Yorkville took another step forward before groundbreaking on its transformative $4. 3 million downtown revitalization project. A music stage, an events plaza, and renovated businesses and walkways are all part of the vision for a rejuvenated downtown district.

The Fox Valley Native American Artifact Show is returning to Yorkville on Sunday, Oct. 5. The show is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Admission is free and members of the public are encouraged to bring their own Native American artifacts. A food truck will be on-site.

School District 115 filed an application with the city of Yorkville to annex and rezone the property. The district is also requesting to rezone 45 acres of land it already owns on the high school property.

Multiple vehicles in the garage were found to be engulfed in flames, according to the Little Rock-Fox Fire Protection District.

To celebrate their grand opening, the owners of Nothing Bundt Cakes in Yorkville are hosting a fundraiser for Cal’s Angels, a pediatric cancer nonprofit. You can also receive free cakes for a year.

Two people from Plano and a man from Aurora have been charged with multiple felonies following an investigation into an alleged chicken fighting ring in Kendall County.

Yorkville is updating their fines for mowing vacant lots and property’s in violation of letting their weeds and grass grow more than 8 inches in height.

Conservative political leaders held a memorial for Charlie Kirk in downtown Yorkville on Sept. 27. The memorial, at times sermon-like, also featured Republican Darren Bailey launching his tour for governor.

District 115 Superintendent Matt Zediker gave a presentation on the district’s progress. “Today is about strengthening the connection that our district has with our community and our business community,” he said.

2026 looks to be another big year for roadwork and resurfacing in Yorkville. Here’s where you can expect to see construction crews.

The development features 36 one-bedroom and 12 two-bedroom units, located at 1356 Sycamore Road in Yorkville.

The popular festival hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Yorkville, is returning to downtown Yorkville on Friday, Sept. 26 and Saturday, Sept. 27, replete with craft brews, authentic German food, and live music, including an interactive German-style folk band.

The discussion will be preceded by a presentation on the matter by the Yorkville Police Department and the Kendall County Health Department during the Sept. 23 meeting at City Hall.

Sometimes opening up a new business is a leap of faith, sometimes it’s a promise. For new Vanessa and Virginia Vences, “Pinky Promise Boba” perfectly captures the sentiments of saying hello to the Plano community.

Verlo Mattress Factory is opening a location in Yorkville this October. The business offers individually built-to-order mattresses, made from American-sourced materials, with a lifetime comfort guarantee.

Chapel on the Green in Yorkville is looking for speakers for this year’s Annual Veteran’s Day Tribute on Nov. 9.

CyrusOne, the developers who teamed up with Green Door Capital for Yorkville’s first data center plans, are back with another proposal. The developers are eyeing another 128 acres of land.

Yorkville High School is being awarded a $5,000 prize to its football program through the T-Mobile Friday Night 5G Lights program.

The Kendall County Coroner’s Office released a statement on the June death of Yorkville resident Aiyana Williams, 16, saying “a definitive cause or manner of death cannot be established at this time.”

Roackabilly music, a pin-up pageant, dirt drag races and shiny jalopies of all types brought the crowd to Jalopy Fest on Sept. 12 and 13 at the Kendall County Fairgrounds in Yorkville.

Two drivers were transported to a local hospital following a crash on Illinois Route 47 near Yorkville on Sunday evening. The roadway was closed by the Illinois State Police for around three hours.

A homeless individual in Yorkville is claiming he has been repeatedly assaulted, received death threats, and experienced verbal harassment from members of the public since the city passed an ordinance to fine and possibly imprison those “public camping.”

The Kendall County Animal Control and Adoption Center is housing 30 dogs, 59 cats, and two rabbits, all in one building.

Equine Dreams recently was awarded a $23,619 grant from the Northwestern Medicine community benefit grant program to support the construction of an accessible tack room.

The Grundy County Chamber announced Wednesday that Gilted Edge Winery, 9396 Plattville Road in Newark, is joining the chamber.

A pickup truck driver was airlifted in critical condition following a head on crash with a semi-truck on Illinois Route 71 north of Newark in Kendall County.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood of Naperville has one fewer potential Republican challenger to worry about in 2026.

The Ottawa softball team had four of its members named to the Interstate 8 All-Conference team, while the Little Ten and Kishwaukee River Conferences released all-league teams.

Newark Grade School participated in Camp 911 on May 9, a program begun in 2015 by retired Newark School District nurse Karen Sapsford. Firefighters and EMTs from the Newark Fire Department along with deputies from the Kendall County Sheriff's Office brought their equipment to show students, while nurses from Rush Copley Medical Center in Yorkville taught students first aid. 

The family-owned Ruby 2 Clean travels to many counties in Illinois to offer cleaning and restoration services. In 2024, Ruby 2 Clean was voted a winner in three categories of The Best of the Illinois Valley.

Toby Steffen was named state winner of the Specialty Crop Production category of the State FFA Awards Day. Logan Bols placed second in the Forage Production category. Both Steffen and Bols are members of the Newark FFA Chapter.

The Kendall County Community Food Pantry serves not only Kendall County, but DeKalb and LaSalle counties as well. It serves an average of 450 families a week.

For the Fall 2024 semester, the following students were named to the Academic Honors list at Illinois Valley Community College. 

Schools in and around La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties have announced closures and e-learning days ahead of a predicted snowstorm Wednesday.

Check trick-or-treat times for communities in and near La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties.

A total of 166 students earned 200 degrees and certificates at Illinois Valley Community College in Summer 2024. Here is a listing of those graduates by their hometown.

Werk Force Brewing Co. in Plainfield creates a new stein each fall, with the latest edition to debut at Werktoberfest from Sept. 19-22.

A Newark man died Saturday following a single-vehicle motorcycle crash near Belle River Drive and East 30th Road in Northville Township in La Salle County.

Feature: Pistol Shrimp's Joseph Martin

Ty Steffen, a member of the Newark FFA Chapter in Illinois, has been selected as one of four finalists for the American Star Farmer award by the National FFA Organization.

Newark will celebrate Independence Day with a parade and several community activities.

A fire caused significant damage to a home Friday in the 100 block of East Lincoln Street in Seneca.

A number of neighboring departments assisted the Seneca Fire Department in extinguishing a two-story house fire on South Hossack Street.

U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Naperville, visited Newark’s Village Hall recently to announce a $369,000 federal grant. The funds are for the rehab and painting of the water tank at the north side pump/water facility.

Kendall County Food Pantry will get $763,500 to rehabilitate the pantry’s facility.

U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Naperville, announced $12,662,536 in Community Project Funding secured for Illinois’s 14th District in the 2024 appropriations bills was finalized Saturday, including projects in Ottawa, La Salle and Newark totaling $1,869,000.

Joe Steffen, of Newark, was the District 2 finalist for the Illinois’ 2023-2024 Golden Owl Award.

State Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, said Gov. JB Pritzker’s budget puts too much priority on migrants over the needs of Illinois families.

State Rep. Jed Davis, R-Newark, collaborated with health care providers, parents and state agencies in drafting the bill.

A variety of activities from a multiple-museum tour to swing dancing are set this weekend in the Illinois Valley.