Area spellers challenge themselves as they compete in the McHenry County Regional Office of Education’s 2025 Spelling Bee on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at Bernotas Middle School in Crystal Lake. The 21 contestants are vying for a spot in the 100th Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Road conditions were worsening and many McHenry County schools called off after-school activities Wednesday as snow began piling up on its way to a possible half a foot of accumulation.

McHenry County schools joined districts throughout northern Illinois and called off school on Tuesday.

Meet the 2024 Northwest Herald All-Area football team.

This week, the Illinois State Board of Education released school- and district-level data showing what percentage of McHenry County students were considered proficient in math and reading last year. Check out this chart to see if that's an improvement over the prior year.

Students from schools throughout northern Illinois learn about and gets hands-on experience with various industries earlier this month during SkillsUSA Illinois' first Industry Pathways Career Experience event at Johnsburg High School.

Rylie Hope Mogan of Hebron died at 21 of cancer. Her mother and other loved ones now carry on her mission of providing care packages to other young cancer patients through the group Hope for Warriors.

Motivational influencer Jordan Toma spoke at several McHenry County high schools this week with a message of positivity and perseverance.

Notable McHenry County-area deaths of 2023

Take a look back at Northwest Herald photojournalist Gregory Shaver's 15 favorite photos from 2023, and why he chose them. The images were selected from more than 4,000 photographs that were published in the Northwest Herald in 2023.

Alden-Hebron District 19 atudents and community members honor veterans during the Veterans Day ceremony on Wednesday, Nov.8, 2023, at Alden-Hebron High School in Hebron.

Disparities in absenteeism appear in most McHenry County school districts when the data are broken down by race and in comparing students with disabilities.

Nearly four dozen of the local races in McHenry County will be competitive on Tuesday, as voters head to the polls to decide who will lead their school boards, municipalities, libraries and parks.

Alden-Hebron High School announced its students named to the high honor roll and honor roll for the first semester of the 2022 to 2023 academic year.

All McHenry County schools not already on winter break have closed or will dismiss early on Thursday due to the impending snow.

A list of those who are running for school board across McHenry County

Voting has ended in Tuesday’s election, including on a nearly $16 million bond for Alden-Hebron School District 19 to help improve its school buildings and a $1 million road bond for Dunham Township.

Several McHenry County, state and federal races are on the ballot in this year's midterm, including the governor's race and an amendment to the Illinois Constitution.

Alden-Hebron School District 19 is asking voters to approve a $15.9 million bond referendum on Tuesday to address needs in its aging high and middle school building.

Search this chart to see what designation all McHenry County and Community School District 300 schools received

Nunda Masonic Lodge No. 169 awarded a vocational training grant award of $1,000 to Alden-Hebron High School graduate Monique Addison.

Josh Stevens took over as library board president and head librarian during COVID-19 and he's putting his stamp on the privately funded public library.

A diminished police force in the village of Hebron has raised concerns from Alden-Hebron School District 19′s leadership over its ability to maintain a safe environment for students.

Leadership Greater McHenry County announced its Youth Class of 2023, which pairs students from every high school in the county with a community member or Leadership Greater McHenry County alum.

A TikTok post threatening schools nationwide with violence as led Algonquin-based Community Unit School District 300 and other suburban school districts to increase their security measures Friday.

Multiple McHenry County school districts have experienced threats or other incidents in the wake of the Michigan shooting that killed four

"The dance was so much fun, and I think everyone now prefers having it outside," one student said

Here are the preview capsules for Northwest Herald area football teams for Week 7.

Most districts have vaccinated at least 75% of their staff members, they reported Monday after Pritzker’s deadline for staff vaccinations took effect

The first day of school is quickly approaching for McHenry County students, but with federal and state guidance less than a week old, many McHenry County school districts said they’re still finalizing some details.

Current principal Tiffany Elswick taking over as Alden-Hebron School District 19 superintendent

Candidates discuss the district’s COVID-19 response as well as what should be done about a failed 2019 referendum to renovate the high school building

National Weather Service reports 4 inches of snow in McHenry, 3.5 inches in Richmond

School districts remaining remote Tuesday in light of weather include Crystal Lake District 47, Community High School District 155

Elswick spent time as McHenry School District 15 teacher, administrator before joining Alden-Hebron

Citing “too many unknowns” about the upcoming school year, Richmond-Burton Community High School District 157 and Nippersink School District 2 will conduct their first quarters remotely, Superintendent Tom Lind said in a letter Thursday.