Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams no longer felt like he was drowning at the end of mandatory minicamp Thursday. Williams and the offense looked comfortable heading into training camp next month. Plus more notes from the final day of minicamp.

More severe weather is expected Thursday across northern Illinois, with the entire region placed under a tornado watch Thursday afternoon into Thursday evening.

The annual Hall of Fame Induction event, normally held at Joliet's Rialto Theatre, will be held at Harris Theater in Millennium Park on Sept. 27, and future ceremonies may go out of town as well.

After a rollercoaster season, Chicago Bears Braxton Jones has regained trust in himself as he competes for the starting left tackle spot this offseason. Plus more notes from the second day of mandatory minicamp at Halas Hall.

From Capitol News Illinois: A bill that will soon head to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk will officially remove an estimated 10,000 people from the state’s Medicaid program, leaving them without any form of health coverage.

From Capitol News Illinois: Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said his office was underfunded by $10 million in the latest budget, and that could make it more difficult to fight legal battles against the Trump administration.

The Illinois Coaches Association announced its 2026 ICA All-State teams this week, with 11 Herald-News area softball standouts selected for first-team honors and dozens more for other ICA accolades.

From Capitol News Illinois: A federal judge on Tuesday OK’d the release of highly anticipated and extremely rare transcripts from a trio of grand jury sessions in October, showing alleged prosecutorial misconduct by assistant U.S. attorneys.

High heat and humidity will continue over the next two days across northern Illinois, with several rounds of severe thunderstorms expected.

Layoffs began in May for workers of Ideal US Talent Systems in Cook, Kane, Kendall, McHenry and Will counties. Ideal is a platform where workers use their smartphones to find on-demand shift work

The memorial devoted to those who lost their lives in the Global War on Terror will be in the Square in downtown Joliet from noon Thursday until 6 p.m. Sunday.

From Capitol News Illinois: Rep. Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva, plans to file an amended megaprojects bill that would create new requirements that were not included in the original plan passed by the House. Gov. JB Pritzker says he’s open to a special session on the issue

Chicago Bears defensive tackle Gervon Dexter is expecting to play as a whole different person next season as he enters the final year of his contact. Plus more notes from the Bears' first day of mandatory minicamp.

From Capitol News Illinois: There were some high-profile caveats that underscored the limits of Gov. JB Pritzker's clout among his fellow Democrats who run the state legislature

Proceeds from the fundraiser benefit the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Memorial Squad, which provides full military honors for veterans.

Forecasters warn Thursday could bring tornadoes, destructive winds, large hail, and flash flooding to northern Illinois as a dangerous weather pattern takes shape

After the Chicago Bears announced last week that they’re advancing a new stadium project in Hammond, Indiana, a suburban Republican state lawmaker is trying to provide a new framework to keep the team in the Prairie State.

The old prison in Crest Hill will be demolished and rebuilt. The state plans to build two new prisons: one for men and one for women.

Outside of Lincoln-Way West softball's historic state championship, it was a busy weekend around the Herald-News coverage area. Here are a few of the other top stories in our Weekend Rewind.

Seneca seniors Lexie Buis, Camryn Stecken and Tessa Krull led the Fighting Irish softball team to a runner-up finish at the IHSA Class 2A State Finals at Peoria's Louisville Slugger Sports Complex.

From Capitol News Illinois: Illinois lawmakers gave hospitals and community health centers much of what they wanted this session by passing a bill that prohibits drug manufacturers from interfering with their access to discounted medications through a federal drug pricing program

The Chicago Bears board of directors voted to advance its stadium project in Hammond, Indiana. Does that mean the team is moving to Indiana? Shaw Local's Michal Dwojak and Joe Aguilar discuss that and preview this week's minicamp.

The 73 districts receiving grants provide fire protection to about 250,000 Illinois residents, primarily in rural areas of Illinois.

The Chicago Bears will start the latest part of their offseason Tuesday when they start a three-day mandatory minicamp at Halas Hall in Lake Forest. Here are a few storylines to watch at minicamp this week.

It has become very difficult to contain the Minooka baseball team's offense as Edwardsville found out on Saturday as the Indians pounded out 14 hits in a 15-1 win to claim the Class 4A Normal Community Sectional title.

The Illinois River Valley Chapter serves 1.1 million people in five counties including Grundy, Kane, Kendall, LaSalle, and Will.

