As Shaw Media celebrates its 175th anniversary, we look back at four front pages from February 5, including the Chicago Bears' 2007 Super Bowl loss to the Indianapolis Colts

Raue Center for the Arts will host a tribute concert to California music of the '60s and '70s and Woodstock Opera House will host a live comedy show from Lucas Bohn.

Three Democratic candidates, vying for state offices in the March 2026 primary election, made a campaign stop in Sycamore this week, sharing their views on equity in education.

Ahead of the years-long Route 47 widening project, Woodstock is aiming to offer relief grants to businesses along the corridor who might be affected.

Norge Ski Club has dropped one of its ticket vendors for its annual ski jump event after a photo went viral on social media showing a sign displayed at the establishment in which the ski club says “encouraged violence.”

Today marks the first of a two-part series about the use of automated license plate readers, commonly known as LPRS or Flock cameras, in northern Illinois. Today’s installment focuses on how cities use the cameras and the successes they have noted

Brake Parts Inc. LLC has permanently closed its McHenry operations and 389 employees there will be or have already been laid off, according to the company's state filings.

Max Beard came off the bench to score 24 points on senior night, and Woodstock's boys basketball team beat visiting Richmond-Burton 58-40 in front of a spirited home crowd Wednesday night.

A deeply divided Woodstock City Council has agreed to install Flock surveillance cameras on Woodstock Square – a vote that came after five hours of discussion and overwhelmingly opposition among those who spoke.

The Lake in the Hills Police Department is moving into its new station later this week.

Marty Mohr: I am open to renewable energy, but I am firmly opposed to the state’s current approach, which strips local communities of their decision-making power. Read Mohr's full questionnaire here

Larry W. Smith on top priorities for the McHenry County Board: Reducing taxes, creating jobs and protecting our farmland and open spaces are important to the voters in District 8

As a sophomore, Ithandehui Rosas became the first Harvard girls wrestler to qualify for the IHSA state meet. After missing her junior year, Rosas, whose brother and cousins were successful Harvard wrestlers, is ready to make her mark.

Elijah Bell showed off an all-around game and a new headband in leading Jacobs to a 52-41 win over visiting Dundee-Crown in a Fox Valley Conference basketball game Tuesday night in Algonquin.

Crystal Lake South controlled the boards and Carson Trivellini emerged in the second half, finishing with 26 points as the Gators rallied to beat Burlington Central 63-60 during Fox Valley Conference action Tuesday night.

Firefighters were able to extinguish a chimney fire before it spread to the home near Marengo Monday evening, and officials warn residents of the dangers of mismanaged chimneys.

In northern Illinois’s largest cities to its smallest towns, counterfeit pills, whose effects are boosted by fentanyl, kill users and devastate the families they leave behind.

A former Huntley woman who with her husband was convicted in 2018 in what authorities called a “drug-dealing enterprise” has pleaded guilty in a new drug-related case.

The third annual Great Seed Event at McHenry County College invites gardeners to swap seeds and learn about how to be a better gardeners.

What began as a small circle of people online interested in gardening has blossomed into the McHenry County Plantings Facebook group with about 14,000 members and in-real-life events like the Great Seed and Soil Event, planned for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7 at MCC's cafeteria, including seed swaps, vendors and demonstrations.

A one-time Democratic candidate for Illinois’ largely suburban 9th Congressional District seat has withdrawn from the race, and another has suspended his campaign.

With the launch of the Kane County Circle of Care, community leaders have brought services that address mental health, early prevention, housing, food instability and childcare together.

Maria Peterson: This is a common-sense approach: modernize our tax system to create a dedicated funding source, honor our past commitments, and ensure the system is fair for our current and future public servants. Read Peterson's full questionnaire here

Martin McLaughlin: I will continue to vote against any tax increases, and I will support property tax relief. Read McLaughlin's full questionnaire here

Alden-Hebron sophomore Hayden Smith has been putting up points in a hurry. The 5-foot-6 guard earlier this season tied the program record for points in a game, and later topped that with 50 points against Mooseheart. "She never stops."

