Wilmington’s McKenna Van Tilburg will be heading to Saturday’s finals in four events after a spectacular performance in prelims of the IHSA State Meet. Plus more from the Herald-News area.

From Capitol News Illinois: The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday dropped all charges against the remaining “Broadview Six” protesters, citing apparent prosecutorial misconduct in the grand jury proceedings

From Capitol News Illinois: As state lawmakers work to pass a school funding plan for the upcoming fiscal year, some are expressing frustration over how this year’s budget has been implemented

From Capitol News Illinois: Senate Republicans are calling on their colleagues and the governor to opt into a federal school choice tax credit program.

From Capitol News Illinois: A Cook County judge has rejected a petition to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate and charge federal immigration agents accused of abuses during “Operation Midway Blitz” this past fall

Will County Board votes 12-8 for Earthrise Energy solar project in Manhattan, Green Garden and Wilton townships. Opponents plan court challenge.

Chicago Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower and positional coaches met with reporters Thursday at Halas Hall in Lake Forest as the team continued its offseason workouts. Here are three of the most-interesting things the Bears said Thursday.

From Capitol News Illinois: Illinois lawmakers are considering legislation that a major gun rights organization says would effectively ban one of the nation’s most popular types of firearms

Discuss nature-inspired novels while walking the grounds of Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon.

The rate at which ComEd customers are charged for energy usage is increasing. Additionally, a temporary credit to Illinois customers is disappearing. Data centers for the artificial intelligence industry are among the factors driving the demand

From Capitol News Illinois: A bill heading to the House would allow minors to consent to receiving birth control without parental consent. The governor also says he will sign a measure to ban “junk fees,” or unlisted charges tacked onto the total of cost of ticketed events

Marc Silverman predicts a 12-5 finish, another division title, and several statement wins in a loaded 2026 schedule for the Chicago Bears

Three-hit days from seniors Aubrie Goudreau and Alyssa Singleton and clutch efforts from freshmen Hannah Stritar and Mady Dye helped Manteno to an 11-6 win over Coal City in Wednesday's Class 2A Manteno Regional semis, highlighted by an eight-run third inning.

The Manteno softball team erupted for an eight-run third inning in the Panthers' 11-6 win over Coal City in the Class 2A Manteno Regional semifinals Wednesday, May 20, 2026.

Lincoln-Way East boys track and field took second at the Rich Township Sectional, plus softball regional results in the Herald-News roundup.

From Capitol News Illinois: The Illinois General Assembly is considering extending unemployment benefits to public school support staff during the 10 to 11 weeks of summer break

The Chicago Bears will face a difficult schedule to get back to the playoffs. Here's how likely a quick start and return to the postseason is after the release of the 2026 schedule.

The Mazon Sesquicentennial Celebration is holding a fundraiser at Culver's in Morris from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday.

If you spend too much of your life watching the crowd, eventually you stop asking what excites you, what moves you, and what feels true. You stop creating and start performing.

Seneca got its 20th shutout of the season with an 11-0 win over Reed-Custer in the Class 2A Seneca Regional semifinals Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

Lockport, Minooka and all three Lincoln-Ways were among girls soccer regional winners, plus more in Tuesday's Herald-News Roundup.

Seneca's softball team opened play in its home regional with an 11-0 win over Reed-Custer in Tuesday's semifinals, advancing to Friday's championship game where the Irish will play for their third straight regional title.

From Capitol News Illinois: Consumer advocates filed testimony last week, calling on regulators to slash $178 million, or roughly 80%, of Nicor Gas’ recent rate hike request

From Capitol News Illinois: A rare federal misdemeanor trial is set for next week in the case of the remaining “Broadview Six” protesters even after prosecutors dropped the overarching felony conspiracy charge against them earlier this month

Chicago Bears rookie defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg didn't hold a Division-I offer at the end of his senior high school season. Here's how a year at Iowa Western Community College helped van den Berg fulfill his dreams of reaching the NFL.

The meeting on Wednesday is part of the Phase One Study on proposed improvements to the 9.3-mile segment of Wilmington-Peotone Road near Manhattan.

Minooka's boys volleyball team saw a late lead in the third set fall by the wayside in a 19-25, 25-21, 26-24 loss to Andrew.

Lockport beats Andrew in baseball and more in the Herald-News Monday Roundup.

With less than two weeks to go in the General Assembly’s spring session, Gov. JB Pritzker expressed confidence Monday that megaproject legislation that could bring the Chicago Bears to Arlington Heights would get done.

Coal City United Methodist Church is hosting a free senior gathering on June 3 with devotions, lunch, and activities—plus free transportation for those who need it.

House Bill 4273 would prohibit a company selling homeowners insurance from increasing premiums by more than 10% without first notifying the consumer 60 days prior.

Lincoln-Way East, Lockport and others getting ready for the playoff push.

From Capitol News Illinois: Backers of a bill aimed at limiting law enforcement’s use of biometric surveillance say they’re not looking to move the measure this legislative session

The NFL announced its 2026 schedule last week, and Chicago Bears fans will have plenty of fun road trips to take. Here is a ranking on some of the top road trips Bears fans should plan out this fall.

From Capitol News Illinois: The Illinois Department of Transportation announced this week it will soon repay up to $60,000 in student loans for up to 50 eligible employees over four years as part of an initiative to attract recently graduated engineers

A single-family home in Minooka that sold for $496,000 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Grundy County over the past week.

From Capitol News Illinois: Public school advocates have rallied against the tax credit, arguing it is a voucher program, in which the state directly funds students’ private school tuition

Lemont baseball blanked Romeoville in eight innings, Coal City baseball won twice and Lincoln-Way East won a girls water polo sectional title in Saturday's Herald-News Roundup

From Capitol News Illinois: A group of well-known Chicago journalists, podcasters and voice actors are behind nine class-action lawsuits filed this week alleging major tech companies used their voices without their permission in order to train AI products

Morris broke a three-year string of losses to Coal City with a rally that allowed it to cap its regular season with a 4-1 win on Saturday.

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.

Richard Schiltz, who has led Riverside Healthcare's finance department for 15 years, moves into the top financial role after the retirement of a 30-year veteran.

From Capitol News Illinois: A proposal that would expand access to a federal program that discounts the price of prescription drugs could end up costing Illinois employers an additional $89 million a year

Lincoln-Way West edges Lincoln-Way Central in baseball and more in the Herald-News Friday Roundup

The Morris softball team scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning in a come from behind 6-4 Interstate 8 Conference triumph over host Ottawa on Friday afternoon.

Ava Balestri hit a three-run homer to get the offense going and Macy Strauch struck out 14 batters in a two-hit shutout as the St. Bede softball team beat Dwight 12-0 in five innings in the regular season finale Friday.

From Capitol News Illinois: Immigrant rights groups have filed federal tort claims against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security over the Sept. 30, 2025, immigration raid on an apartment complex in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood

The new Love's opened Thursday at the I-80 interchange with Briggs Street.

Hantavirus can spread through contact with rodent droppings. Here are ways to protect your property.

The Illinois Municipal League has proposed the Reducing Expenses and Advancing Local Housing Act as an answer to Gov. Pritzker's housing plan that calls for relaxing zoning restrictions.