Growing a pollinator garden with flowering plants is one simple way Illinois residents can make a meaningful environmental impact at home.

Owning and operating a food truck is more than simply pulling up to an event and selling food. Joe Zolecki, owner of Smokin’ Z BBQ and Cookin’ Z Kitchen, said food trucks are “getting hit left and right with increased fees."

Illinois lawmakers reacted with alarm, frustration and urgency after the Chicago Bears announced plans to advance a stadium project in Hammond, Indiana, though several officials stressed the move is not final and said there is still time to reach a deal to keep the team in state

From our editorial board: The Bears have now advanced a “site TBD” in Hammond, Indiana. The phrasing matters. It is not a plan. It is not a commitment. It is not even a fully described proposal. It is a directional signal carefully calibrated to do two things at once

From Capitol News Illinois: The former defendants known as the “Broadview Six” are moving forward with an aggressive plan to force the U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago to reveal the machinations behind how they were indicted

Shaw Local newspapers received a combined 45 awards in contest categories that included general excellence, photography, news writing, opinion writing and design.

From Capitol News Illinois: Bills banning Glocks, creating a prescription drug board and regulating algorithmic pricing advanced in the final days of session, but not to the governor’s desk

The Chicago Bears announced Friday that its board of directors voted to advance its stadium project in Hammond, Indiana. However, two Illinois lawmakers confirmed to Capitol News Illinois that any talk of the Bears leaving the state is premature

Star Wars Day on June 6 starts with the annual parade of costumed characters at 11 a.m. The event will include the new City Square.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze is determined to be "excellent" after an injury-plagued season last year. Here's how he's working over the offseason to get there.

Gardner-South Wilmington's softball team dropped a 10-inning thriller 2-1 to Waltonville in Thursday's IHSA Class 1A state semifinals in Peoria before bouncing back with a 10-5 win over Okawville in Friday's third-place game, ending the program's historic season with a win.

From Capitol News Illinois: State Treasurer Mike Frerichs visited the Vatican this week with a gift for the pope: $8.65 of his own money

From Capitol News Illinois: House Bill 4418 creates the Plastic Pellets Pollution Control Act, which takes a step toward controlling the amount of plastic that ends up in Illinois waterways

Lincoln-Way Central baseball broke out for three runs in the first inning, added four in the second and never looked back in claiming an 8-2 win over Marist to advance to the Class 4A Lincoln-Way Central Sectional title game against Sandburg at 10 a.m. Saturday.

The National Weather Service said warm, dry conditions, combined with southwest winds gusting as high as 25 mph will result in an increased grass and brush fire threat this afternoon

Marc Silverman argues that despite uncertainty off the field, the Bears are building something fans can genuinely believe in this season

Minooka's potent offense continued its torrid postseason, and Zane Caves pitched masterfully as Minooka topped Normal Community 8-2 in the semifinal round of the Class 4A Normal Community Sectional on Wednesday.

After each team snapped a regional title drought this year, both Clifton Central and Gardner-South Wilmington had their seasons come to an end Wednesday in the Class 1A Dwight Sectional semifinals.

From Capitol News Illinois: Lawmakers on the final day of the General Assembly passed a bill to regulate how minors interact with social media and other online platforms to make them less addictive

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson and some players met with reporters Wednesday at Halas Hall in Lake Forest as they continued their Organized Team Activities (OTA) practices. Here are three of the most interesting things the Bears said Wednesday.

The Interstate 8 named three girls soccer MVPs: Kaneland's Erin Doucette, Ottawa's Chloe Carmona and Sycamore's Izzie Segreti. Co-champs Sycamore and Kaneland each had five all-conference selections, Ottawa had three, La Salle-Peru and Morris had two and Rochelle had one.

Sycamore pitcher Bella Jacobs was voted conference MVP by Interstate 8 coaches as the champion Spartans had five first-team selections. Ottawa and Morris had four selections each, Kaneland and La Salle-Peru had two each and Rochelle had one.

Ottawa's Adam Swanson was named the Interstate 8 MVP as Pirates and co-champ Kaneland each had six selections. Sycamore and Morris had three selections each, La Salle-Peru had two and Rochelle had one. Every team had one honorable mention.

From Capitol News Illinois: In an exceptionally rare move, U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros published a “special report” containing the transcript of a nearly four-minute speech he gave to a grand jury in October that would go on to indict the “Broadview Six” later that day