1. On May 12, 1909, the Illinois legislature passed the "Illinois White Slave Traffic Act," also known as the Mann Act. This federal law prohibited the transportation of women across state lines for immoral purposes, such as prostitution.

2. In 1970, an F-4 tornado struck the northern Illinois town of Barrington, causing significant damage and leaving two people dead. The tornado was part of a larger outbreak of severe weather that affected the Midwest that year.

3. May 12, 1919, marked the official end of prohibition in Illinois. The state was one of the first to ratify the 21st Amendment to the US Constitution, which repealed the national ban on alcohol.

4. On May 12, 1925, a fire broke out at the Illinois Theatre in Chicago, killing 27 people and injuring many others. The tragedy led to changes in fire codes and regulations for public buildings.

5. In 2018, Illinois became the first state to require public schools to teach about the contributions of Asian Americans in history. The law, signed on May 12 of that year, aims to promote diversity and inclusion in the curriculum.