Many Illinois residents will be able to use the IRS Direct File service to electronically prepare and file their 2024 federal tax returns for free. Almost 2 million eligible Illinois taxpayers will be able to use Direct File starting Jan. 27. Gov. J.B. Pritzker said this service will, “put money typically spent on tax preparation […]
Posted inFilm & TV
Review: WWII Bios ‘One Life’ & ‘Lee’ Brace For Oscar Defeat
The British biopics Lee and One Life have more than a few things in common. For starters, both are true stories about unlikely World War II heroes, and both movies premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2023. Back then, there was Oscar buzz for Sir Anthony Hopkins in One Life based on […]
Posted inNews
Women Representing Illinois in the 119th Congress
The 119th Congress was sworn in last Friday, with a record 110 Democratic women lawmakers in the House and Senate. Republicans, meanwhile, elected 40 women to both chambers. The Illinois congressional delegation has seven women — out of 19 lawmakers total — including several long-serving incumbents and a couple newcomers. You can use this tool to find […]
Posted inNews
Seven Education Stories Chalkbeat is Watching in Chicago in 2025
This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters Sign up for Chalkbeat Chicago’s free daily newsletter to keep up with the latest news on Chicago Public Schools. For Chicago Public Schools, 2024 was a year of chaos and conflict, political maneuvering and policy disputes. In 2025, with the district […]
Posted inFilm & TV
Review: Demi Moore Adds More Substance to ‘The Substance’
Women often greet the new year with resolutions for a reboot. This desire to become a better version of one’s self is the premise of The Substance (2024). Coralie Fargeat’s sci-fi satire begins when Hollywood star Elisabeth Sparkle (portrayed by a 60-something Demi Moore) is canned from hosting an aerobics show on her 50th birthday. […]
Posted inFilm & TV
Staying Inside? What to Watch to Weather Chicago’s Polar Vortex
When winter makes it hurt to be outside, I take that as the Universe’s way of telling me to keep my happy assets on the couch. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for much of the state from late Saturday through Monday morning, with four inches of snow predicted for Chicago, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
25 of 2025’s Go-To Arts & Entertainment Shows
New year resolutionists vowing to widen their cultural horizons may check this list for artsy happenings taking place in Chicago-area galleries, museums, theaters, and other venues throughout 2025. EmotionAir | Art You Can Feel (Oct. 30, 2025-Sep. 7, 2026) takes over Fields Studios. This Balloon Museum exhibition features large-scale installations and inflatable works by international […]
Posted inCentering Ourselves
Renewal and Resolve to Start 2025 After the Joys and Challenges of the Holidays
As Americans, the holiday season — from Thanksgiving to New Year’s — can bring a mixed bag of joy, stress, anxiety and peace. We are bombarded with unrelenting images, advertisements, messages and expectations that we have a “perfect” loving family and idyllic holiday celebrations. In the midst of this emphasis on family, food, friends, gifts, and glamour […]
Posted inRebelliousness
Join the Feminist Creatives Society in 2025 Because Your Art Isn’t Gonna Create Itself
The opposite of war isn’t peace, it’s creation “Rent” by jonathan larson Hello friends, I first heard the quote above from the incomparable Dr. Tania Israel on her podcast Ready to Be Strong. I was immediately moved by this framing, and it struck me as a call to action, a reminder about the power of […]
Posted inRebelliousness
Rebellious Magazine’s Most-Read Stories of 2024
Precedented times? 2024 doesn’t know her. It’s been a year we won’t soon forget, and through 150 posts and 133,000 words, our talented staff was there to document its highs, lows and everything in between. The pieces that resonated most with readers in 2024 are a perfect reflection of who we are and what we […]