Algonquin has voted to add a 1% grocery tax at the start of next year, when Illinois ends its version, which has benefited local communities.

Woodstock's Old Courthouse, owned by the city, has seen mixed success in keeping shops there, so city officials have "adjusted our approach," to finding tenants, Mayor Mike Turner said.

A Woodstock man and former McHenry County-area firefighter pleaded guilty Thursday to violating an order of protection and electronic harassment and got probation. He called and emailed threats to woman hundreds of times, authorities say.

A Woodstock man was convicted of sexually assaulting a girl, despite denying the allegations from the witness stand.

Mike Shorten is a McHenry County Board member and is also now the supervisor-elect of Nunda Township. He plans to hold both offices; longtime township government critic Bob Anderson called on Shorten to resign from the county board.

Marengo senior catcher Kylee Jensen helped the Indians to a 5-0 week, going 13 for 19 (.684 batting average) with seven RBIs, 11 runs scored and two home runs. Jensen was voted the Northwest Herald Athlete of the Week.

Prosecutors argued Eric Ullrich failed to act because he and his ex-wife didn't want to deal with child welfare officials again, and that their son would have lived had they acted sooner.

Jacobs freshman Kylie Deegan netted a hat trick Thursday night to help the Golden Eagles beat Hampshire 4-2.

Evan Frangiamore’s walk-off single in the last of the seventh inning lifted Cary-Grove's baseball team to a 5-4 win over McHenry. Prairie Ridge's Ava Gertz and Huntley's Maizie Nickle netted hat tricks. Plus more results in Thursday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.