Thoroughbred racing continues at Hawthorne Race Course while preparations for a racino project face delays due to financing issues. Senator Patrick Joyce, along with city officials and horse racing advocates, is making a final push to revive a stalled racino in south suburban Illinois and to facilitate the establishment of a new racetrack and gaming facility in Decatur.

In other local developments, Whole Foods Market is set to open in St. Charles on June 25, featuring a celebration with complimentary items for the first customers. Additionally, a new auto racing simulator studio has opened in South Barrington, providing an immersive racing experience for patrons.

In Naperville, a proposed townhouse and row house development aims to attract a diverse range of residents, while Long Grove has approved a QuikTrip gas station despite community opposition. Meanwhile, the popular Catch 35 restaurant in Naperville will close after 21 years, and plans for the former Oliveti’s building in Des Plaines have shifted from demolition to renovation, pending city council approval.