Return Of The Bison; Big House Ballgame At Old Joliet Prison: Good News, Illinois

The start of December featured an abundance of good news throughout our Illinois Patch towns. These grin-inducing stories feature a group of bison coming to a local prairie, a baseball game at the historic Old Joliet Prison and more.

Baseball At Old Joliet Prison: Joliet Slammers Reveal Details, They're Returning To Prison In 2026

The exhibition game will adopt the name "The Big House Ballgame" to represent the long history of organized baseball played at the prison.

'A Memory I Will Remember Forever': Lemont Veterans Marvel At Honor Flight Experience

Three veterans from Lemont were aboard the last Honor Flight Chicago for 2025.

American Bison Make Return To Kane County Prairie

The bison were first unloaded into a small corral at Burlington Prairie on Dec. 5.

Oak Lawn Students Challenged By Military To Create Dishes Using Meals-Ready-To-Eat

Oak Lawn Community High School students participate in Illinois National Guard's 'Cooks and Camo' competition.

These IL Eateries Among Best New Restaurants In America, New List Says

These Illinois restaurants offer "spectacular food … coupled with a damn good time."

Want to celebrate someone or something that made you smile? Have a Good News, Illinois, story of your own you'd like us to feature? Email lisa.farver@patch.com.