Government

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and 20 other state attorneys general are asking a federal judge to immediately halt President Donald Trump’s efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education

Sycamore District 427 Board candidates Michael DeVito, Cole Regnery and Heather Tomlinson answered questions about the issues the district is facing ahead of the April 1 election

The use of messaging app Signal to discuss a sensitive operation has opened the administration to blistering criticism from Democratic lawmakers

Read the transcript from our Sycamore District 427 School Board candidate forum. Michael DeVito, Cole Regnery and Heather Tomlinson shared their views on how the district can improve for all students

Candidates for DeKalb City Clerk: Brad Hoey, Lynn Fazekas and Steve Kapitan debated the issues in the race ahead of the April 1 election with Shaw Local's Kelsey Rettke and Megann Horstead

Candidates for DeKalb City Clerk: Brad Hoey, Lynn Fazekas and Steve Kapitan talked about the main issues facing the clerk's office ahead of the April 1 election. Read the transcript from our podcast here.

Peru mayor candidate Doug Bernabei spoke with Illinois Valley Editor Derek Barichello on the issues facing Peru ahead of the April 1 election

Steve Kapitan: With a zero salary for an administrative position, such as the City Clerk, it is especially important for the voters and the press to scrutinize the motives and any conflict of interest that the candidates may have

Gov. JB Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton continued their “Standing Up for Illinois” statewide tour Thursday with a stop in Romeoville alongside U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood and advocates from Will County senior and disability organizations.

Tuberculosis still takes lives, but Sunny Hill Tuberculosis Clinic in Will County has come a long way since 1925.

Top national security officials for President Donald Trump, including his defense secretary, texted war plans for upcoming military strikes in Yemen to a group chat in a secure messaging app that included the editor-in-chief for The Atlantic

Dean Bourdages on a pressing need for the DeKalb Park District: The pool renovation project needs to be monitored. The board and staff need to make sure the project stays within the budget and is finished on time

Fredda Rodewald on if students should be able to use AI in their schoolwork: There is a time and place for the use of AI. The appropriate time would be determined by the administration and teachers

Meteorologists from the National Weather Service station in Romeoville joined with Will County emergency responders in Plainfield at a workshop to discuss advances in forecasting and disaster preparedness on Saturday, March, 22, 2025.

Read the transcript from our podcast with Dixon City Council member Chris Bishop on what he sees as the future for Dixon.

Bourbonnais village trustees approved a four-year contract with its Public Works employees at Monday’s board meeting.

Illinois public universities as well as five community colleges, including Joliet Junior College, will soon begin offering free enrollment to students in test prep courses for post-graduate exams.

The city of Joliet didn't get any proposals for Chicago Street building, but giving more time may help draw a developer.

Read the transcript from our podcast with Dixon City Council member Dennis Considine as he and Shaw Local reporter Payton Felix discuss housing in Dixon and more

Dennis Considine, a member of the Dixon City Council, spoke with Shaw Local reporter Payton Felix about the issues facing Dixon ahead of the April 1 election.

Chris Bishop, a candidate for Dixon City Council, spoke with Shaw Local reporter Payton Felix about the issues facing Dixon ahead of the April 1 election.

Neighborhood leader John Sheridan told the Joliet City Council on Tuesday that he will be urging support for term limits.

In the midst of National Agriculture Week, the Lee County Board unanimously approved a resolution Thursday making a commitment to support and promote agriculture in the county.

Read the transcript: Barbara Larson and Michael Embrey, candidates for DeKalb City Council Ward 2 talked about housing and more issues that face DeKalb ahead of the April 1 election

Barbara Larson and Michael Embrey, candidates for DeKalb City Council Ward 2 debated the issues facing DeKalb ahead of the April 1 election in a Shaw Local candidates forum with Kelsey Rettke and Megann Horstead

Rock Falls City Council incumbent Steve Dowd talked with Shaw Local reporter Brandon Clark about the future of Rock Falls. Read the transcript from our podcast here.

