State Rep. Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, is launching her sixth annual spring photo contest for residents throughout her 89th Legislative District.

From Capitol News Illinois: Illinois and Cook County have erased more than $2 billion in medical debt combined for over a million residents through a partnership with a nonprofit that buys medical debt for pennies on the dollar.

A rural residence in Mount Morris that sold for $749,000 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Ogle County over the past week.

A single-family home in Oregon that sold for $66,000 tops the list of the best real estate deals in Ogle County in the past week.

The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal reminds residents to test, inspect, and replace broken or expired smoke/CO alarms in their homes this weekend.

Alexander Villatoro of Rochelle was named to the University of Mississippi’s fall 2025 Honor Roll list.

The Chicago Bears likely won’t be searching for a new center once free agency starts next week. Chicago reportedly acquired Garrett Bradbury from the New England Patriots for a 2027 fifth-round pick

Frankfort Democrat Michael Hastings advanced legislation this week to protect Illinois homeowners from predatory contractors and scams in the aftermath of a natural disaster or storm.

From Capitol News Illinois: Illinois municipal leaders are calling on state lawmakers to increase the amount of income tax revenue that is distributed to local governments.

Cade Andrae from Davis Junction was named to the Milwaukee School of Engineering’s Honors List for the 2025 fall semester.

Ceczar Spann, 31, of Rochelle, was found guilty of two counts of domestic battery for striking a member of his household during a Sept. 12, 2025, incident.

NFL free agency will start next week and the Chicago Bears should be active as they try to build upon last season's success under Ben Johnson. Here’s a look at the Bears’ top three positions of need heading into free agency.

The offseason of hard decisions continued for the Chicago Bears continued Thursday night. The team reportedly released linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.

The Merry Martha Club, a Leaf River service organization, is once again sponsoring a quilt raffle this spring.

From Capitol News Illinois: Illinois honored 28 schools with Blue Ribbon Schools awards at an event at the Governor’s Mansion.

Arnold Heltness American Legion Post 403 of Rochelle hosts an essay contest in January and February each year. Essay winners from several local schools were presented their awards Tuesday.

The Chicago Bears will trade wide receiver DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills, per multiple reports. The Bears acquired Moore in 2023 from the Carolina Panthers as part of their trade for the 2023 NFL Draft's No. 1 overall pick.

The Vintage Shop Hop, featuring vintage, thrift and antique stores across northern Illinois and Wisconsin, is March 6 and 7.

The musical adventure “Paint Your Wagon” is driving into Mt. Morris this spring.

The next Human Services Transportation Plan Regional Transportation Committee meeting for Region 3 (Bureau, DeKalb, Grundy, Kendall, LaSalle, Lee, Ogle and Putnam counties) will be Friday, March 27.

From Capitol News Illinois: Lawmakers are looking to further regulate alternative retail energy suppliers, tying the rates they can charge for energy to what utilities can charge

From Capitol News Illinois: Advocates for health care providers that treat low-income and uninsured patients are pressuring state lawmakers to pass legislation they say would prevent drug manufacturers from restricting access to discounted medications

March 17 marks the 2026 primary, where Ogle County voters can pull a Democratic or Republican ballot to pick who appears on the ballot come November. All voters, partisan or not, can weigh in on referendum questions.

Stillman Valley High School sophomore student Casey McCleary has been appointed to the Illinois High School Association Student Advisory Committee.

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles' offseason to-do list got longer with the sudden retirement of center Drew Dalman. Here are five players the Bears could target to replace Dalman both in free agency and the draft.

Voters in many Illinois counties will see a question on their March 17 primary election ballots asking if Illinois should opt into a voucher-style federal scholarship program that would give donors a tax credit. It was created in the Big Beautiful Bill.

The Illinois Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children has expanded its food package offerings to give families more flexible dietary options.

With a donation from CHS Ethanol, Ogle County 4-H purchased seven new laptops. These devices will support Tech Club meetings, Project Workshop days and Ogle County Fair volunteers and judges, expanding access to technology-based programming and needs.

Oregon High School Theater will present “The Sound of Music!” this month.

From Capitol News Illinois: Eighteen former Department of Justice attorneys signed onto an amicus brief arguing the Trump administration has no legal authority to demand voter registration data from Illinois

Despite a weekslong delay in the legislative calendar in Springfield, Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday expressed optimism with progress on a pending Bears stadium deal in Springfield

Chicago Bears center Drew Dalman will reportedly retire at the age of 27. The news comes after he completed his first season with the Bears and earned his first Pro Bowl honors last year.

From Capitol News Illinois: A spokesperson for Bill Clinton quickly clarified the testimony, saying the former president was referring to a trip he took with Pritzker to Africa in 2008 for the Clinton Foundation, but it was not on Epstein’s plane and Epstein wasn’t present

Ogle County recently released the marriage licenses it issued during February 2026.

The Chicago Bears have major needs on the defensive line this offseason and last week's NFL Scouting Combine showed what could be available in April's draft. Here are five defensive linemen who could be in play for the Bears.

Oregon Community Unit School District 220 announced that Ryan Huels, principal of Oregon Elementary School, has recently been recognized at both the national and state levels for his leadership in education.

Quincy University released its dean’s list for the fall 2025 semester.

Just like 5-year-old Liam, who was photographed in custody in his blue bunny hat, as many as 3,800 children are being held in ICE detention centers in shocking conditions.

The U.S. war in the Middle East "will affect oil prices significantly because of the uncertainty,” said Oguzhan Batmaz, assistant professor of economics at Lewis University in Romeoville

From Capitol News Illinois: Illinois lawmakers are calling for an independent commission to investigate Illinois-linked crimes connected to international sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

From Capitol News Illinois: A federal judge ordered the release of 32 people detained by federal immigration agents without warrants or probable cause during "Operation Midway Blitz." Those people must be released by March 5 at noon

From Capitol News Illinois: Comptroller Susana Mendoza is endorsing Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim to be her successor

From Capitol News Illinois: State Sen. Sue Rezin is hoping the uproar over road funding will create unity among downstate politicians as they seek solutions. “Downstate needs to be made whole,” Rezin said. “We need to be made whole because we have crumbling roads and bridges.”

All four candidates vying to be the Democratic nominee for Illinois comptroller in the March 17 primary currently hold a variety of public offices.

The Polo Woman’s Garden Club will host an informational meeting open to the community regarding a late afternoon/evening group for those who are active or interested in flower and vegetable gardening.

After a promising first season with Ben Johnson last year, the Chicago Bears believe Caleb Williams will take "significant strides" this offseason

Here's a list of upcoming events at the Byron Public Library.

Scientific research has revealed a marked increase in heart attacks and strokes in the days following this time change each year, the American Heart Association said

Abigail Rogers of Oregon was named to the dean’s list of Loyola University College of Arts and Sciences.

A single-family home in Oregon that sold for $290,000 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Ogle County during the past week.