The announcement last week that the Illinois AFL-CIO was withdrawing from the “agreed bill process” at least 40 years after its inception took almost everyone by surprise, but nobody was really shocked.

The Illinois ag sector is vital to the local, state and national economies.

While resting up in the comfort of home for an ultra trail run on the Hennepin Canal, I took the night off from covering football and watched a few games on the NFHS streaming network. Simultaneously, I followed Byron, Forreston, Oregon and Stillman.

German ancestry is the most prevalent ancestry in the state, and the culture of the German homeland has been a mainstay in Illinois for a century and a half.

Camp Grant had been established in 1917 as a training center for World War I soldiers. By 1918 it was the center of the Spanish Flu outbreak in our area.

Facebook algorithms review what you view, post, read, or browse while on the site. From that information, along with location data and other demographic data, they develop a profile which they sell to marketers and advertisers.

Anyone with a talent for carving or decorating pumpkins won’t want to miss submitting their masterpiece for Ghoulish Gourds on Parade with the St. Charles Park District.

My mother penned the Amish Cook column for 11 years. I was a teenager at home when she started writing. After her sudden death on Sept. 17, 2002, I started writing.

Column: Since many Scandinavians live in Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles, and South Elgin, I would love to hear from anyone who has baked with antler salt, writes Janet Lagerloef.

Recently, it was the all-town rummage sale and the chili cook off on the same day. At the museum we had some things out for people just to take, such as old picture frames and some furniture that the Tri-County had left many years ago.

Opinion by Scott Holland: This project could be transformative beyond even bold predictions, but that degree of potential also drastically elevates the stakes of failing to deliver.

In this week's column, Dennis Marek writes the time to learn from our older relatives and friends is now, before death or illness takes them away.

Column: With grass growing slower and leaves starting to drop, our lawn care shifts from beautifying to cleaning up and preparing for the cold winter ahead, writes Rob Srygler of DeKalb's Citizens' Environmental Commission.

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

It’s important to remember that any development at this scale necessarily impacts public resources, even if just transportation infrastructure and emergency response.

Ben Johnson gets the perfect scenario for the bye week – the good feelings of a two-game win streak while his team gets valuable time to reset, work, and improve with 13 games still on the schedule, Marc Silverman writes

Column: Homecoming is just around the corner, and as Executive Director of the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau and an NIU alumnus, I can barely contain my excitement, writes Cortney Strohacker.

The Oswegoland Park District was created in a March referendum 75 years ago. The landmark Little White School Museum was completed on its present site at Jackson and Polk streets 175 years ago last spring.

Repetition works both ways. If negative words can burrow deep and take root, then positive ones can heal, strengthen and grow.

Plenty of legislative proposals are perennial, some with the same diligent sponsors and a few that represent old ideas under new names. On rare occasions, one party claims the other’s idea as its own and runs it up a different flagpole. That won’t happen with HB 2827.

Fiegenschuh: Over the past eight years as Rochelle’s city manager, I have had the privilege of working alongside an extraordinary team of elected officials, department heads, and employees who are deeply committed to serving our community.

Last year, Forreston’s football team was 2-7 because of losses to teams they could have beaten. This year, they are 4-1 because they are winning those same types of games.

The goal of the majority of Democrats has always been to have support from unions and the major environmental groups when it comes to big energy bills.

"Numeracy – like literacy – equips students to think critically, solve problems and make informed decisions in daily life."

The beloved "Peanuts" comic strip debuted 75 years ago on Oct. 2; two of the original four characters were written out.

Column: Developing societal kindness is not a new or novel concept. In fact, about 2600 years ago the Buddha was doing just that by teaching his disciples Metta Meditation. This is the meditation of loving-kindness, writes Joan Budilovsky.

Gvozdjak: I encourage our current area CEOs, civic, faith, and not-for-profit leaders to find ways to personally engage with our students and to invest in, mentor, and develop employees under the age of 40 to lead us forward.

But while water parks are fun, they don’t offer the thrills of rollercoasters and other rides that people travel some fair distances to enjoy. At the turn of the century, though, Kendall County residents didn’t have to drive for hours to enjoy amusement rides.

I enjoy a coffee with a Long John roll. I made two batches on Friday and took some along for family night. I told the family they are Short John rolls because I made them short. Haha!

In this week's column, Dennis Marek writes of the mysteries and interest level surrounding the much-discussed Bermuda Triangle and wonders if there is really anything to the region has traveled through.

Meier: It’s very easy for grifters and thieves to fake almost any official document and to include real-looking signatures. If you find yourself looking at something you don’t understand, from someone who wants your money, ask for help.

Candidates should be motivated to increase turnout. But for elected officials, there are myriad better tweaks to enhance participation.

Bearrows: As we transition into the vibrant season of fall, we are experiencing a bustling period here in Rochelle.

"To ensure DOJ receives a voter registration list that reflects this de-duplication and removal of out-of-state deceased, the agency will provide DOJ with an updated list once these efforts are complete."

How did a 50 burger turn into a hotdog celebration just one week later? The answer is easy. Ben Johnson cooked, Marc Silverman writes.

It’s very interesting that our current President gets away with bypassing the Constitution, ignoring our legal system, and even demanding that our United States attorney general pursue a particular case or what to pursue in a case.

I’ve been blessed over the course of my lengthy journalism career to observe and document these seasonal celebrations in many communities.

Whatever you release – kindness, anger, pride, hope – doesn’t vanish. Like a boomerang, it circles back, sometimes years later, sometimes in an instant.

On Nov. 5, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case that may determine whether the Constitution’s separation of legislative, executive and judicial powers between the three branches of the government will survive or be replaced by an autocratic government.

Energy subjects are especially interesting because they represent one of the few topics where typical political alliances are realigned.

Jim Edgar ran a brilliant campaign for governor in 1990. He set the template for every winning statewide race since then by focusing on the importance of independent suburban women.

Milledgeville’s 28-6 win over Polo, which was much closer than the score indicates, was more than bragging rights for the Battle of the Blacktop in towns separated by 11 miles.

Abraham Lincoln’s connections to Ottawa were not limited to his 1858 debate with Stephen A. Douglas. He was also a staunch supporter of the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal.

SCHLEGEL: A few Amboy residents in 2006 decided to put love into action and established PFLAG Sauk Valley. Their vision created a safe, supportive community – one that transformed my quiet support into active advocacy for my son and the LGBTQ+ community as a whole.

I canned more V-8 last week, but the garden season is slowing down. I have red beets yet to can into pickled beets. Also, another round of tomatoes that I will can into tomato chunks.

It has been a wonderful summer at the library! We have finished with all of our summer programming and moved right into fall.

Column: The Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry and Clothes Closet will move into its new permanent home at 916 First St. on Wednesday, Oct. 1, writes Lori Botterman of the city of Batavia.

HELLMICH: My appreciation for the beauty and abundance of the Sauk Valley’s natural resources has grown during my 10 years in the area, and I thank our neighbors who dedicate themselves to protecting these resources for our children and grandchildren.

Rep. Curtis Tarver II, D-Chicago, questioned the logic of introducing the tablets under the guise of drug smuggling prevention but starting by selling access to streaming content.

In this week's column, Dennis Marek writes that there are many ways to making it big in industry and Larry Ellison, the world's richest man, is proof.