The number of living veterans has generally decreased yearly, but again Illinois account for about 3.2% of the nation’s 14.2 million veterans.

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to get consumed by our work. The projects, meetings, deadlines and community commitments can fill every hour if we let them.

They are our neighbors, our teachers, our coaches, our friends. They carry stories of courage, sacrifice, and quiet strength – stories that continue to shape the places we call home

There have been many clubs and organizations in the Rochelle area. The longest organization in continuous operation is Horicon Masonic Lodge No. 244.

Column: Every unique volunteer opportunity provides some benefit to the world around us. When we put in the effort, we improve our community, writes Rob Srygler.

Designed as an annual program, “The Visionary Series” brings dynamic, high-profile speakers to the Joliet region in an elevated luncheon format, providing a platform for inspiration, knowledge sharing, and networking.

That failure contradicts the General Assembly’s reputation as a place where powerful Democrats always get what they want and subverts the expectation of the veto session as a setting for ramming through transformative legislation on deadline in dark of night.

In this weekend’s “A Taylor-Made Life,” Taylor Leddin-McMaster talks about the rise in people behaving as though the rules don't apply to them.

Antler salt, a trip to Germany and memories of two remarkable women.

Are the Bears good? The best answer I can give is, I don’t know, Marc Silverman writes

Proficiency rates “would have increased if we had kept the same cut scores. However, we changed the cut scores, so we can’t tell you what they would have been. But we know they would have improved.”

It’s impossible to enter any cemetery in Kendall County and not find the graves of veterans of virtually every war in the nation’s history, from the American Revolutionary Warright up through modern Mideast wars.

In this week's column, Toby Moore write this country's greatness comes through human hearts and hands, not government checks.

Harp: The mental health profession doesn’t recognize Trump Derangement Syndrome as a true mental illness. The President’s supporters have nevertheless enjoyed some success in discrediting his opponents with that label. They probably don’t, however, appreciate its larger meaning.

The heart of the transit funding package is a decision to use all state motor fuel sales taxes to fund mass transit instead of sending that cash to the Road Fund.

SB 2111 doesn’t represent a comprehensive, statewide solution and its passage puts the onus back on those dissatisfied with the status quo to push lawmakers to keep working on the challenges even without an imminent financial disaster.

Our minds wander, and before you know it, stories of your family find their way into your column

Obendorf: Up at the Dr. Burns House in the newspaper room is a beautiful antique slanted wooden piece of furniture for reading the big newspaper books. Since the newspaper books are now being brought to the museum, we want to bring this antique down to the museum.

The Budget Reserve for Immediate Disbursements and Governmental Emergencies is only $100 million. Democrats created the pool by sweeping money from 57 other funds in anticipation of federal decisions with negative fiscal implications for Illinois.

In this week's column, Dennis Marek writes there are certainly issues associated with getting older, but it sure beats the alternative.

Henry Henze, of Rochelle, stood guard over Abraham Lincoln’s casket from Chicago to Springfield on his last ride home. 

Paschal: While going through my archive from the last month or so, a few different techniques came to light in how I watch people.

In this week’s “A Taylor-Made Life,” Taylor Leddin-McMaster reflects on recent conversations with two community fixtures that focused on viewing Kankakee County through a camera.

Clearly $20 is significant to someone counting every penny, but as a yearly figure it won’t sway anyone’s vote. The loss of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits is a different story, with an average of about $184 per beneficiary each month.

It’s okay to say it, Bears fans. Caleb Williams has to be better, and he has to be better right now, Marc Silverman writes

As the vibrant leaves change colors and the temperatures begin to drop, we are reminded that fall has officially arrived in Rochelle.

In this week's column, Toby Moore writes that that harshest times can often create the strongest of souls.

It is simply too late. Candidates have expended considerable time and resources gathering petition signatures, the filing deadline is Nov. 3 and any alteration now costs money the state doesn’t have while inviting legal exposure that could exponentially increase fiscal liability.

Here is photographer Alex T. Paschal's cross section of images of people watching in the Sauk Valley.

Halloween is approaching but what’s really frightening is that most Americans will put on several pounds over the next couple of months; it will add to what they gained last year, and the year before and so on.

When it was established in 1963, the Lincoln Heritage Trail was intended to link historic sites across three states. Today, only remnants remain, a relic of a not-so-distant era of travel.

The Chicago Teachers Union president was recently elected president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers. State legislators haven’t appreciated aggressive advocacy by CTU allies in the past.

From pure cynicism, there may be wisdom in getting Republicans on board with anything Democrats could present as endorsement of gun registration. But more practically, there’s no faster way to clear an administrative backlog than to erase it altogether.

The anxiously-awaited IHSA football pairings have been announced. With all the prognostication leading up to them, there weren’t too many surprises.

Plote: The DeKalb Area Agricultural Heritage Association (DAAHA) is launching a discussion series exploring the use of artificial intelligence in farming. The first event is Oct. 29 in Malta.

Column: You won’t find this Frank Lloyd Wright-designed farmhouse (the one and only) by looking for it, the single roadside proclamation on a simple black mailbox: “Muirhead Farm," writes Richard Holinger.

I will share this recipe for Monster cookies this week. It is also in my cookbook “The Cherished Table.” This recipe does not have any flour in it, so it has not been omitted.

Column: Not to toot my own horn, but these days I toot my horn to alert drivers who want to join the flow of rush hour traffic that they can enter in front of me. They wave, and I wave back, writes Richard Holinger.

Record stories that captured people's attention in years passed.

Voters could see some future relief in the unlikely event the General Assembly amends state law to clarify donation and disclosure timetables, but at worst Harmon has only reputational damage via a hearing officer’s recommendation to reject his appeal of the fine.

Column: Sing carols to the cows and dine with the Grinch this holiday season as the St. Charles Park District presents a holiday lineup filled with fun and new traditions for all ages, writes Melissa Rubalcaba Riske. Register now since these events fill fast

In this week's column, Dennis Marek takes a trip down memory lane during a visit to Washington, D.C., and is reminded through words from Thomas Jefferson that derision is part of our nation's fabric.

In this week's “A Taylor-Made Life,” Taylor Leddin-McMaster writes about how to add an extra element of fun to mundane tasks or commonplace occurrences.

'We’re not clinical, but we’ve walked that path and can be a trusted entry point to guide and inform programs – something people without that experience often can’t do.'

Marc Silverman: The question I get the most is whether I’m worried about Caleb Williams and some of the issues he’s dealing with. The answer is no, and here’s why

Roberts: A recent speech by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth presented the current administration’s policy for the military in front of an unprecedented meeting of all serving generals and admirals at Marine Base Quantico on Sept. 30, 2025.

Column: Batavia Business Beat: The public is invited to the 2025 State of the Community Breakfast on Nov. 6, writes Shirley Mott of the Batavia Chamber of Commerce.

In this week's column, Toby Moore writes that despite the many theories of our existence, of our reason for being, there is a common thread: We are participants in something vast - and alive.

Wolter: For centuries, horses served as the primary source of transportation and mechanical power for human civilization. From pulling plows and wagons to powering mills and delivering goods, horses were indispensable partners in daily life.

With one week left in the regular season, the football playoff picture is getting clearer. The good news for Byron is that they probably won’t see IC Catholic right off the bat.