Jeffrey E. Phillips, 46, was denied pretrial release Wednesday, June 3 following a detention hearing.

Illinois Wesleyan University’s dean’s list for the spring semester of the 2025-26 academic year consisted of 883 students from 29 states and 18 countries.

Ogle County Collector Tiffany O’Brien is reminding property owners that the first installment of their property tax bill is due Monday, June 8.

A Shining Hope luncheon fundraiser in Oregon raised $8,000 to support local nonprofits Shining Star Children’s Advocacy Center and HOPE of Ogle County.

Summer is here and the historic Mt. Morris Campus will again be coming alive with free concerts on Wednesday and Friday nights.

Zoe Zinke of Stillman Valley was recently named to the dean’s list at Missouri State University.

Here's a list of Lee, Whiteside, and Ogle counties' property transfers for May 25-29, 2026.

As a lifelong Bears fan who wants the team to stay in Illinois, I refused to vote for any bill that gave special tax breaks to a billionaire franchise while everyday Illinois taxpayers are drowning in the second highest property taxes in America.

Several Sauk Valley-area fire departments are receiving grants through the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office’s 2026 Small Equipment Grant Program.

Ogle County sheriff's deputies, the Winnebago County bomb squad, and the ATF were called Thursday night to a rural subdivision north of Oregon.

Judge grants prosecutors’ objection to expert testimony from veterinarians, but rules defense attorneys are free to call the civilians they want to testify.

A signing ceremony was held June 4 to establish the HOPE of Ogle County Domestic Violence Support Fund through the Rochelle Area Community Foundation.

Vacation Bible School is coming soon to the Evangelical Free Church of Mt. Morris.

The Flagg-Rochelle Public Library's HVAC replacement project is done, and the library is ready to welcome patrons for its summer reading program, Director Sarah Flanagan writes.

Jack McKanna of Mt. Morris graduated from Cedarville University in spring 2026 with an undergraduate degree.

Ogle Co. Cowboy Church is offering a Church in the Dirt (CND) opportunity June 14 at Ogle County Fairgrounds.

Forreston fell behind early and never recovered in a 10-7 loss to Galena at the 1A Forreston Sectional on Wednesday, June 3, 2026. Galena plays Dakota for the sectional title on Saturday, June 6, at Forreston High School.

Each year, the Polo Lions Club partners with the keynote speaker of their annual Farmers’ Night to support youth programming in the area.

Kable Band concerts begin Wednesday, June 10, and continue each Wednesday night through the summer in Mt. Morris.

The Creston Village Board of Trustees on June 2 discussed plans for festivities on Friday, July 17, in honor of America’s 250th birthday.

Stillman Bank is hosting a community-wide food drive to help support local families in need.

William Haas of Rochelle served in the United States Army from 1970-1972. Most of his service was spent in Okinawa, Japan, during the Vietnam War. 

AI, AI, that’s all one hears about lately. AI is presented as the next greatest deal since sliced bread. So what is the fuss all about?

The Ogle County Planning & Zoning Department recently released zoning certificates it issued in May.

U.S. Congressman Darin LaHood, R-Peoria, visited Rochelle and Ogle County on May 28 and met with city and county officials.

The Coliseum Museum in Oregon recently announced the opening of the second annual Around the Farm art exhibit featuring 35 artists from across the northern Illinois area, on display from June 6-July 18.

Crowds flocked to the Rochelle Railroad Park to see the Union Pacific's Big Boy 4014 steam locomotive on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.

Over 2,000 people are estimated to have come to the Rochelle Railroad Park on Tuesday to see the Union Pacific’s Big Boy 4014 steam locomotive make a whistle stop.

The Ogle County Solid Waste Management Department will host a residential electronics recycling event Friday, June 26.

A grand reopening and ribbon cutting were held May 29 for The Blackstone Bar & Grill in Rochelle.

Backyard memories don’t just happen, they’re built over time. A Freeport business is helping families turn pools, hot tubs and more into spaces for connection, relaxation and lasting moments.

Teachers are asking the same questions on technology: What is changing, and how do we keep up? A Dixon educator is helping them find answers, even as the technology keeps shifting beneath him.

Full closure of the Bollman Road Bridge, which carries traffic over Interstate 88 in Lee County, began Monday, June 1, to allow for bridge repair work.

The University of Dubuque recently named Ogle County students to its spring semester 2026 academic dean’s list.

The Oregon Lions Club recently heard a presentation on the After Teen Lounge in Oregon and made a donation to the organization.

The Ogle County Historical Society recently received a donation from Harvard State Bank in support of a time capsule project to commemorate the country’s 250th anniversary.

Ogle County recently released the marriage licenses it issued in May.

Here's a list of events happening at the Mt. Morris Senior & Community Center.

More than 3,500 students at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater earned a spot on the dean’s list for the spring 2026 semester.

The Ogle County Educational Cooperative recently recognized three staff members with a total of 55 years of service.

Here's a list of Ogle County property transfers for May 25 to 29, 2026.

The Leaf River Soaring Eagles 4-H Club collected nonperishable food supplies to donate to the local mini food center.

Nancy Kerwin was a beloved early childhood teacher whose commitment to children and their early education has been memorialized with a free Little Library, bench, and children’s seating area.

Brett A. Barnes, 42, pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and was sentenced to concurrent sentences of 4 years' probation.

Here's a list of Lee, Whiteside, and Ogle property transfers for May 18-22, 2026.

A single-family home in Rochelle that sold for $215,000 nears the top of the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Ogle County in the past week.

Coe College is recognizing its highest performing students as members of the spring 2026 dean’s list, including Kamryn Stockton of Polo.

Riverdale defeated Byron 11-8 to win the 2A Byron Regional on Saturday, May 30, 2026, and advance to the sectional.

Honored students earned a grade-point average of 3.4 or above in a single semester.

Stark and Tazewell counties had the state’s top average corn and soybean yields, respectively, in 2025.