If you can drive, DO EET. There are way too many carriers with an ORD base to consider commuting. And yes, I realize that any carrier can close a base at any time. Unfortunately, unless someone here can predict which one it will be, you just have to go with the information out there at the time.

Envoy, Republic, Skywest, Trans States, Go Jet, and ExpressJet have ORD bases.

Out of curiosity, which direction are you driving to ORD from? Construction along 90 from 290 to Rockford is complete so people who drive from the west have it a lot easier now.