Nationally recognized author Bob O’Connor, a 1963 graduate of Dixon High School, has published his 41st book – a Civil War novel, “John Lower 103rd Pennsylvania and the Christmas Pickle Tradition.”

Watch football and baseball playoff games at one of these lively sports bars in northern Illinois.

The Chicago Bears get a chance to reevaluate the first four weeks of the Ben Johnson era with a Week 5 bye this weekend. Here's how Shaw Local's Michal Dwojak and Joe Aguilar graded the Bears four games into the season.

Erie-Prophetstown celebrated their homecoming week with a powder puff game, parade and a crowning of a king and queen from their separate high schools. The senior girls were the powder puff tournament winners.

In an atmosphere reminiscent of the postseason, Dixon scratched out a 25-22, 23-25, 25-17 win over a scrappy Newman squad in their nonconference rivalry match Thursday.

Sterling girls tennis had some competitive wins in a 4-1 victory over Dixon. Sterling volleyball beat Moline, Polo topped Oregon and more in Thursday's Sauk Valley roundup.

The program will highlight Brig. General Russell Volckmann, a World War II hero.

The 2025 Dixon High School Homecoming Parade will begin at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3. Motorists should expect the route to be closed off to traffic for about one hour and are asked to use alternate routes.

Check out these delightfully frightening haunted houses in northern Illinois, guaranteed to bring the scares this season.

The Illinois Farm Bureau said August was the driest for the corn belt since 2013, and the Illinois State Climatologist’s office noted that as of Sept. 11, over 30% of the state was experiencing “abnormal dryness” to moderate drought conditions,

Autumn on Parade, Old English Faire happen this weekend in Oregon.

Check out these award-winning pizza places in Kane, Kendall and McHenry counties, as well as the Sauk Valley and Illinois Valley, to celebrate National Pizza Month during October.

Join hosts Eddie Carifio and JT Pedelty as they preview Week 6 in Illinois high school football in the western and southern portions of northern Illinois

A man is hospitalized after he was struck by a train in downtown Rochelle on Wednesday night, Oct. 1, 2025, a Rochelle Police Department news release said.

Busy day of running, shopping, kids’ activities and live music offered.

These northern Illinois pumpkin farms are ready to welcome guests for a day of family-friendly fall fun.

Dixon hosts Stillman Valley, Sterling hosts Alleman, Rock Falls heads to Winnebago and Newman faces Mercer County on Saturday in this week's Sauk Valley football slate. Here are previews for all 14 games.

In a battle for the cure, Newman and Dixon's volleyball squads face off at the net Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. The teams wore pink in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Ben Johnson gets the perfect scenario for the bye week – the good feelings of a two-game win streak while his team gets valuable time to reset, work, and improve with 13 games still on the schedule, Marc Silverman writes

CGH Medical Center will host a series of upcoming flu shot clinics for adults and children.

Pink Heals Sauk Valley made a stop at Dixon High School on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, in support of cancer research and Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Ahead of their match against Newman, the Dixon volleyball team made a donation to the cancer support group.

Dixon's Brody Nicklaus was the top local finisher in Geneseo as the Dukes and Sterling each had players advance to the sectional round. Fulton advanced as a team along with multiple other local individuals in Wednesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

The American Legion of Dixon will serve roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, roll, vegetable, salad and dessert Friday, Oct. 3, 2025.

The rate spikes of the summer are coming down, but ComEd customers still can expect higher bills through the winter, according to the Citizens Utilities Board.

From Capitol News Illinois: On housing, Lt. Gov. and Senate candidate Juliana Stratton proposed creating a tax incentive to encourage construction companies to build “starter homes” that must be priced below the median price of housing

Senior health insurance open enrollment appointments will be held at 1st Gateway Credit Union, 200 N. Base St., Morrison, from Oct. 20 to Dec. 7 on Mondays and Tuesdays by appointment.

As we move past the half way point, the edges off the playoff field start to become clearer. But a few small upsets can cause quite an adjustment which bore out after Week 5's games. Steve Soucie's latest playoff projection can be found here.

Health literacy is defined as the ability to access, understand, appraise, and use health information and services to make informed health decisions for yourself and others.

Dixon girls golf won a regional title as Reese Dambman and Rachel Drew took first and third. Oregon girls golf also advanced to the sectional, Sterling girls swimming won, Newman volleyball beat Princeton and more in Tuesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Despite the loss, Sterling showed what it can be capable of as a team after taking Geneseo to the wire in a 25-11, 17-25, 27-25 setback Tuesday night.

Military veterans U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth and Illinois State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit addressed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth comments on “warrior ethos.”

Several Illinois Target stores will be among those staying open for the midnight release of Taylor Swift’s new album, “The Life of a Showgirl.” How far will you have to travel to get in line?

A Whiteside County judge has rejected a plea agreement that would have put a Sterling man behind bars for 8 years in connection with an October 2024 fire that destroyed a Galt home and injured two people

From Capitol News Illinois: “None of this chaos, and none of these acts make us safer,” Illinois AG Kwame Raoul said, referring to the administration’s efforts to federalize National Guard troops and withhold funding for states that limit law enforcement collaboration with ICE

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams led a game-winning drive against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday to lead to a 25-24 win. Here's what he did on that drive to secure the win on the road.

Here's a list of Whiteside County property transfers for Sept. 22 to 26, 2025.

Congratulations to these 22 Illinois high school football players who were voted onto Friday Night Drive's Team of the Week for Week 5 of the 2025 high school football season

The E-P Panthers continued to thrive, defeating host Princeton 25-13, 25-15 at Prouty Gym Monday night, winning going away in both sets.

Sterling hosts Geneseo in volleyball Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. Geneseo took the match in three sets.

Sterling and Rock Island face off in the pool at the Duis Center Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025.

Previously ranked teams in the Friday Night Drive Power Rankings went 22-3 collectively in Week 5 as the top teams officially start to separate themselves from the pack. Check out this week rankings here:

Across northern Illinois, dozens of cases remain unsolved, leaving behind grieving families, unanswered questions, and a lingering pursuit of justice

State Sen. Li Arellano Jr., R-Dixon, is inviting families across the district to honor their veterans by submitting photos and stories for the “Honoring All Who Served” Veterans Day Display.

Newman girls tennis topped Princeton 4-3, Sterling girls golf won on senior night, Fulton volleyball beat Milledgeville and more in Monday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Kaltrina Lecaj helped Rock Falls deny Rochelle's comeback in the first set and finished with five aces in a 28-26, 25-17 win on Monday night.

Join fellow Scrabble players for an afternoon of games and socializing at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, in the program room at the Odell Library, Morrison.

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson and some players met with reporters virtually on Monday, a day after their come-from-behind win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Here are three of the most interesting things they said

Australian-born guitarist Orianthi will perform Oct. 11, while rock band Buckcherry takes the stage Oct. 19.

Hydrant flushing helps remove mineral buildup, brings fresh water to low-flow areas, and ensures hydrants are working properly, according to city officials.

The Chicago Bears held on to beat the Las Vegas Raiders, 25-24, on Sunday in Las Vegas. Shaw Local's Michal Dwojak and Joe Aguilar break down the big win and what it means for the rest of the season.