Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Illinois now has a statewide cell phone ban in public schools. Gambling addiction is now officially considered a public health issue in Illinois. A new class has been enshrined into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Plus, the Joliet Treatment Center – about an hour outside of Chicago – is a specialized Illinois prison meant to provide intensive mental healthcare. But some incarcerated people and civil rights lawyers say the treatment there is abysmal, and men are frequently left isolated in their cells for long stretches, their mental health deteriorating.  Desperate for help, some have chosen to do something extreme to bring attention to their troubles. They set their locked cells – or their own bodies – on fire. In the last three years, there have been more than 70 fires at Joliet Treatment Center, including at least a dozen cases of self-immolation.