Lifestyle
12 hours ago in Lifestyle, Trending
Make no bones about it, the giant skeleton has become an American Halloween fixture
It reared its bony head in 2020, during that first, chaotic pandemic year that was rife with grief and fear but also toilet paper hoarding and questionable lockdown-inspired purchases. Behold Skelly, the 12-foot, 90-pound skeleton with glowing LCD eyeballs, on sale for $299 from Home Depot, just in time for Halloween — at least, if you can get your hands on one.
3 days ago in Lifestyle
Tours offer Halloween enthusiasts visits to former psychiatric hospital and funeral home
It's not enough these days for some Halloween enthusiasts to be scared by actors dressed up in spooky getups at makeshift haunted houses: They want the "real" thing.
4 days ago in Lifestyle, Trending
Halloween candy sales are off to a slow start amid high chocolate prices and affordability concerns
Halloween candy sales are off to a slow start this year as U.S. consumers grapple with high living costs and eye-popping chocolate prices. Halloween candy sales fell 6.7% in the month ending Oct. 17 compared to the same period last year, according to NielsenIQ, a market research firm.
7 days ago in Lifestyle
The new wedding budget: Where couples are spending more, and less
Modern Gents reports average wedding spending hit $34,200 in 2025, highlighting that couples prioritize experiences and personalization while balancing budgets amid rising costs.
1 week ago in Lifestyle
RSV vs. flu: How to tell the difference
Doctronic reports that RSV and flu, both contagious respiratory infections, have overlapping but distinct symptoms.
1 week ago in Lifestyle
Budget-friendly, sustainable ways to build your dream Halloween costume
Intuit TurboTax reports on budget-friendly, sustainable Halloween costumes, suggesting to repurpose existing clothes, swap with friends, thrift strategically, DIY props, and invest in one key piece for authenticity.
Sports
12 hours ago in Sports
Gray scores 23 points to help hot-shooting Dream beat Valkyries 80-69 to force Game 7 of WNBA Finals
The Atlanta Dream's shooters finally found some daylight. And as a result, the Dream's goal of winning their first WNBA championship is still shining bright.
19 hours ago in Sports, Trending
Brewers beat the Rays 4-1 in Game 5 to win the first World Series title in franchise history
The small-ball Milwaukee Brewers playing in the smallest market in the majors are World Series champions for the first time. Hey, Milwaukee: grab a brat, raise a beer and prepare for that parade.
2 days ago in Sports, Trending
Rays stun Brewers with 2-run rally in 12th inning and force World Series Game 5 with 4-3 win
Milwaukee was three outs from its first World Series title when Junior Camerino started the bottom of the 12th inning with a grounder to third. Thousands of Brewers fans who trekked to Tropicana Field to witness the long-awaited moment started to cheer. Not so fast.
3 days ago in Sports, Trending
Rays put on the brink of World Series flop by Brewers’ historic 8-run, 2-out surge
Milwaukee became the first team to score eight runs with two outs in a World Series inning, routing the Rays 10-1 on Monday night to take a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
4 days ago in Sports, Trending
Yamal, Mbappé, Kane and Messi in contention to win the Ballon d’Or. Here’s what to know
The Ballon d'Or winners will be announced on Monday with a new generation of soccer stars, led by Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé, ready to stamp their name on the trophy that for so long was a personal duel between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
7 days ago in Sports
Thunder star and NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s record 20-point streak ends at 141 games
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander decided it was time for his record streak of 20-point games to end. The Oklahoma City star's run of 141 consecutive regular season contests with at least 20 points ended Thursday night when he subbed himself out toward the end of a game against the Denver Nuggets.
National
1 week ago in National
Facing a ban on horse-drawn carriages, Central Park’s drivers fear for their future
The horse-drawn carriages that have cruised through Central Park for more than 150 years will soon be banished from New York City, ending an iconic tradition beloved by tourists but long opposed by animal welfare activists.
1 week ago in National
Violent Arizona storms bring possible tornado, toppled trees and golf ball-size hail
Trees fell onto homes and utility poles were knocked down by a possible tornado in a central Arizona community during a series of violent storms that moved through the state overnight into Thursday.
