1. On January 24, 1908, the first production Ford Model T automobile rolled off the assembly line at the Ford Motor Company's plant in Highland Park, Illinois. This event revolutionized the automobile industry and paved the way for mass production and affordability of cars for the average person.

2. On January 24, 1935, the first canned beer in the United States was introduced by the Krueger Brewing Company in Richmond, Virginia. However, the canning equipment and techniques used to produce it were developed by the American Can Company in Chicago, Illinois.

3. On January 24, 1976, the Chicago Cubs traded outfielder Rick Monday to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Bill Buckner and Ivan DeJesus. This trade is often considered one of the most lopsided in baseball history, as Monday went on to become a two-time All-Star and hero for the Dodgers, while Buckner struggled with injuries and criticism in Chicago.

4. On January 24, 2005, the Illinois-based company Orbitz Worldwide launched its online travel booking website, which quickly became one of the largest and most popular travel booking sites in the world.

5. On January 24, 2011, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act, which allowed same-sex couples to enter into civil unions with many of the same legal rights as married couples. This was a significant step towards equality for the LGBTQ+ community in Illinois.