Alan Hanke of Crystal Lake succeeded in delaying his sentencing several times. Now he's due to report to federal prison for an $8 million Ponzi scheme but continued to seek more delays as he awaits trial in McHenry County.

Cary-Grove senior guard Kennedy Manning hit an off-balance 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift the Trojans to a thrilling 35-33 Fox Valley Conference win over Huntley on Monday night.

Julia Scheuer led with 18 points, Audrey LaFleur drilled four 3-pointers, and Burlington Central stayed in the hunt for the Fox Valley Conference girls basketball title with a 48-33 victory over Crystal Lake South on Monday.

A Huntley man has waived his right to a trial, admitted he performed “a lewd act” in his garage while the door was open and was given court supervision, records show.

Woodstock Willie had an early morning Monday. But his prognostication in the city where “Groundhog Day” the movie was filmed was just the start of a whirlwind working holiday.

Woodstock Willie' weather report has arrived on Woodstock Square, where the Bill Murray movie "Groundhog Day" was filmed.

The location manager for the 1993 film "Groundhog Day" explained how Woodstock ended up playing the role of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

Before Woodstock played Marengo on Friday night, Dan Hill, the Blue Streaks' all-time leading scorer, delivered words of wisdom. Plus, Marengo freshman guard Caden Bezik continues to flash, and more in this week's Northwest Herald boys basketball notebook.

Crystal Lake South junior guard Carson Trivellini surpassed 1,000 career points with a career-high, 32-point effort against Jacobs on Jan. 21. Trivellini is the Northwest Herald Athlete of the Week.

Woodstock Willie made his prognostication from the gazebo at Woodstock Square early on a chilly Monday morning, Feb. 2, 2026.

A Richmond man who was accused of driving drunk while under the legal drinking age, and causing a crash that flipped his truck and sent him and his passenger to the hospital, has pleaded guilty.

Huntley officials offered a more positive response to a proposed Huntley duplex development after builders returned with a less dense plan.

The latest in a series of protests against the Trump administration in traditionally red McHenry County took place Sunday in McHenry.

Hundreds of people assembled along Route 31 in McHenry Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, to protest recent actions by ICE, particularly the shootings of two American citizens in Minneapolis.

The McHenry County Board has had its say on a series of speed limit reductions proposed on county roads. Which ones passed?

Karen Battaglia: Property taxes are one of the biggest pressures on families in our district, and school funding is a major driver of those costs. I believe we can provide relief to homeowners without shortchanging our schools. Read Battaglia's full questionnaire here

Catch up on the week’s top McHenry County news in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you, for the week of Jan. 25-31

Beat the large crowds in downtown Woodstock, and see Cedar the groundhog make his weather predictions at Randall Oaks Zoo in West Dundee.

Veronica Garcia-Martinez: My three priorities in Springfield begin with addressing the rising cost of living that is putting real strain on families across the district, including increasing utility costs for homeowners and renters. Read her full questionnaire here

As Shaw Media celebrates its 175th anniversary, we looked back at four front pages from February 1, including three different covers on the day before the infamous 2011 blizzard

A single-family home in Spring Grove that sold for $660,000 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in McHenry County in the past week

Fox River Grove is looking to create another downtown tax increment financing district – this time to specifically incentivize redevelopment of a vacant block that was demolished last year.

Johnsburg beat Marengo 50-34 in front of the Skyhawks' Lil' Dribblers on Saturday to stay unbeaten at 26-0 and move closer to its first conference championship since 2017.

A Batavia man has been sentenced to jail and probation after being found guilty of DUI causing a crash in McHenry County, in which authorities said his blood-alcohol content measured five times the legal limit.

Behind five individual champions, including Iowa State recruit Jimmy Mastny, Marian Central clinched its fourth regional title in a row, winning the IHSA Class 2A boys wrestling regional at Harvard on Saturday.