Local News

Troy A. Sample, of Manteno, was arrested Wednesday by Manteno police following a week-long investigation into allegations involving the unlawful recording of a minor.

A large crowd turned out this week to protest the federal government’s decisions to revoke visas from five international students at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. Attendees included U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood and Cortland Mayor Mark Pietrowski, who works at NIU.

A DeKalb family of five was displaced Thursday after a kitchen fire in their home, authorities said.

Jurors heard a recording Tuesday of a woman crying and saying “stop” when she said an Island Lake man sexually assaulted her late on Christmas Eve 2021.

Read the transcript from our podcast: Becky Lenski, a Yorkville mother who recently won big on Wheel of Fortune, spoke with Shaw Local reporter Joey Weslo about her experience on the show.

What is it like to win on Wheel of Fortune? Becky Lenski, a Yorkville mother who recently won big, spoke with Shaw Local reporter Joey Weslo about her experience on the show

A garage fire quickly spread to a Yorkville house Wednesday night as firefighters rescued a dog from the unoccupied home, officials said.

Don Henderson has been cutting hair since President Dwight D. Eisenhower was in office, and has operated a Sycamore barbershop since “Star Wars” premiered in theaters. But that’s all set to change.

Students were placed in “a hold” and directed to stay in their classrooms at Yorkville Middle School Thursday as an emergency response team attended to a medical emergency in the school.

If the warm weather isn’t enough to make you feel like summer is near, maybe ice cream will help. Tones Cones, 523 W. Main St., Ottawa, opens Saturday for the season serving soft serve ice cream. 

Just shy of 50 pounds, 11 months old, with a Fox Red coat, River, a purebred Labrador retriever, sat in attention before Mayor Jeff Schielke with her paw raised to take the oath of office as Batavia Police Department's first-ever comfort dog.

In recognition to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in wartime, Mayor John Purcell proclaimed May 5 – 11 as “Poppy Awareness Days” in Yorkville. Purcell gathered with representatives of the local American Legion Post 489.

UPDATE: Bourbonnais Elementary School District officials are actively working to restore transportation and resume school as soon as possible after 21 buses were damaged this morning in a theft of catalytic converters.

A semitrailer driver was arrested in Joliet after he was accused of stealing the vehicle from a company that fired him, police said. The vehicle was found at Pilot Travel Center.

The Geneva City Council on Monday unanimously approved extending water service to a house on Western Avenue, a house that is not in the city and is not being annexed.

According to published reports, President Donald Trump’s inaugural committee accepted a $1 million donation from Gotion Inc., the Chinese manufacturer that will soon open its lithium battery factory plant in Manteno.

KCCSI is hosting a fundraiser Sunday to benefit for the community.

A Lockport man charged with the 2024 murder of his wife had reported to 911 she was accidentally shot but then wouldn’t give information regarding her death to police or paramedics, prosecutors said.

The late DeKalb County Sheriff’s deputy Christina Musil will be posthumously added to the Illinois Police Officers Memorial in Springfield in May, part of a yearly event to honor law enforcement who’ve died in the line of duty.

The Leland Town and Country Association will host a fireworks fundraiser Saturday, April 26, at the Lions Pavilion on East Railroad Street, selling Fay’s Finest pork chops and chicken. Additionally, there will be RC races before dinner at the pavilion.

The mother of Caitlin Hodges – the Crystal Lake woman whose remains were identified this month – said she hopes authorities are able to figure out how she died. The family suffered the loss of another daughter recently too.

UPDATE: Classes were canceled today for Bourbonnais Elementary District students following the theft of the catalytic converters from the buses.

Lockport Township High School drafting and design students took home a record number of trophies from the Illinois Design Educators Association State Competition, with five championships.

After much debate the contracts for Chris LaRocque, village administrator; Jim Hanley, superintendent of public works; and Alan Swinford, chief of police, were approved Monday by a 4-2 by the Manteno trustees.

WM marked Earth Day this week with a ribbon cutting on its new $60 million renewable natural gas facility, 18370 Somonauk Road, DeKalb.

It was proclaimed Mayor Paul Schore Day in the village of Bourbonnais Monday.

With droves of shoppers expected to flock to Yorkville’s incoming Costco, the generated sales tax is projected to be a huge financial windfall for the city. Could the generated sales tax help offset the significant increases residents will soon be seeing on their water bills?

Benito Delgado, 35, of Joliet, was arrested and charged for allegedly robbing the BMO bank in downtown Joliet on Monday.

Mobile home tax bills in La Salle County are due on Thursday, May 1.

A car crashed into downtown Crystal Lake business Angelo’s Shoe Repair Wednesday afternoon completely breaking the front window.

Know anybody who’s bought a new car this year? Worries over tariffs helped give auto sales a boost and, along the way, helped a few cities begin the year with sales tax revenue records.

Green Street in Ottawa will be closed again from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, April 25, as crews continue work on the box culvert headwall.

In honor of Earth Day this week, the Ottawa Downtown Association is inviting community members to participate in Operation: Clean Sweep from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 26.

The city of Joliet provided media tours of the former MyGrain Brewing Co. space in Union Station hoping publicity will draw more potential developers.

Revenue generated by all three golf courses run by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County totaled $8.38 million last year, the agency’s director of golf said Tuesday.

Batavia Plain Dirt Gardeners established a $2,000 tuition scholarship for a graduating high school senior.

Two fresh faces were sworn-in as Batavia School District 101 board members, in a special session also involving electing the board president, vice president, and secretary.

A new three-year collective bargaining agreement has been reached between the Batavia School District 101 and the Batavia Educational Support Professional Association (BESPA), including wage increases and expanded training.

It's been a remarkable, hard-fought recovery for former village commissioner Rich Kulovany.

The Joliet Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee decides on a slogan and logo as it attempts to draw in the public for development of a city comprehensive plan.

A warrant was issued for a Sean Fitzpatrick, who failed to show up for his trial on charges of stealing cars from a Marengo home, court records show.

Chris Gibson has been selected as the next superintendent of Central CUSD 4. He will take over for the outgoing superintendent, Matt Maxwell, on July 1.

Hitting the trails, the 'Roaming Readers Walking Club,' takes their love of literature into the woods. The Yorkville Public Library group gathers twice a month at Hoover Forest Preserve to discuss their favorite authors and the books that have been recently enlightening them.

The College and Trade Expo will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday in the main gym of Oswego High School, 4250 Route 71, Oswego.

Johnny’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream in Marseilles opens Friday for the season.

After nearly an hour of debate Monday, the Geneva City Council voted unanimously to keep its ordinance to allow a liquor license holder to be elected.

The River Valley Wind Ensemble will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a free public concert Friday.

Plano Outlet Store celebrated its new location with a ribbon cutting ceremony earlier this month. The store offers a variety of outdoorsman recreational products at discounted prices, from hunting gear to fishing supplies.

The Ottawa Special Events Committee has announced the schedule for its 2025 Music in the Park concert series, bringing live music to Washington Park every Saturday evening this summer.

A 23-year-old man is listed in critical condition in a Chicagoland hospital and his alleged attacker is in custody following an incident early Tuesday morning in Bradley.