DeKalb

The DeKalb school board is considering eliminating one of its monthly meetings and moving the board schedule to a single meeting per month. School board president Sarah Moses said Tuesday the idea is to “free up the superintendent and cabinet to do work” needed in district.

Northern Illinois University's STEM Fest returns Saturday. The free event will be held in person and feature more than 80 exhibits with hands-on activities, crafts and talks. “It’s a day to celebrate and explore how STEM influences and is connected to everything we do,” said NIU's Kristin Brynteson.

In response to recent DeKalb School District 428 union concern regarding district leadership, Superintendent Minerva Garcia-Sanchez said Wednesday she’s met with the union “as least monthly and any other time they have requested it.” District officials also said an elementary school referendum would be a "last choice."

The City of DeKalb is accepting applications for 2022 grants for local nonprofits through its Human Services Funding program.

Huntley Middle School teacher Kevin Boland said DeKalb teachers are “exhausted and feel disrespected” by what he said was lack of support from leadership amid ongoing pandemic-era staffing challenges. District leaders say a strategic plan to address concerns could include a 2022 referendum for a new elementary school.

LaCretia Konan describes her work ethic as “I do what I do because that’s who I am.” Konan was named the 2021 Athena Award recipient Tuesday during the 32nd annual Athena Award reception held at Northern Illinois University’s Barsema Alumni and Visitor’s Center in DeKalb.

DeKalb County prosecutors say video footage shows a 21-year-old DeKalb man and another accused of shooting him to death leaving a party with several other people on Ridge Drive prior to the fatal incident earlier this month.

A local cleanup day has been organized by DeKalb’s Citizens’ Environmental Commission for Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon, and several other volunteer groups plan to help pick up trash at four locations in the city.

“So this is not about ‘My license plate's suspended, my license plate is expired.’ That is not with this will be used for,” said DeKalb Police Chief David Byrd about the incoming license plate reader program. Here’s what the cameras will, and won’t, track:

A longtime fixture in the DeKalb area community, Ellingsworth Webb, is the likely successor to represent DeKalb on the DeKalb County Board after the seat was recently vacated by Neill Mohammad.