| Good afternoon, Chicago. A massive rate increase in 2027 with additional hikes every two years sailed through the Illinois tollway board of directors today. The initial proposal raises I-PASS passenger vehicle tolls from an average of 7 cents to 11 cents a mile, or 57%, and truckers would see a 30% jump. That will be followed by inflation-related increases every two years tied to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. The CPI will be capped at 8% every two years, with a maximum CPI of 4% every year, officials said. 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. Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History news Jurnee-Marie Wise, a participant in the Till Institute Summer Academy, works on a drawing of a baseball jersey with Emmett Till’s last name at the Chicago History Museum on July 22, 2026. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune) The day independent autopsy results were shared for Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old Black student whose death off the coast of Mississippi days after a Fourth of July holiday boat trip captured national attention, 32 young learners at the Chicago History Museum were having in-depth discussions about the significance of another young Black teenager: Emmett Till. More top news stories: business A two-story, 8,000-square-foot Hermès store opened in Wilmette’s Plaza del Lago on Aug. 8. Developers
are hoping the luxury retailer will bring further business to the shopping center, which was acquired by WS Development in 2022. Storefront pictured Aug. 12, 2026. (Claire Murphy/Pioneer Press) The growing number of designer boutiques at Wilmette’s Plaza del Lago were just joined by a power player in fashion — the French luxury brand Hermès, which sells $10,000-plus handbags coveted by celebrities. More top business stories: sports Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong hits a double during the eighth inning against the White Sox in the City Series at Wrigley Field on Aug. 17, 2026, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Pete Crow-Armstrong’s walk-off home run in the opener of the City Series was still the talk of the town heading into Game 2 last night at Wrigley Field. More top sports stories: eat. watch. do. Cory “B4lasers” Morrison talks about music and plays beats during his “Peace, Love & Beats” podcast at Lumpen Radio on Aug. 16, 2026, in Chicago. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Cory Morrison, the producer, former rapper and all-around nice guy, has spent the last several years building a small ecosystem of Chicago shows and events designed to put producers — not just rappers or singers — front and center. More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories: nation & world Executive assistant to the president Natalie Harp looks on as President Donald Trump signs an executive order about quantum computing in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 22, 2026. (Mandel NGAN/AFP via Getty Images) Women working in Donald Trump’s White House were not surprised that press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced last week she was leaving her job — and they don’t think it was just because she wants to spend time with her young children. More top stories from around the world: | 
