To better serve students and families in a space of their own, DeKalb School District 428 this week finalized the purchase of Mitchell Elementary School just in time for the start of classes this fall.

A developer’s 3-year-old plan to build 40 luxury-style townhomes on the south side of Sycamore, now called Hathaway Gardens Subdivision, moved one step closer to fruition Monday, though it still needs approval from the City Council.

The owner of land annexed into Sycamore in June presented his latest plans to bring commercial and residential developments this week to city officials.

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State Rep. Amy “Murri” Briel, D-Ottawa, held a town hall Friday at Northern Illinois University’s Holmes Student Center in DeKalb. Briel will be hosting town halls later this year in Oglesby and Utica.

DeKalb District 428 could close early and under budget on a purchase agreement to secure the ownership to Mitchell Elementary School just in time for the start of classes this fall. The building used to house NIU's School of Nursing.

Plans for Heartland Bank to build a new drive-thru facility along Grove Street received preliminary support from DeKalb city leaders this week.

A DeKalb cannabis dispensary has been given the green light this week to move forward with plans to open a tasting room. “We also want to use it as a means to bring the community together as well to use it as an education for cannabis," owner Maria Davis said.

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Kassandra Santos, of DeKalb, mother of 1-year-old Marely Chavarria Santos, worries about what the future holds in light of recent legislation that calls for cuts in Medicaid. Marley, who had a heart transplant and suffers from other health issues, requires round-the-clock care much of which is covered by Medicaid.

Officials with DeKalb schools recently said they’ve been engaged with Sycamore district leaders over a possible agreement that could help both districts utilize new space to benefit pre-kindergarten students.