1 week ago in National
The Orionid meteor shower is coming. Here’s how and when to watch
The Orionids — one of two major meteor showers caused by remnants from Halley's comet — will peak this week, though a large moon will dim visibility until after it sets late at night.
2 weeks ago in National
Georgia amusement park reopens as scheduled after roller coaster death
Six Flags Over Georgia opened its gates Friday evening for the first time since a man fell to his death from one of the amusement park's towering roller coasters.
Local News from Capitol City Now
14 hours ago in Business, IL State News, Local
Croke: I’ll use my voice to keep improving state finances, if elected as comptroller
That's in addition to what Croke calls "low-hanging fruit" like possibly eliminating the use of paper checks to pay bills.
21 hours ago in Local
One firefighter injured fighting blaze at Taylorville home
The firefighter was treated and released from the hospital.
22 hours ago in Education, IL State News, Local
Springfield non-profit connects people with life-changing technology
Governor proclaims October 2026 Assistive Technology Month in Illinois.
23 hours ago in Health & Wellness, Local
Mental health board to field input, ideas
Board schedules two study sessions a month.
1 day ago in Crime, IL State News, Local, National
Illinois AG candidate Fioretti: I’ll do what Kwame Raoul doesn’t if elected
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Chicago Republican and Illinois Attorney General candidate Bob Fioretti says the SAFE-T Act, which…
Entertainment
12 hours ago in Entertainment, Trending
Patrick Stewart, legendary actor of ‘Star Trek’ and ‘X-Men’ fame, dies at 86
Patrick Stewart, the classically trained actor who added Shakespearean gravitas to the "Star Trek" and "X-Men" franchises, has died. He was 86. Stewart died Wednesday in Los Angeles, following "a brief and poignant journey" with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy Body Dementia, spokesperson Kelly Bush Novak said.
19 hours ago in Entertainment
Hometown of ‘Addams Family’ creator becomes ghoulish Halloween destination
Before there was "The Addams Family," there was Westfield. Cartoonist Charles Addams, who created the eccentric, fictional family, drew inspiration for his signature macabre style from the elegant Victorian homes, historic cemetery and other landmarks of his New Jersey hometown.
20 hours ago in Entertainment
South Carolina police close investigation into Hayden Panettiere’s death after coroner’s ruling
Police in South Carolina have closed their investigation into the overdose death of actor Hayden Panettiere following a coroner's finding that it was accidental. The decision was based on the medical examiner's determination as well as the findings of the investigation, Greenville police said Wednesday in a statement.
3 days ago in Entertainment, Music
Jay-Z picks himself to headline the Super Bowl halftime show at SoFi Stadium in Southern California
The man who has helped produce the Super Bowl halftime show is stepping into the spotlight: Jay-Z will headline the show himself. The NFL, Apple Music and Roc Nation announced Monday night that Jay-Z will be the featured performer for the halftime festivities on Feb. 14 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
4 days ago in Entertainment
‘You Can See Everything’ surges with $19.5M at box office; ‘Clayface’ takes No. 1
DC Studios scored a modest, R-rated win with "Clayface," landing a $24 million opening weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. But the biggest success story in theaters remained A24's Elizabeth Holmes documentary "You Can See Everything," which pulled in $19.5 million in its first weekend of wide release.
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Trending
12 hours ago in Lifestyle, Trending
Make no bones about it, the giant skeleton has become an American Halloween fixture
It reared its bony head in 2020, during that first, chaotic pandemic year that was rife with grief and fear but also toilet paper hoarding and questionable lockdown-inspired purchases. Behold Skelly, the 12-foot, 90-pound skeleton with glowing LCD eyeballs, on sale for $299 from Home Depot, just in time for Halloween — at least, if you can get your hands on one.
12 hours ago in Entertainment, Trending
Patrick Stewart, legendary actor of ‘Star Trek’ and ‘X-Men’ fame, dies at 86
Patrick Stewart, the classically trained actor who added Shakespearean gravitas to the "Star Trek" and "X-Men" franchises, has died. He was 86. Stewart died Wednesday in Los Angeles, following "a brief and poignant journey" with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy Body Dementia, spokesperson Kelly Bush Novak said.






