Illinois

Two Illinois cities make Tripadvisor’s Best of the Best list. See rankings

Published

2 months ago

January 15, 2026

Two Illinois cities make Tripadvisor’s Best of the Best list. See rankings

Tripadvisor released its 2026 Best of the Best Destinations list for the U.S., awarding cities based on above-and-beyond reviews and opinions from the Tripadvisor community over 12 months.

Unsurprisingly, New York City ranked first on the list due to its must-see landmarks, shops and tours. But Illinois cities made the list as well, receiving two of the travel company’s 25 Travelers’ Choice Awards.

Here’s what the website had to say.

Chicago ranks among Tripadvisor’s Top 10 US travel destinations

Chicago ranked No. 6 on the list, with the website pointing out the Windy City’s “cornucopia of modern art, fine dining, cutting edge comedy and die-hard sports fans.”

Tripadvisor highlighted Chicago’s city tours, day cruises, landmarks and games as “great things to do,” raving about the city’s cultural experiences. Whether you fancy a history museum, stand-up comedy performance or a walk around the famous Cloud Gate sculpture, Chicago has plenty in store for tourists.

Others are reading: Where is the best place to retire in Illinois? See rankings from U.S. News

Galena makes Tripadvisor’s Best US Destinations list

Less than a three hour drive from Chicago is the quaint town of Galena, which landed at No. 25 on Tripadvisor’s list.

The website compliments the town’s kid-friendly atmosphere, water tours, historical sites and holiday and seasonal tours.

“If not for the modern-day goods sold in the retail establishments, you might think Galena was frozen in time,” the website wrote, complimenting Galena’s traditional architecture and lengthy history.

Whether you’re looking for a visit to the home of former President Ulysses S. Grant, a walk through the underground Vinegar Hill Lead Mine or a luxurious tour of the town’s fine dining, there’s an endless supply of things to do.

Tripadvisor 2026 Best of the Best US Travel Destinations

Here is Tripadvisor’s full ranking of top travel destinations in the U.S.:

New York City, NY
Las Vegas, NV
Oahu, HI
Nashville, TN
New Orleans, LA
Chicago, IL
Charleston, SC
Key West, FL
Washington, D.C.
Boston, MA
Maui, HI
San Francisco, CA
Miami, FL
Sedona, AZ
San Diego, CA
Mount Desert Island, ME
Miami Beach, FL
Island of Hawaii, HI
Los Angeles, CA
Kauai, HI
Moab, UT
Asheville, NC
Anna Maria Island, FL
Key Largo, Fl
Galena, IL

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Illinois

Illinois basketball vs VCU how to watch, series history, and players to watch

Published

7 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Press Room

Illinois basketball vs VCU how to watch, series history, and players to watch

Illinois basketball got a big win on Thursday night, but the celebrating is now over, as VCU awaits.

The Illini looked incredible against Penn. This is exactly what I was hoping for, and now Illinois gets a chance to knock off another double-digit seed to advance to the Sweet 16.

VCU is clearly tough, though. They knocked off a talented North Carolina squad in the first round, and now they have even more confidence. Illinois has to be ready for a battle.

Here is the Illinois basketball vs VCU how to watch, series history, and players to watch

Illinois basketball vs VCU – How to watch

Illinois moved on to the Round of 32, and the No. 3 seed will now face No. 11 VCU. This is a massive game that will decide which program moves on to the second weekend and the Sweet 16.

The Illinois vs VCU contest will take place on Saturday, March 21, at 6:50 p.m. CT/7:50 p.m. ET. We get the main channel, as CBS will televise the big matchup.

Illinois basketball vs VCU – Series history

I want to say there is a long history between Illinois and VCU. These two teams have been around the basketball universe for a while, but there has only ever been one matchup.

Illinois and VCU played in Miami, Florida, back in December 2016. Led by some incredible defense, the Illini took out the Rams, 64-46.

So, what I am saying is that Illinois is undefeated against VCU.

