The Chicago area has been a fertile ground for Winter Olympians over the years, from champion figure skaters to fearless ski jumpers.

The Illinois High School Football Coaches Association announced its All-State teams this week, and several players in the Northwest Herald coverage area were selected.

Illinois lost an estimated 2,936 men in Vietnam – the sixth-highest toll among all states. Dozens were from local communities, and their sacrifices continue to resonate with family and friends

Thirty years ago Saturday, a Metra train struck a school bus in the heart of Fox River Grove, killing seven Cary-Grove High students and injuring many more. The community and rail safety were forever changed.

On Oct. 25, 1995, a school bus was hit by a Metra express train in the heart of Fox River Grove, killing seven Cary-Grove High School students, injuring many more and prompting big changes in rail safety across the country.

Members of the Class of 2025 from Cary-Grove High School receive their diplomas Saturday, May 17, 2025.

Teacher Appreciation Week closed out fittingly this year with recognition teachers at the McHenry County Educators of the Year ceremony, hosted by the county's Regional Office of Education.

Saints Peter and Paul eight grader Tyler Kochanski is this year's McHenry County Regional Spelling Bee winner and will compete at the 100th annual Scripps National Spelling Bee in May in Maryland.

The Golden Ratio, a McHenry County-based robotics team for high schooler students, are Houston-bound after qualifying to complete in an international robotics competition in April for a second consecutive time.

From trumpeter swans to cows to the snowy owl that captured, and then broke, our hearts, here are some of the animals our staff and contributors captured in photographs in 2024.

A look back at some of photojournalist Gregory Shaver's favorite pictures of the month in the Northwest Herald for November.

Two athletes from CrossFit Barrington, including a Cary-Grove High student, gym are competing in international CrossFit competitions this weekend.

The Golden Ratio Robotics team and received the Franklin Division Second Place Connect Award at the FIRST World Championships on April 20 in Houston, Texas.

The Illinois House of Representatives passed a proclamation in honor of Cary-Grove's 2023 football championship.

Huntley's AJ Putty was a productive hitter in the middle of the lineup last season. Red Raiders coach Andy Jakubowski has him hitting leadoff now because he is their best hitter and it means more at-bats. And more in this week's baseball notes.

The Golden Ratio, a McHenry County-based robotics team for high schoolers, will be on a global stage in Houston next month for the international FIRST Championship.

A teen has been charged with DUI and illegal possession and consumption of alcohol following a Monday crash near Cary-Grove High School in Cary.

A teenager was taken to a hospital after a crash involving three vehicles near Cary-Grove High School Monday afternoon.

More than 100 people turned out to wish the Cary-Grove football team luck as they departed for the IHSA Class 6A state title game.

For Cary-Grove, Downers Grove North, going downstate is a community enterprise

People say identical twins are connected in rare and unexplainable ways and that likely could not be more true than for 17-year-old twins Teagan and McKenna Sharkey of Cary.

Cary-Grove High School held its commencement ceremony for the class of 2023 on Saturday, May 13, 2023, in Cary.

Tammy Olson has made an impact on countless players and students during her 30-year career at Cary-Grove. The passionate softball coach and teacher recently reached 500 career wins and will retire at the end of the school year.

Following a national search, Neil Lesinski was tapped Wednesday to replace retiring Crystal District 155 Superintendent Steve Olson starting July 1, the district said in a statement posted to its website.

Kaden Norman knew he was in for a battle with a big fish when his rod bent 90 degrees and started to move suddenly Sunday. The 14-year-old Cary resident was right, catching a 43-pound flathead catfish.

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.

Cary-Grove's student section started a "Fire Nagy" chant late in Saturday's football game against Lake Forest, where one of Nagy's sons plays on the varsity team. C-G officials quickly shut it down, but C-G principal Neil Lesinski issued an apology Tuesday.

Students across McHenry County in the performing and visual arts this fall gained a new perspective on what exactly it means to believe the show must go on.

About 60 combined staff, parents and community members attended a meeting Monday night to discuss the open principal position at Cary-Grove High School.