1. In 1948, the first ever National Wheelchair Games were held in Chicago, Illinois. The event was organized by Paralyzed Veterans of America and featured competitions in various sports, including basketball, archery, swimming, and table tennis.

2. On July 12, 1960, American sprinter Wilma Rudolph won gold in the 100-meter dash at the Rome Olympics. Rudolph, who overcame polio and other health challenges as a child, also won gold in the 200-meter dash and the 4x100-meter relay, becoming the first American woman to win three gold medals at a single Olympic Games.

3. In 1995, a heat wave swept through Chicago, resulting in hundreds of deaths and prompting city officials to declare a state of emergency. The extreme temperatures, which reached over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, overwhelmed the city's infrastructure and led to widespread power outages and water shortages.

4. On July 12, 2003, the Chicago Cubs played their first game at the newly constructed Wrigley Field. The stadium, which opened in 1914, underwent major renovations in the early 2000s to improve fan amenities and expand seating capacity.

5. In 2014, a woman in Gurnee, Illinois gave birth to a baby boy in the back seat of a moving car. The baby was delivered safely by the mother's husband, who had pulled over on the side of the road during the impromptu delivery. Both mother and baby were then taken to a nearby hospital for observation.