Good afternoon, Chicago.
Supporters of a state program providing free test preparation to students at public universities and some community colleges said the effort has saved students over $8 million in just two months, but needs $10 million in state funding to remain in operation.
Illinois launched the program in late February, becoming the first state to offer free comprehensive test preparation for college students and already serving more than 200,000 students statewide. The program, a collaboration between the Illinois Student Assistance Commission and the educational service company Kaplan, allows students free access to more than 40 prep courses including graduate-level admissions exams such as the LSAT for law school, as well as courses in data analytics, cybersecurity and real estate.
Here’s what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/latest-headlines and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices.
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May Day rally underway in Union Park with march planned to Grant Park later in the day
Hundreds of marchers and demonstrators gathered at Union Park in the West Loop Thursday morning for a rally on May Day, a celebration commemorating the labor movement. Read more here.
More top news stories:
- What to know about May Day, including its Chicago origins and how it has grown over the years
- Bilingual science teacher at East Leyden High School named Illinois Teacher of the Year
Hollywood Casino food courts in Joliet, Aurora to get Stephanie Izard’s Goat, Antique Taco
The new land-based Hollywood casinos coming to Joliet and Aurora are betting that the way to a gambler’s heart is through their stomach. Read more here.
More top business stories:
- Baxter International expects tariff impact of $60 to $70 million this year
- Conagra sells Chef Boyardee to private equity-owned Hometown Food Company
Hailey Van Lith credits LSU for strengthening her resilience ahead of Baton Rouge return with the Chicago Sky
The guard will play her first preseason minutes with the Chicago Sky tomorrow in an exhibition game against Brazil in a familiar setting — the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, where she spent the toughest year of her collegiate career with LSU. Read more here.
More top sports stories:
- Chicago baseball report: Division play heats up for 18-13 Cubs and 7-23 White Sox
- Man who fell from 21-foot Clemente Wall at PNC Park during Cubs-Pirates game in critical condition
2025 Tony Award nominations: Steppenwolf’s ‘Purpose’ and ‘Death Becomes Her’ both score big
Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company woke up this morning to boffo Tony Award news as plaudits landed on its world premiere production of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ drama, “Purpose,” a bold play very loosely based on the family of political activist Jesse Jackson Jr. and now playing on Broadway. Read more here.
More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories:
- David Cerda put some of his own story into ‘Scary Town.’ It’s not an easy story.
- ‘The Four Seasons’ review: Tina Fey is no Alan Alda, but at least there’s the Vivaldi
From Tokyo to Turin to LA, President Donald Trump’s policies loom over May Day marches
Across continents, tens of thousands turned out for today’s rallies marking International Workers’ Day, many citing President Donald Trump’s agenda — from aggressive tariffs spurring fears of global economic turmoil to immigration crackdowns — as a central concern. Read more here.
More top stories from around the world:
- Kohl’s ousts CEO Ashley Buchanan after investigation into some vendor transactions
- President Donald Trump’s health agency urges therapy for transgender youth, not broader gender-affirming health care
- President Donald Trump names Secretary of State Marco Rubio as acting national security adviser, taps Mike Waltz for UN envoy
