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

Authorities say a Cary man was driving under the influence of drugs during a crash that killed a 95-year-old man early this year in Deer Park.

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

Crystal Lake South faces Deerfield in the IHSA Class 3A Grayslake Central Sectional semifinal baseball game Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at Grayslake Central High School.

Crystal Lake Central faces Grayslake Centralin the IHSA Class 3A Grayslake Central Sectional semifinal baseball game Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at Grayslake Central High School.

St. Charles North's baseball team scored twice in the top of the sixth inning and held off top-seeded Huntley 6-5 in a semifinal of the Class 4A McHenry Sectional on Wednesday.

St. Charles North faces Huntley in an IHSA Baseball Class 4A Sectional Semifinal on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at McHenry High School in McHenry.

A Lake in the Hills man who had worked as a mentor for McHenry County jail inmates admitted Wednesday that he sexually assaulted a child.

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

After 18 years of writing a column, Joan Oliver is stepping away from the laptop. She does have some final thoughts to share, though.

A man from Lake in the Hills was charged with his eighth DUI following seven convictions after a head-on crash in Kane County that injured six passengers in a minivan, authorities said.

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.

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

Crystal Lake houses that were once homes to veterans of the Civil War will be highlighted in this year’s Trolley Tour hosted by the Historic Preservation Commission and the Historical Society.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams will be on the "Madden 27" cover. He is the first Bears player to ever appear on the cover since the game was first released in 1988

Huntley faces Barrington in the Huntley Supersectional girls lacrosse match on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at Huntley High School.

From Capitol News Illinois: Gov. JB Pritzker says he intends to sign legislation imposing a statewide ban on cell phones and other wireless communication devices during instructional time in public schools and charter schools

The Chicago Bears will go up against a familiar opponent for a joint practice in August. Chicago will travel to Cincinnati for a joint practice on Aug. 20 against the Bengals.

Real estate news: The house at 28413 West Harvest Glen Circle in Cary was sold on May 15 for $760,000, or $250 per square foot.

From Capitol News Illinois: An Illinois law banning “swipe fees” on taxes and tips — already delayed twice by lawmakers — appears to be on life support after a federal judge who once permitted it issued a permanent injunction against it this week

A teen who was driving a car that crashed into a building in Fox Lake early Saturday was behind the wheel illegally, police said.

Here is the 2026 All-Fox Valley Conference softball team, as selected by coaches.

The Chicago Bears’ search for a new stadium took another unexpected dramatic turn early morning Monday in Springfield when Illinois lawmakers failed to pass a bill that would help them build a new stadium in Arlington Heights. Here's what could happen next in the search.

Marengo's Gabby Christopher was named the Kishwaukee River Conference Player of the Year and Woodstock North's Kylee Nicholson earned Pitcher of the Year honors. Here is the rest of the 2026 All-KRC softball team, as selected by coaches.

Prairie Ridge faces Antioch in an IHSA Softball Class 3A Supersectional game on Monday, June 1, 2026 at Kaneland High School in Maple Park.

Enjoy four free monthly concerts at the Lost Valley Visitor Center patio in Ringwood.

June is National Candy Month.

From Capitol News Illinois: JB Pritzker acknowledged that the Chicago Bears may be on their way to Indiana. But he and Democratic leaders defended their decision not to move a bill incentivizing them to stay

Johnsburg defeats Rockford Christian in the 1A Marian Central Supersectional on Monday, June 1, 2026 at Marian Central Catholic High School in Woodstock.

Peyton McMahon scored off a free kick, Jordin Gaunaurd finished an Addison Schaffer assist, and Crystal Lake Central held off Lake Forest 2-1 to win a IHSA Class 2A supersectional girls soccer title at Lake Zurich on Monday.

From Capitol News Illinois: The General Assembly passed a bill early Monday that would give rideshare drivers the right to form a union

A teen was flown for treatment after crashing into a utility pole and a building in Fox Lake early Saturday, also injuring a passenger.

Three summer events at the Powers-Walker House allow visitors of all ages to immerse themselves in a historical experience through the help of volunteers in historical attire.

From Capitol News Illinois: Bills expanding privacy for abortion medical records and access to birth control services passed in the final days of the General Assembly’s spring session

Illinois lawmakers failed to pass a bill before the end of their spring legislative session that would've allowed the Chicago Bears to build a new stadium in Arlington Heights. Shaw Local's Michal Dwojak and Joe Aguilar break down the news and what it means

Two homes are uninhabitable following a fire in Wonder Lake Sunday evening that began in one home and was spreading to a second one when firefighters were called to the scene.

From Capitol News Illinois: Illinois lawmakers approved a budget after 4 a.m. Monday, which includes the full $350 million increase in Evidence-Based Funding for public schools. Some education advocates had called for a bigger increase

From Capitol News Illinois: New taxes would be implemented on social media companies based on the number of users in the state, along with prediction markets, fantasy sports, and digital assets

Illinois lawmakers remained hopeful that they could find a way to stop the Chicago Bears from leaving for Indiana after they failed to pass a bill before the end of the spring legislative session that would’ve helped the NFL team build a new stadium in Arlington Heights.

A Huntley man is charged with unlawful restraint, a Class 4 felony, as well as public indecency involving lewd exposure, according to a criminal complaint filed in McHenry County court.

From Capitol News Illinois: Illinois could soon reform the state’s regulations on delinquent property tax sales after the House approved a bill 80-35 along party lines Saturday evening that lets homeowners keep their equity

From Capitol News Illinois: The Illinois Senate filed a more than 3,500-page spending plan late Saturday night but how it will be paid for has not been made public

Illinois lawmakers left numerous options open to stop the Chicago Bears from leaving for Indiana on Sunday as they entered the final day of the spring legislature in Springfield. That includes a potential stadium in Chicago.

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 May 24-30

Lake in the Hills officials have approved a solar farm and battery storage plant.

Amid frustration with state laws that limit their ability to vote down solar farms, McHenry County officials are considering a new fee on solar farm developers to cover the impact of their construction on county roads.

From Capitol News Illinois: The POWER Act, an expansive bill to regulate data centers, will not pass the General Assembly this spring, but the bill’s leaders say the measure isn’t dead and negotiations will continue through the summer

A residential home in McHenry that sold for $755,000 nears the top of the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in McHenry County in the past week.

Huntley senior Will Geske tied for seventh at the Class 2A boys tennis state tournament, while McHenry, Jacobs, Marengo, Richmond-Burton and Burlington Central baseball all lost in regional finals Saturday. Read more in the Northwest Herald roundup.