Catch up on the week’s top Will County news and sports in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Former Sycamore District 427 school board member Eric Jones expressed disappointment with ex-Superintendent Steve Wilder's departure, saying he believes Wilder was shown a “lack of respect."

Kankakee Community College Athletics is planning a fall golf outing for former athletes and community members.

Lockport Township High School's Central campus ready to welcome new freshmen on Monday after a summer of work to improve the building's "structural integrity."

Three leaders in the Illinois Valley Community College’s theater program have created a scholarship to support students who perform onstage or behind the scenes.

Midwestern University has announced the appointment of Sarah Radtke as dean of the College of Health Sciences for its Downers Grove Campus.

Bradley Wood is the new dean of health careers at Kankakee Community College .

The Morris Community High School gym has been sitting at a cool 72 degrees this summer, thanks to the new air handling system that’s been installed.

Less than two weeks after the Sycamore school board authorized a mutual separation agreement with former Sycamore superintendent Steve Wilder, the board has voted to hire a national firm to search for his replacement.

Thursday was the first day of the fall semester for Oswego School District 308 students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Illinois Valley Community College Board of Trustees will meet at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 19, in the Board Room.

The Morris Community High School said during its meeting Monday night that the pool will be closing permanently in February due to how much it would cost to keep it going.

A federal judge on Thursday struck down two Trump administration actions aimed at eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion programs at the nation’s schools and universities

The university awarded degrees to 6,770 students.

Oswego School District 308's current outstanding long-term debt is more than $274 million, which includes $185.5 million in principal and about $89 million in interest.

Here is a list of personnel actions approved by the Dixon School Board on Aug. 7, 2025.

Midwestern University has appointed Dr. Brianne N. Hobbs as the new dean of the Chicago College of Optometry.

Students in Sterling head back to class Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, for the first day of the school year.

Lt Gov. Julianna Stratton will host a round table discussion on the impact of the Trump administration’s policies on women and women's healthcare at the Will County Health Department in Joliet.

The academy offers classes and workshops in visual arts, dance, music, theater, culinary arts and education for children and adults, along with a private, arts-based preschool program for ages 3 to 5.

The TALK-LINE interview for Aug. 13 featured Shaw Local News representatives Charlene Bielema and Brandon Clark discussing featured local news coverage in the Sauk Valley area.

DeKalb students started the new school year Wednesday as they returned to classes after summer break.

Davis Elementary School in St. Charles welcomed students back Wednesday as they opened their doors for the first day of the new school year.

The funding amounts received by these Will County school districts is based on factors including enrollment, poverty rate, number of special education and English-language learner students.

It’s been about a year since Sycamore School District 427 was placed on a financial early warning status by the Illinois State Board of Education, and school board members will take a look at how the 2026 budget is shaping up during a special meeting Wednesday.

Vice President of Academics and Student Services Jon Mandrell said the number of students has been climbing for the past three years – from 1,507 two years ago, to 1,586 last year, and now 1,686 this fall.

Representatives from PMA Securities spoke to the Morris Community High School Board on Monday to break down how the district will finance the $67 million addition as approved by voters last April.

The gift, to be paid over five years in annual August installments, reflects the company’s commitment to investing in Dixon’s future by supporting local families and young learners, according to company officials.

As students across Whiteside County head back to school, Whiteside County's sheriff is reminding drivers, parents and the community to take extra precautions to keep children safe.

The university named more than 400 student-athletes to the honor roll.

Illinois’ superintendent of education says the strict standards result in schools being unfairly labeled as needing interventions and students being inaccurately labeled as not on track for college or a career.

As community colleges take on an evolving role in recent years, Shaw Local News Network is providing details on the compensation of presidents who lead 10 of these publicly funded schools in northern Illinois.

In the past five years, Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School has roughly tripled the number of students taking Advanced Placement courses and the number of AP exams administered.

With schools across Illinois preparing to open for the new year, the Illinois State Police are reminding motorists to obey school zone speed limits, stop for buses and avoid distracted driving.

The Geneva District 304 agreed to a draft developer donation agreement with Shodeen Group for the proposed 962-acre LaFox of Campton Hills annexation to Campton Hills – subject to its attorney's approval.

Another summer has flown by, and all of a sudden, it’s back to school for the younger residents of La Salle and Bureau counties. And as many veteran parents and teachers know, this time of year calls for more than just packing backpacks.

Illinois Valley Community College campuses will be closed on the morning of Thursday, Aug. 14.

The Joliet Park District’s annual back-to-school event serves as a crucial resource for local families to help make sure students have the basic supplies needed to start the new school year.

Dixon Public Schools held its annual Tools for School giveaway Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, at the Elk’s Club. The event helps families send their kids to school with the necessary supplies they need for a successful school year.

St. Charles School District 303 hired longtime Naperville principal as the new head of Wasco Elementary School.

The TALK-LINE interview for August 7 featured Sauk Valley Community College Marketing Director Jim Grot and Adult Education Literacy Coordinator Ana Lara.

As Sauk Valley Community College President Dave Hellmich prepares to retire in spring 2026, today we are publishing his first of several columns in which he will "examine the Sauk Valley’s many opportunities to improve itself so it can be a beacon of everything good."

The City of Crest Hill is considering an agreement with Chaney-Monge School District 88 and Richland School District 88A to create a School Resource Officer program this year.

Superintendent Chris Spencer with Coal City Unit 1 talks about families can expect in the upcoming school year.

Waubonsee Community College offers four business academy programs this fall to support existing and aspiring entrepreneurs.

The Illinois State Board of Education’s announcement of a $15.85 billion education budget for fiscal 2026 has drawn cautious optimism from Sterling Public Schools as the district awaits final details of its allocation under the state’s evidence-based funding (EBF) formula.

While there are still a number of moving parts, officials in Minooka Community Consolidated School District 201 have in place a preliminary operating budget for the 2025-26 school year as classes are about to resume.

Several Whiteside County students are among the graduates.

Students from Rock Falls, Dixon and Oregon were named to the list.

Just steps from Sterling High School and Challand Middle School, Whiteside Area Career Center students are earning certifications, college credits and real-world experience through hands-on training in a variety of fields, such as healthcare, construction and culinary arts.