Illinois basketball vs VCU – Players to watch

I think the first player you have to recognize is Terrence Hill Jr. Illinois is familiar with getting to the second weekend of the NCAA tournament with a Terrance Shannon Jr., but it seems that Hill is just as electric.

In the game against North Carolina, Hill was going off. He can shoot from anywhere, and he has the stones to just lob shots up when you are least expecting it. For the season, he is averaging 14.9 points per game, but he showed up in a big way in the biggest spotlight against the Tar Heels, dropping 34 points and shooting 7-of-10 from three-point range.

I am interested in seeing how VCU’s big man, Lazar Djokovic, does against Illinois’ size. He stands at 6-foot-11, and I was impressed with Djokovic against North Carolina. This kid can play.

Illinois could give VCU some problems with our size. Throwing two 7-foot-1 or bigger players at them could cause problems. I think the Illini guard length will also be a bit of a shock.

I think David Mirkovic could feast once again. Djokovic might be wrapped up in guarding Tomislav Ivisic, so Mirkovic can bully his way into the paint. That might end up being the game plan on Saturday.

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Illinois

Joliet City Council approves plans for Illinois’ largest data center

Published

19 hours ago

March 19, 2026

Press Room

Joliet City Council approves plans for Illinois’ largest data center

March 19, 2026 / 6:57 PM CDT
/ CBS Chicago

The Joliet City Council on Thursday approved plans for a 795-acre data center, which would be the largest such facility in Illinois.

The proposed site would go in a rural field right next to the Chicagoland Speedway at the intersection of Rowell and Bernhard roads. That’s where 24 buildings housing the equipment would be built. The developer, HW Technology Park Development LLC, said the project would be up and running in 2030.

“This annexation agreement sets clear expectations for infrastructure, services, and community benefits while helping ensure the project moves forward in a responsible way,” Joliet City Manager Beth Beatty said in a statement. “It also delivers substantial new revenue for local taxing bodies and longterm financial benefits for the community.”

At a public hearing on the data center on Monday, Joliet officials listened to several hours of comments from the public, mostly from people opposed to the data center over concerns about its impact on health and utility bills.

“I just want to make sure that when we make decisions that are huge like this, that we have all the information,” said Sean Richards, who lives in neighboring Lockport and believes the new data center would have broader impacts and health risks for kids. “The people in here that are voting yes or no, I did not elect them, but yet they are making decisions that will directly affect people in Lockport, and New Lenox, and in Elwood and other municipalities.”

ComEd officials said the energy needed to keep the center operating would not raise electric bills for residents or businesses. The developer said no water would be needed to cool the facility, only to get it up and running. They also said it could bring Joliet $2 billion in tax revenue.

Joliet officials estimated the project would create 7,000 to 10,000 construction jobs and 700 permanent jobs. The developer also has pledged $100 million to improve sidewalks, streets, and other city services in Joliet.

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Illinois

Keaton Wagler NBA mock draft projection: Where Illinois star is expected to land

Published

1 day ago

March 19, 2026

Press Room

Keaton Wagler NBA mock draft projection: Where Illinois star is expected to land

March Madness is underway and today’s college stars have a chance to cement themselves in this summer’s NBA draft class. The 2026 draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY’s latest mock draft, Illinois’ Keaton Wagler is expected to go in the first round.

Here’s how USA TODAY currently projects the guard’s draft night will play out.

Keaton Wagler 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 7 overall, Atlanta Hawks

All picks based on Tankathon lottery projection

Kalbrosky’s Analysis:

After trading away Trae Young, the Hawks could find their point guard of the future in Illinois standout Keaton Wagler using a first-round pick they received from the Pelicans. The 19-year-old guard scored 46 points while shooting 9-of-11 on 3-pointers against No. 12 Purdue on Jan. 24. He projects as one of the best 3-point shooters in this class, shooting 41.0 percent from beyond the arc as a freshman this year. The Big Ten Rookie of the Year is a cerebral basketball player who is also averaging 4.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game this season.

See USA TODAY’s full mock draft here