As another group of freshly graduated college students enters the job market, challenging times may be ahead with slow hiring rates across the country.

Hundreds of people stood along both sides of the Union Pacific tracks on Wallace Street in downtown Sterling on Tuesday to get a look at Union Pacific’s Big Boy 4014 as it made its way east on a coast-to-coast tour to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States.

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

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.

A residence in Dixon that sold for $350,000 nears the top of the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Lee County / Whiteside in the past week

In recognition of Infrastructure Week, Illinois American Water is highlighting significant investments underway in Sterling to strengthen water service, enhance reliability, and support long-term system performance for customers.

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

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

A Sterling man has been charged with home invasion and battery following a Thursday incident at a West Fifth Street residence

MANDRELL: From the vision of Pete Dillon and the founding board, who worked tirelessly to establish the college, to the graduates of the Class of 2026, the college’s history is filled with remarkable examples of overcoming challenges, pursuing opportunity, and changing lives.

A Sterling developer, accused in civil court of siphoning money from the Rock Falls company he co-owns, has lost the Amcore Bank property in foreclosure, according to a Whiteside County court ruling.

Here's a list of Whiteside County property transfers for May 18-22, 2026

Here's a list of Lee, Whiteside and Ogle county property transfers for May 11-15.

The new initiative's goal is to create a more informed and inclusive community for people living with dementia.

Cash prizes are up for grabs for the winners of Woodlawn Arts Academy’s 18th annual Juried Art Exhibit. The academy is now accepting fine art and photography entries from adults as well as children in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Let’s Feed Our Children, the free summer meal program that has grown into one of the most far-reaching child hunger programs in the area, begins its 2026 season on Wednesday, May 27, and runs weekly through Wednesday, Aug. 5.

Here's a list of Whiteside County property transfers for May 11-15, 2026.

The Whiteside Area Career Center’s Health Occupations students have earned a 100% pass rate on the Certified Nursing Assistant exam, according to a news release.

A single-family home in Compton that sold for $320,000 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Lee County / Whiteside over the past week

Here's a list of Lee, Whiteside and Ogle counties' property transfers for May 4-8, 2026.

A Morrison man was taken into custody on several meth charges Thursday after police officers, who were staking out his home, watched him retrieve a box containing 420 grams of meth from his front porch.

A Sterling man has been charged with armed violence, weapons and drug offenses, accused of unlawfully carrying a gun while walking on a Sterling city street while toting a large amount of fentanyl.

State Sen. Li Arellano Jr., R-Dixon, is encouraging students across the 37th District to stay engaged this summer by participating in his annual Summer Reading Program.

A Whiteside County judge again threw out a jury panel as concerns grow over how jurors are selected and outdated names remain in the system

The Lee, Carroll, Ogle, and Whiteside County farm bureaus, along with Country Financial, will host a crop marketing outlook at 7 p.m. June 17 at the Rock River Center in Oregon.

The Telegraph and Gazette honors the everyday heroes making a difference in the Sauk Valley through their hard work, kindness and dedication.

As of Jan. 1, 2028, it will be illegal to sell the invasive Bradford pear tree – also known as the Callery pear – in Illinois.

A Dixon man faces a charge of aggravated fleeing alongside several traffic violations alleged to have occurred in March in Sterling and Rock Falls

Whiteside County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched about 11:45 a.m. Saturday to a traffic crash involving a vehicle and a bicycle on U.S. 30 near Blue Goose Road, Whiteside County Sheriff John Booker said

The Fulton Historical Society is sponsoring a Tour of Homes from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, May 15, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 16. Five homes will be open to celebrate the historic to the contemporary.

Motorsports icon Jim Kramer will be the guest of honor at this year’s “The Big One” touch-a-truck event, which will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 30.

WACC is a cooperative endeavor of 16 member school districts and three parochial schools, educating students who come from five counties: Bureau, Carroll, Lee, Ogle and Whiteside.

Abate of Iowa, District 21, will host the 37th annual Blessing of the Bikes at 1 p.m. Sunday, June 7, in downtown Fulton.

A single-family home in Sterling that sold for $360,000 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Lee County / Whiteside over the past week.

Here's a list of Lee, Whiteside and Ogle county property transfers for April 27 to May 1, 2026.

From packed tour buses to rising conversion numbers, clergy across Illinois say the first American-born pope is energizing Catholics one year after his election

A Cook County man faces nine felony charges – including burglary, theft, and forgery – after authorities say he stole merchandise from the Sterling Menards store and paid over $1,600 to the store using a forged check.

It will be an open forum meeting with breakfast and hot coffee, as the group discusses topics such as local and abroad news.

A Sterling man was sentenced to six years in prison Tuesday after admitting he set a 2023 Sterling house fire in the middle of the night after learning a registered sex offender lived there

The annual award seeks to recognize outstanding educators who go above and beyond for their students.

A Rock Falls man accused of firing a gun into a car will stay out of jail on pretrial release under strict home monitoring, including video doorbells at every entrance.

The menu will include pancakes, sausage, orange juice, milk and coffee for a donation to the fire department. Donations will be used to provide and maintain proper equipment and tools to perform the services the fire department provides to Morrison and surrounding areas.

Here's a list of Whiteside County property transfers for April 27 to May 1, 2026.

Full Throttle Monster Trucks will be at the fair Thursday, Aug. 20, and the famous Bigfoot truck will be on the track.

Resthave Care and Rehabilitation in Morrison has recently received several generous donations.

A single-family home in Dixon that sold for $405,000 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Lee County / Whiteside in the past week

The 4-mile work zone is from Emerson Road to Galt Road and includes the U.S. 30 connector to Interstate 88.

Ebenezer Reformed Church in Morrison will host a presentation titled “Rise Up Again” on Tuesday, May 12, following the church’s mother-daughter dinner.