Sarah Safranek is accused of suffocating her son, Nathaniel Burton, in the family’s Oregon home in February 2021. An Ogle County judge on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, denied her request that a new judge preside over her case.

Hundreds of pages of emails have been unsealed in a felony public records destruction case against retired DeKalb County administrator Gary Hanson, ahead of an expected Oct. 14 hearing

A Carpentersville man who was shot by police in August after authorities said he called 911 seeking help, armed himself with a gun, and threatened officers, has been charged with armed violence and assaulting a police officer

Cheerleaders, marching band players and more paraded through downtown Sycamore on Wednesday for the 2025 Sycamore High School Homecoming parade.

Dixon’s OSF HealthCare Saint Katharine Medical Center is expanding with the opening of a new clinic in Sterling on Oct. 13, 2025.

“What businesses crave about all else is certainty,” Doug Pryor, president and chief executive officer of the Will County Center for Economic Development, said Wednesday. “This scenario creates additional uncertainty and that creates operational challenges for businesses.”

Smoke billowed from Marquis Energy as firefighters worked to control a structure fire on Wednesday, Oct. 8 in Hennepin. The fire was upgraded to a fifth alarm, dispatching the (MABAS) Mutual Aid Box Alarm System. The fire broke out around 11 a.m.

Without naming names, Kane County GOP Chairman Andro Lerario this month accused downstate Republicans of interfering with local choices for state offices. “There’s an assault on respect,” he said.

Six men, including five from Aurora, were charged with solicitation of a sexual act following an undercover police operation, authorities announced this week.

DeKalb Police Chief David Byrd confirmed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were in town Tuesday.

A 74-year-old woman is expected to survive getting struck by a vehicle outside a Joliet Walmart and the driver who hit her remains under investigation, police said.

It’s been a week since married couple Holly Schmidt and Gary Schmidt were found dead in their Sycamore home, and loved ones are planning a public visitation at St. John Lutheran Church in their memory on Thursday.

The Sterling City Council unanimously OK'd an ordinance Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, that will map a portion of the city as a River Edge Redevelopment Zone, an action that could provide up to $50 million in tax incentives for economic development along the city's riverfront.

DeKalb-based Safe Passage, a nonprofit social service agency that supports those impacted by domestic violence, will host its annual Survivor Speak Out and Vigil tonight. More on that and other events in October for Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Hundreds of members of the Texas National Guard began setting up camp at a training site for the Illinois National Guard at 20612 Arsenal Road in Elwood on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025. The guard is getting prepared for its deployment by the Trump administration to Chicago. https://www.shawlocal.com/news/2025/10/07/will-county-becomes-staging-area-for-texas-national-guard/

The Geneva City Council approved amendments to economic incentive agreements to the new owner of 214-218 and 220-222 W. State St. for improvements to those historic buildings.

Plans for a new Amoco gas station with a convenience store to set up shop in DeKalb’s Fourth Street corridor moved one step closer to reality Monday night.

Community Shoe Box, a DeKalb charity organization that aims to provide free shoes to all with no questions asked, has closed for good, its lead organizer announced.

The Illinois Department of Transportation has announced that construction on two Illinois 84 bridges in Whiteside County will begin Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. The project will clean and paint the bridges.

A Streamwood woman was killed Saturday, Oct. 4, in a two-vehicle crash on Pines Road, between Oregon and Polo.

Dozens came together Monday in DeKalb to create a safe space for those impacted by domestic violence at Safe Passage’s annual domestic violence candlelight vigil. Among locals remembered were Sycamore couple Holly Schmidt and Gary Schmidt.

Geneva Lutheran Church hosted a pet blessing over the weekend, inviting community members to bring animals of all kinds to partake.

The book is being closed on a Momence employment fixture as book publisher Baker & Taylor informed workers Monday the site is being closed.

A Polo man was sentenced Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, to 5 years in prison for a January 2022 crash on a Sterling bridge that killed a pedestrian and injured a police officer.

Robert Barrett, 80, of Bolingbrook was killed in a two-vehicle crash Sunday evening at the intersection of Veterans Parkway and Grady Drive.

The Rochelle Police Department responded to a shots fired call on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, a Monday news release said.

A preliminary investigation indicates a man on a skateboard was heading south on Heggs Road when he was struck by a gray Nissan Rogue traveling in the same direction, police said.

A man in Joliet is expected to survive a gunshot wound to the groin, police said.

DeKalb School District 428 has launched a community survey as it embarks on a search for a new superintendent, and district stakeholders are encouraged to weigh in.

The new high-speed chargers are available for public use at any time or day 24/7 and can be paid through an app or with a card at the station.

The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call around 10:45 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, reporting an airplane crash near Apple Hill Road, south of Mount Carroll, according to a news release.

Kane County Circuit Judge Elizabeth Flood ruled this week that Geneva developer Shodeen Group cannot evade the city’s legal right to enforce property code standards. The dispute began over the city's insistence that a tarp be placed on top of an 1840s blacksmith shop.

An Aurora man pleaded guilty to armed violence in a 2023 violent stabbing attack and was sentenced in turn to 25 years in prison, according to the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Sycamore married couple Gary Schmidt and Holly Schmidt are being remembered for their love of animals, enduring community spirit and how they “gave so openly." A GoFundMe campaign is raising money to support their family.

A motorcyclist was killed early Friday morning in an crash at 119th and Route 30 in Plainfield.

The Pretrial Fairness Act, also known as the cashless bail system, implemented in September 2023, resulted in an increase in the Kane County jail population from people not showing up to court, Sheriff Ron Hain said. But the Illinois ACLU director called Hain's comments "dubious"

A 14-year-old student was charged this week after Aurora police said an online threat he made directed at Marmion Academy ended up not being a threat at all.

Nathan Sandell, 34, faces charges of aggravated fleeing to elude, theft over $500, and possession of a stolen vehicle, according to a news release issued by Whiteside County Sheriff John Booker

Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser announced today that her office will not pursue charges against North Aurora police officers involved in the in-custody death of Jorge Valerio Martinez.

Joliet Central students are being dismissed at 1:15 p.m. following normal dismissal procedures, according to Joliet Township High School District 204.

Illinois State Police arrested 47-year-old Nathan D. Rodgers, of Momence, for allegedly being in possession of child sexual abuse material Thursday.

The Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office investigated an alleged road rage Wednesday that ended with the arrest of 19-year-old Krishaun C. Mays, of Kankakee.

DeKalb man Jeremy Westbrook was sentenced by a judge Thursday to almost 100 years in prison for repeatedly sexually assaulting a child. The sentence came about a decade after his arrest and years of questions over his mental fitness, records show

Bradley police said they continue to investigate a shots fired incident that occurred during an attempted burglary Thursday.

The award builds on Dixon’s earlier success in securing a $13 million federal grant for the project. Rising construction costs in recent years created a funding gap, but the new state grant ensures Project Rock can now move forward without delay, city officials said.

The 2025 Dixon High School Homecoming Parade will begin at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3. Motorists should expect the route to be closed off to traffic for about one hour and are asked to use alternate routes.

Dale Berman, former Kane County Board member and longtime North Aurora village president, died Thursday morning.

DeKalb County Engineer Nathan Schwartz said the next phase of the Peace Road widening project, which would focus on the area from Freed Road to Main Street in Sycamore, likely won’t commence until 2028.

Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry and Clothes Closet opened its doors at a new location on Oct. 1, after a weekend-long move with the help of community members.

Downtown DeKalb has a new spot for steaks and other food, after Florentino’s Charhouse opened this month.