Thirty champion spellers from around the area competed Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, for a chance to go to the National Spelling Bee. Cindy Pelka, a Morrison Junior High seventh-grader, took home the regional title.

Immigration changes introduced last year by the Trump administration are anticipated to cause some issues for visiting international teachers and the northern Illinois schools that rely on them

As the Seal of Biliteracy marks 10 years in Illinois, the number of seniors graduating with the distinction has climbed more than 2,000%.