Read the transcript: Austin Zink, a candidate for Rock Falls City Council Ward 3, talked with Shaw Local reporter Brandon Clark about his vision for Rock Falls ahead of the April election.

Steve Dowd, the incumbent for Rock Falls City Council Ward 3, spoke about the issues facing Rock Falls with Shaw Local reporter Brandon Clark leading up to the April 1 election.

Austin Zink, a candidate for Rock Falls City Council Ward 3 in the April 1 election, talks with Shaw Local reporter Brandon Clark about the issues facing Rock Falls.

Will County Board votes 12-10 to approve quarry plan that faced opposition from two villages, a school district, and hundreds of residents.

Rick Fischer on a top priority for Bourbonnais: Public safety is one of my top priorities. I will continue supporting our police and public works services while investing in community outreach programs, especially school resources, to keep Bourbonnais secure and welcoming

This spring, Kankakee County voters get to decide who will make the important decisions regarding their communities, schools, townships, fire departments, parks and libraries.

Read the transcript from our podcast of our candidate forum for St. Charles Ward 2 with candidates Ryan Bongard and Angela Churchill

Ryan Bongard and Angela Churchill, candidates for St. Charles City Council, Ward 2, in the April 1 election, answered questions about the issues facing St. Charles with Shaw Local’s Kevin Solari and David Petesch

Victoria Books on a public pool for Sycamore: I support a conscientious look at where to prioritize spending among all of the wide number of programs and services the Sycamore Park District offers

Should students be able to use AI in schoolwork? Twangie Smith: Our students are expected to complete their required school assignments using the skill and knowledge they are gaining. Those skills and their competence must be shown/proven

The chair of the House Higher Education Committee refused to call a vote on a bill that would authorize community colleges to offer four-year bachelor’s degree programs in select, high-demand career fields

Shaw Local reporter Brandon Clark spoke with Jim Wise about his vision for Sterling leading up to the Sterling City Council election on April 1.

Ryan Nares, a candidate for Sterling City Council in the April 1 election, sat down with Shaw Local reporter Brandon Clark to discuss the biggest issues in Sterling.

Allen Przysucha, a candidate for Sterling City Council, answered questions from Shaw Local reporter Brandon Clark on the key issues facing Sterling ahead of the April 1 election.

This spring, La Salle and Bureau county voters get to decide who will make the important decisions regarding their communities, schools, townships, fire departments, parks and libraries.

Jon Mandrell, Sauk Valley Community College vice president of Academics and Student Services, moderated the 2025 candidate forum at Sterling City Hall, where candidates Jim Wise, Ryan Nares and Allen Przysucha answered questions.

Read the transcript from our candidate forum for St. Charles City Council Ward 5 between candidates Steve Weber and Lauren Duddles

Steve Weber and Lauren Duddles, candidates for Ward 5 in the St. Charles City Council April 1 election, debated the issues facing St. Charles in a Shaw Local candidate forum with Kevin Solari and David Petesch

Dixon’s candidates running for Dixon Township, Dixon School Board and Dixon City Council in the April 1 election spoke about their top priorities during a forum Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at Dixon High School.

Dag Grada on Hopkins Pool: My personal opinion has been that the park district should have proceeded with the design we had a handful of years back

Denise Ackmann on a top priority for the Sycamore Park District: Sycamore is experiencing growth, and addressing the needs of our residents is a positive challenge that I am eager to tackle.

Tia Anderson, candidate for DeKalb Park District Board, on Hopkins Pool: We needed a new pool. The pool was old and in disrepair. A hefty price tag was inevitable. However, I am concerned of the timeframe for completion.

Michelle Foster on top priorities for the DeKalb Park District: Hopkins Pool Construction First, we must focus on the new pool construction project to ensure it stays on pace for construction this year

Chad Jewett on a top priority for Sycamore parks: Expanding our walking trails and making sure they are connected to the places residents need to go – safely