1. In 1964, the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) was established. Originally known as the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle, the institution merged with the University of Illinois in 1982 and became the largest university in the Chicago area.

2. On April 7, 1943, the United States Office of Price Administration began rationing sugar. The decision was made to conserve resources for military use during World War II, and sugar was one of the first items to be rationed. Illinois residents had to obtain ration coupons in order to purchase sugar.

3. In 2005, the Illinois Tollway Authority opened the I-355 extension. Also known as the Veterans Memorial Tollway, the extension added 12.5 miles to the existing tollway and improved transportation options to suburban areas in Illinois.

4. On April 7, 1983, Harold Washington was elected as the first African American mayor of Chicago. Washington served as mayor until his death in 1987 and is remembered for his commitment to improving conditions for African Americans and other minority groups in Chicago.

5. In 1915, an outbreak of typhoid fever occurred in Chicago. Over 1,000 people were infected, and nearly 80 deaths were attributed to the outbreak. The city responded by implementing stricter regulations on the handling and distribution of food and beverage products.