Officials believe a lightning strike Thursday morning could be responsible for a fire in a residential section of Sycamore that impacted power in the area.

KVAL’s next general meeting is set for 7 p.m. April 2 at the gallery. The league will present awards honoring DeKalb and Sycamore high school students as part of its “Art of Giving” program

A crowd of about 80 people led by several area Christian pastors began Holy Week in Sycamore on Sunday by affirming that Jesus was a brown-skinned immigrant who stood up for the poor, fed the hungry, peacefully protested violence and called out injustice.

Check out some pictures captured by Shaw Local photographers from some of the Daily Chronicle's top news and sports stories this week: March 23-29, 2026.

The late DeKalb County sheriff’s deputy Christina Musil is being remembered two years after she was killed in a DUI crash while on duty.

A new scholarship is honoring the memory of longtime DeKalb police officer Jim Rhoades, and will support DeKalb High School graduates pursuing careers in law enforcement.

The DeKalb County History Center recently announced that it will close its “Food: Gathering Around the Table” exhibit on April 4.

Catch up on the week’s top DeKalb County news in minutes for the week of March 22-28. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Part of downtown Sycamore’s historic district was created by a woman who broke glass ceilings in DeKalb County decades before the women’s suffrage movement. Dr. Letitia Westgate, from Hampshire, also later became Aurora's first woman chemist.

DeKalb County area ministers gathered congregants in Sycamore on Palm Sunday to sing and lead a procession and prayer service to combat the rise of Christian nationalism, which they said was at odds with the true teachings of Jesus, a Middle Eastern immigrant who led peaceful protests and stood against injustice.

St. John Lutheran Church will host a “Journey to the Cross” sensory learning event and walk for community members to learn about Christ’s Passion.

A McHenry man is accused of secretly filming people from a bathroom stall at a Sycamore grocery store, according to DeKalb County court filings.

Area faith leaders are organizing a Palm Sunday event and service Sunday outside the DeKalb County Courthouse, an event open to all that they said is meant to combat the rise of Christian nationalism.

Real estate news: The 2,871-square-foot Sycamore home, built in 1873, was sold for $685,000, or $239 per square foot

Families with children in kindergarten through fifth grade can attend a Super Mario Galaxy Celebration at the Sycamore Public Library to celebrate “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.”

First Lutheran Church’s Social Ministry Team will hold a steak dinner fundraiser on April 9 in partnership with Hy-Vee to support local charities.

Aaron Mercier, regional superintendent of schools for Carroll, Jo Daviess and Stephenson counties, retired March 17 after 15 years of service.

DeKalb County families can look forward to various festive egg hunts and family-friendly community events as Easter approaches on April 5.

Catch up on the week’s top DeKalb County news in minutes for the week of March 15-21. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Check out some of the top photos captured by Daily Chronicle photographers for Shaw Local News Network this week, March 16-20, 2026.

A new scholarship has been established in DeKalb County to honor a late Hiawatha High School teacher and support graduating seniors pursuing careers in education.

The Cook County Clerk’s office and multiple police departments are warning residents of a scam circulating that falsely claims a court order requiring payment for traffic violations.

The DeKalb County Community Foundation has announced new officer leadership for its Board of Directors following its January 2026 annual meeting.

Former Sycamore Fire Chief Bart Gilmore was placed on paid administrative leave a week before city officials informed the public of their decision to move on from nearly three years of Gilmore’s leadership at the Sycamore Fire Department, emails obtained by Shaw Local show.

Northern Rehab Physical Therapy Specialists and the Kishwaukee Family YMCA will hold a “Mobility and Injury Prevention” presentation for residents as part of its Lunch and Learn Educational Series.

Sycamore officials said nothing this week about what led to the change in leadership at the top of the Sycamore Fire Department during the first Sycamore City Council meeting since an interim Sycamore Fire Chief was hired.

Election judges at the one DeKalb County polling place that accepts voters from all area precincts saw about 40 voters just before 10 a.m. on Tuesday for the 2026 primary election. Follow along all night as Shaw Local reports Election Day results

DeKalb County Voters came out Tuesday to cast their ballots in the primary election.

Developing: Multiple DeKalb County schools have announced closures or online learning for Monday amid a blizzard warning as severe weather continues.

Sycamore Park District officials are seeking vendors to participate in the district’s music, art and drinking festival in July.

Catch up on the week’s top DeKalb County news in minutes for the week of March 8-14. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

A single-family residence in Sycamore that sold for $420,000 is near the top of the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in DeKalb County during the past week

The DeKalb County History Center will offer three screenings of the “Let the ‘Good Tymes’ Roll” documentary for community members to learn about community picnics held back in the 1970s and 1980s.

Column: Primary elections sometimes raise questions for voters, so I wanted to take a moment to walk through a few of the most common questions and share some helpful information for voters in DeKalb County, writes Clerk and Recorder Tasha Sims.

Check out some of the best pictures captured by Daily Chronicle photographers for Shaw Local News Network the week of March 6-12, 2026.

The Sycamore Public Library will host a Family History Drop-in for community members to do ancestry research in honor of National Genealogy Day.

The Sycamore Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended that the City Council approve a zoning change request that will impact an anticipated rebuild of Tom & Jerry’s restaurant. A Council vote is still needed.

The city of Sycamore swore in a new interim fire chief Tuesday in a ceremony that wasn’t publicized, days after an abrupt leadership change in the Sycamore Fire Department left many questions still unanswered.

A Sycamore restaurant recently impacted by fire will be returning to business at a new spot this month.

Check out some of the best pictures captured by Daily Chronicle photographers for Shaw Local News Network this week, March 2-8, 2026.

A new scholarship fund has been set up to honor the memory of Sycamore resident Ryan Charles “Vern” Hill.

Catch up on the week’s top DeKalb County news in minutes for the week of March 1-7. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Voluntary Action Center’s executive director announced plans to retire effective later this year, with a search for his replacement underway.

For the fourth hearing in a row, a Sycamore man accused of beating his parents to death in September refused to appear this week before a DeKalb County Circuit Court judge.

A single-family home in Sycamore that sold for $659,000 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in DeKalb County in the past week

The city of Sycamore on Friday issued a statement on fire department staffing, though the release doesn’t address the employment status of it’s highest paid department employee after it was confirmed Thursday that Fire Chief Bart Gilmore is out and an interim chief was in place.

From our Editorial Board: Sycamore officials issued a statement on fire department planning, but it didn’t address questions about Fire Chief Bart Gilmore. Shaw Local has filed Freedom of Information Act requests seeking answers.

The woman behind Tom & Jerry’s and Catering by Diann is asking Sycamore city officials to rezone the property at the now-demolished restaurant on DeKalb Avenue, part of a plan to rebuild after a fire, city documents show. Meanwhile, the restaurant reopens at its new spot Saturday

A Sycamore firefighter on Thursday confirmed that there’s a new interim fire chief in charge after online rumors circulated suggesting Fire Chief Bart Gilmore had been placed on leave. The city manager and mayor have refused to comment on Gilmore's employment status, however.

From our editorial board: Local government depends on trust. That trust is built not through carefully worded non-answers, but through clarity about how public institutions operate.