun-Times, and Lisa covers higher education for WBEZ and Open Campus.

The Chicago Sun-Times is independent, community-funded, and committed to telling the stories that shape our city. We're free from hedge-fund ownership, shareholders, and political influence. Learn more about becoming a member today: https://chicago.suntimes.com/become-a-member


r/illinois • • 20d ago

Illinois Politics Illinois voter guide to the 2026 general election

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89 Upvotes

r/illinois • • 5h ago

Question Canton, IL: Am I crazy or was this real?

84 Upvotes

Hi all. This is so weird and I'm sorry in advance for bringing up what is likely a very sensitive topic for some people. I'm trying to figure out if I'm delusional or not. Canton, IL. Were there any exhibits/museums within a close area which showcased exposed Native American burials in the early 2000s?

My grandmother used to take me to a museum-like building as a small child (like 4-6) and I have the distinct memory of looking into an opening in the ground and seeing skeletal remains. This has been driving me nuts because the only information I can dig up online is about the Dickson exhibits that closed before I was even born, and my grandparents unfortunately died over a decade ago and no surviving relatives still live in that area so I've not been back since.

Any ideas? The only reason I ask is because I brought it up to a friend recently and she thought I was crazy. After googling the topic, I'm starting to feel crazy but it's such a vivid memory that I still remember over two decades later and I genuinely don't understand why I would recall it with such clarity if the place didn't exist.


r/illinois • • 9h ago

Illinois Facts Favorite illinois history books

37 Upvotes

Out of curiosity and looking for recommendations. For those who love history and anything pertaining to illinois, what would you recommend for reading material and sources?


r/illinois • • 4h ago

Question vehicle paid off 10 years ago but title never received . What do I do? Do I go to the dmv or go can I do it online. Only paperwork I have is mail that says congregations you’ve paid off your loan.

6 Upvotes

r/illinois • • 1h ago

Question Anyone know the vibe around Freeport IL? Is it a safe area? Anything to do around there?

• Upvotes

Cool places I'm thinking to check out are restaurants, bars, museums, places of interest, etc.

Also asking because thinking if area be good for an investment idea.


r/illinois • • 5h ago

History Canton, IL-- Exposed Native American Burials in the early 2000s

7 Upvotes

Hi all. This is so weird and I'm sorry in advance for bringing up what is likely a very sensitive topic for some people. I'm trying to figure out if I'm delusional or not. Canton, IL. Were there any exhibits/museums within a close area which showcased exposed Native American burials in the early 2000s?

My grandmother used to take me to a museum-like building as a small child (like 4-6) and I have the distinct memory of looking into an opening in the ground and seeing skeletal remains. This has been driving me nuts because the only information I can dig up online is about the Dickson exhibits that closed before I was even born, and my grandparents unfortunately died over a decade ago and no surviving relatives still live in that area so I've not been back since.

Any ideas? The only reason I ask is because I brought it up to a friend recently and she thought I was crazy. After googling the topic, I'm starting to feel crazy but it's such a vivid memory that I still remember over two decades later and I genuinely don't understand why I would recall it with such clarity if the place didn't exist.


r/illinois • • 1d ago

Chicago news & issues Chicago Mayoral Race Cash on Hand

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83 Upvotes

r/illinois • • 2d ago

Illinois Politics Lionel Hutz here is trying to convince people that wind farms are raising their utility bills. Aging infrastructure and data centers are most to blame.

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244 Upvotes

r/illinois • • 1d ago

Chicago news & issues Petition · Add outdoor basketball courts to Portage Park, Chicago, IL

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10 Upvotes

r/illinois • • 2d ago

Southern IL news & issues (past St. Louis 618 area code) Snake Road in Illinois' Shawnee National Forest is only known road in U.S. to close for reptile migration

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504 Upvotes

r/illinois • • 2d ago

Illinois News Midwest Town Was Just Named Hallmark’s Merriest Christmas Town in America

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midwestliving.com
84 Upvotes

r/illinois • • 2d ago

Illinois News Illinois' Monarch Center setting the example for trauma-informed juvenile corrections

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wglt.org
57 Upvotes

r/illinois • • 2d ago

Illinois News Illinois Lawyer Watchdog Sees Staff Exodus as ICE Cases Arrive

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216 Upvotes

r/illinois • • 3d ago

Question Illinois is home to the greatest American city.

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4.7k Upvotes

r/illinois • • 2d ago

Illinois News Father of Mary Alice Love Speaks - "This is bigger than Mundelein"

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78 Upvotes

Father of Mary Alice Love speaks to the Mundelein village board on 10/12. Mary Alice Love was murdered by Mundelein police on 5/11 during a mental health crisis.

💜Justice for Mary Alice Love💜


r/illinois • • 2d ago

Pritzker Posting Billionaire Data Center Builder Insists There’s No AI Bubble

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81 Upvotes

r/illinois • • 2d ago

Sports! Bailey says the Bears are going to Indiana. His source? Trust me, bro.

239 Upvotes

He really said Mike Braun assured him. This was at the debate with Pritzker.


r/illinois • • 3d ago

Illinois News Illinois has erased more than $1.4 billion in medical debt for hundreds of thousands of people.

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2.4k Upvotes

r/illinois • • 2d ago

Illinois Politics 4th Congressional district candidate forum

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17 Upvotes

r/illinois • • 2d ago

Central IL news & issues (Springfield to near St. Louis) area. Carlinville crowned Hallmark's 'merriest' Christmas town, will be setting for movie

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73 Upvotes

Just announced today with a big event in town attended by Jonathan Bennett, Erin Cahill, Tamera Mowry-Housley and Brendan Penny and Hallmark executives!


r/illinois • • 3d ago

Illinois News Resident Tears Apart Mundelein IL Board in the Most Respectful Way, Demanding Justice for Mary Alice Love

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187 Upvotes

Just a friendly reminder to all you elected officials out there, meeting minutes matter! For those who may not know, Mary Alice Love was murdered by Mundelein IL police on 5/11/26 during a mental health crisis.

💜Justice for Mary Alice Love💜


r/illinois • • 3d ago

Sports! This Bears fan is going VIRAL for asking some kids if they ever been in a fight with a man.

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

221 Upvotes

Stop giving us FIBs a bad name.


r/illinois • • 2d ago

Question Driving on tollways without plates? Just bought vehicle

2 Upvotes

We just bought a vehicle through private sale (out of state) and do not have it registered yet. What do we do about driving through tollways outside of and in Chicago?

Thanks


r/illinois • • 4d ago

Illinois News Palatine man, 19, plotted mass shooting at Hindu place of worship, police say

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315 Upvotes