Businesses on the historic Woodstock Square and in the surrounding downtown area will represent a different country, each offering a small drink paired with a themed bite.

From Capitol News Illinois: A federal judge on Monday officially closed the book on a lawsuit filed against the Trump administration last fall when the White House ordered 500 National Guard troops to Chicago as the “Operation Midway Blitz” mass deportation campaign escalated

Konstantinos Siambanis sent Marengo baseball past Johnsburg on a walk-off hit, Crystal Lake South baseball held off Crystal Lake Central, Hampshire softball rallied past McHenry, Johnsburg, Harvard and Richmond-Burton girls soccer all won, and more in the roundup.

Firefighters responding to a call in Lake in the Hills discovered a deceased male inside Monday.

Crystal Lake Central face Prairie Ridge in a Fox Valley Conference softball game on Monday, April 20, 2026, at Prairie Ridge High School.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and some teammates met with reporters at Halas Hall in Lake Forest on Monday as the team started its offseason workout program. Here are four of the most interesting things the Bears said Monday.

Authorities have identified a man who was found dead in a Woodstock homeless encampment and determined whether it was a natural death.

The Chicago Bears will reportedly pick up the fifth-year option of right tackle Darnell Wright.

Firefighters doused a blaze that broke out late Sunday in a Crystal Lake home.

Jacobs senior Andrew Deegan reached base five times the hard way against Burlington Central on Friday. He was hit by a pitch five times in as many at-bats, tying the national record. Plus more in this week's McHenry County baseball notes.

A 1,749-square-foot residential property, built in 2000, has changed hands.

Crystal Lake Central co-op's Anna Starr scored 19 goals in three wins against St. Charles East co-op, Hampshire co-op and Lincoln-Way Central co-op and surpassed 300 in her career. Starr is the Northwest Herald Athlete of the Week.

Across the suburbs and throughout the region, you’ll find fascinating spots dedicated to art, history, science and unique local stories.

The family of a Crystal Lake man claims a Woodstock cinema left him inside a dark theater, causing him to fall and leading to his death about a week later.

After initial skepticism, Lake in the Hills officials have given the go-ahead for a new car wash on Randall Road.

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 April 12-18

In addition to the regulations on e-bikes and e-motos, the bill also places restrictions on e-scooters, electric skateboards, and motorized unicycles. They could not exceed 28 mph on roads, bike lanes, bike paths or sidewalks

From Capitol News Illinois: An Illinois House committee got an overview this week of how data centers are driving up energy demand and threatening potential shortfalls in the second of three planned hearings on the matter.

A residential home in Prairie Grove that sold for $630,000 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in McHenry County during the past week.

Huntley baseball beat Bartlett on Tommy Gasner's walk-off single. Alden-Hebron baseball edged Earlville on a walk-off wild pitch. Hampshire won the Larkin Slugfest. Crystal Lake Central and Richmond-Burton girls soccer scored wins, and more in the roundup.

Hampshire scored 35 runs over three games in cruising to the title at the Larkin Slugfest on Saturday.

Leaning on his slider, Jack Reina struck out seven batters over four innings of one-hit baseball as Prairie Ridge, which tallied seven runs in the fourth inning, cruised for an 11-0 win over Marengo in nonconference play Saturday.

A car veered off Route 14 in Woodstock on Saturday and hit several cars in the Culver's parking lot.

The McHenry Township Fire Protection District is eyeing projects including a new fire station and a training center for firefighters.

A residential home in McHenry that sold for $270,000 is leading the list of the best real estate deals in McHenry County in the past week

Utility work in anticipation of the Kreutzer Road widening in Huntley is due to begin next week, Village Manager Dave Johnson said Thursday.

A Crystal Lake man has been accused of 10 thefts this year in McHenry and Kane counties and elsewhere, officials say, and they blame the state's criminal justice reforms for him not being locked up.

Naperville North flexed its muscle Friday night by winning its own Gus Scott Invitational. Cary-Grove was second, while Wheaton Warrenville South took third and Jacobs was fourth.

The Bishop McNamara baseball team scored 18 runs for the second straight game as the Fightin' Irish defeated Marian Central 18-3 at home Friday, April 17, 2026.

The Naperville North girls came from behind to win its own Gus Scott Invite, while Cary-Grove placed second and Waubonsie Valley and Wheaton Warrenville South tied for third.

As tornadoes hit Northern Illinois, millions are turning to livestreaming weather creators instead of traditional forecasts — raising new questions about how people stay safe

Marian Central's Christine Chmiel tossed a six-inning no-hitter against Timothy Christian, Crystal Lake South softball earned its first conference win of the season, Huntley baseball improved to 12-1, and more in Friday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Jacobs' twins Jowell and Aaden Colon combined on a six-hit shutout, Andrew Deegan was hit by a pitch five times, and the Golden Eagles beat Burlington Central 6-0 in a Fox Valley Conference baseball game Friday in Burlington.

For the second straight game, the Fightin' Irish tallied 18 runs while Callaghan O'Connor was sharp on the bump to allow Bishop McNamara an 18-3 home victory Friday.

Huntley faces Crystal Lake Central co-op in a Fox Valley Conference girls lacrosse match on Friday, April 17, 2026, at Crystal Lake Central High School.

Much of northern Illinois has been placed under a tornado watch until 8 p.m. Friday. A Level 3 severe risk brings strong storms, hail and possible tornadoes to northern Illinois on Friday evening.

From Capitol News Illinois: The Illinois House and Senate approved hundreds of bills this week ahead of a Friday deadline, including a plan proposed by Gov. JB Pritzker to limit cell phones in schools

Prospective homebuyers considering the real estate market had a range of options in various neighborhoods throughout the region in the past week. We outline recent property sales in McHenry County, all of which featured properties at the price point of $300,000 or under.

A man is facing new felony charges just months after he was paroled from prison for burglarizing a Lakewood home, stealing from a vehicle in Crystal Lake and participating in mob action in Cary.

The Chicago Bears could go in a few directions at No. 25 in next week's NFL draft. Shaw Local's Michal Dwojak and Joe Aguilar break down what some of those options are and who the Bears could draft

These four comedians will bring honest, high-energy stand-up that taps into the wild world of parenting, the chaos of midlife, dating, marriage and more.

The Chicago Bears could go in multiple directions with their first-round selection in next week's NFL draft. Here's Shaw Local’s Michal Dwojak second and final mock draft as he tried to figure out how the first round will unfold.

Ray Hannemann hit the go-ahead RBI single in the seventh to lift Richmond-Burton's baseball team past Woodstock in Kishwaukee River Conference action. Jackson Hatfield homered twice for Marian Central. Plus, more baseball, softball, soccer in Thursday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Richmond-Burton faces Woodstock North in a Kishwaukee River Conference softball game on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at Woodstock North High School.

A Milwaukee woman is accused of stealing perfume and cologne from Ulta stores in McHenry County and has past retail theft convictions in Wisconsin and Illinois, according to authorities and court records.

From Capitol News Illinois: Public school teachers in Illinois may soon have to add Latin Americans to the list of ethnic groups whose contributions to American history and culture must be taught in class

While on pretrial release for driving on a revoked license, a McHenry man with 29 prior convictions, including four for domestic batteries, is accused of abusing a woman - again, according to authorities.

QuikTrip - not to be confused with Kwik Trip – could be debuting in at a location off Route 25 in Algonquin.

From Capitol News Illinois: The bill would also require social media platforms to have default privacy settings for minors that would stop addictive feeds, location sharing and transactions with digital currency

From Capitol News Illinois: Ad campaign highlights 2-year fight between retailer and finance lobbies