Crystal Lake police have arrested a man who they say was drunk while driving a damaged Cadillac and possessing a stolen pistol, a scale and box coated with cocaine.

Demolition has begun on Crystal Lake's Academy Building, one of the oldest structures in town. Preservationists' efforts to save it were unsuccessful, but they were able to document the building before its demise.

A baby born into a Crystal Lake family on Thursday was the first baby born in 2026 at Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin

Hear hits like "Hotel California," "Take it Easy," "Life in the Fast Lane" and many more Eagles hits at the Jan. 3 concert.

From the deaths of prominent citizens to the far-reaching impacts of the first year of President Trump's second term, here is a look at some of the biggest stories that happened in the McHenry County area in 2025.

Food Shed Co-op in Woodstock opened in 2024 after a decade in the making. But a year and a half later, it's at risk of closing its doors.

Two men face felony charges that they “knowingly misrepresenting” the cost of repairing the driveway of an 87-year-old Crystal Lake homeowner.

During McHenry County College’s recent winter commencement ceremony, one of the 528 graduates was a 16-year-old student from Cary who received his associate’s degree before graduating from high school.

Two Men and a Junk Truck, an offshoot of Two Men and a Truck, is expanding to Crystal Lake and Aurora.

Singer-songwriter Joe Fisher delivers the full “Nebraska” album, stripped down to its bare essence — with the stark poetry of America’s backroads.

One of Crystal Lake’s oldest standing buildings, built in about 1853, is scheduled to be torn down starting this week after a year-long effort to preserve it was unsuccessful.

A loud boom Thursday evening in the McHenry that some say shook their homes prompted hundreds to take to social media for answers. But so far they have materialized.

A selection of the top feature photos in the Northwest Herald in 2025, by Shaw Local photographers.

Donna Rasmussen, one of the Northwest Herald's 2025 Women of Distinction honorees, overcame a challenging childhood. Now she's head of a consumer credit counseling service, mentor and inspiration.

Crystal Lake-based Community High School District 155 is planning to break ground on the multi-million football stadium renovations for Prairie Ridge High School early next year.

These 10 stories defined conversations around dinner tables, dominated social media feeds, and shaped how residents see their corner of Illinois during 2025

This high-energy show will transport audiences back to the legendary Las Vegas Hilton, delivering not only Elvis’ most beloved hits and deep cuts.

John Clauson was adopted and never knew about his biological family. But after searching for years, he learned the identity of his birth father - and would reconnect with the eight children his father later had.

Set in four emotional “seasons”— spring, summer, autumn and winter— the evening unfolds with beloved Beatles hits such as “Here Comes the Sun,” “Yesterday,” “Let it Be” and more.

Elton Rohn recreates the iconic sound and feel of Elton John’s classic era with elite musicianship and heartfelt precision.

Two weeks after her wedding last year, Kendall Albright of Crystal Lake found a lump and was soon diagnosed with breast cancer. Saturday she was honored at the Bears game after treatment at Advocate Good Shepherd.

Huey Lewis & the News stood out with their signature blend of rock, pop and blue-eyed soul. With mega-hits like “The Power of Love,” “The Heart of Rock & Roll,” “I Want a New Drug” and more.

Michelle DeMarco of Geneva built a business based on her love of Christmas and the art of holiday decorating.

Developers are one step closer to building single-family homes on an empty plot of land in Crystal Lake once set to be an Amazon warehouse. How much will they sell for?

The beloved holiday tradition brings Tchaikovsky’s timeless music and the magic of the holiday season to life with dazzling choreography, colorful characters and a whimsical journey.

The McHenry County Board voted down four of five requests for solar farms, many in the McHenry and Johnsburg areas.

Heightened security and metal detectors will be removed from Crystal Lake park board meetings starting in January after a divided board voted to scale back the measures.

The McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce has announced which Riverwalk Shoppes are returning in 2026 and what new offerings shoppers will have when they open in May.

Five people were injured in a rollover crash along Route 31 Monday morning in Crystal Lake, officials report.

A developer that creates single-story apartment homes is looking into the possibility of creating a neighborhood in Prairie Grove.

Severe cold headed into the area for the weekend has cause some disruption to weekend plans.

For the second year in a row, wreaths will be placed on local veterans' graves as part of Wreaths Across America. Community members are invited to participate and sponsor wreaths.

A portion of Virginia Road in Crystal Lake is closed to traffic due to a car crash.

The west leg of Miller Road at Randall Road in Lake in the Hills near Crystal Lake is set to reopen Friday for the holidays.

The Holiday Spectacular Concert is set for Friday, Dec. 12.

This exhilarating concert experience marries rock favorites from iconic bands such as Metallica, Pink Floyd and Evanescence with beloved traditional carols, popular classical pieces and holiday standards.

A battery energy storage facility is being eyed for Prairie Grove, but residents question the potential impacts on safety and wildlife.

A contractor working at the Water’s Edge development in Crystal Lake was flown to a trauma center after falling off a scaffolding Wednesday.

Crystal Lake residents are speaking out against a proposed third Dunkin’ Donuts in town, saying the location will further cause traffic headaches in the neighboring residential area already dealing with Lake Roots overflow.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker made a quiet appearance in Crystal Lake last week visiting local nonprofits and leaders to learn about food insecurity in McHenry County.

Following a huge snowfall the previous weekend, most of McHenry County awoke Sunday to about another half a foot of white flakes.

Prosecutors allege that a Crystal Lake man asked a stranger online for sexually explicit images of children ages 8 to 12.

This hilarious evening of stand-up comedy will feature Ana Belaval, Andrea Darlas and Joanna Clark on Thursday, Dec. 11 at Raue Center for the Arts in downtown Crystal Lake.

McHenry County businesses are having another go at Small Business Saturday this weekend after last week’s promotion was mostly derailed by almost a foot of snow that blanketed the region.

Crystal Lake's 1850s Academy Building is expected to be demolished now that efforts to raise money to move the structure from church property have not succeeded.

The cold weather has snuffed out the luminary light display and music that had been planned for Thursday evening in downtown Crystal Lake, but organizers hope Luminary Nights will be back Dec. 11 and 18.

"A Carpenters Christmas" features classics like “Merry Christmas Darling,” “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” and more holiday favorites from The Carpenters’ two iconic Christmas albums.

Crystal Lake has updated its street parking regulations in response to Lake Roots, a new café, market and bar that's bringing in more cars to a residential area.

A year ago, McHenry went owl-crazy when a snowy owl was spotted in a field on the south side of town but was later hit and killed by a car. The bird is now remembered in song.

Downtown Crystal Lake premiered its season of celebration, shopping and lights with the parade and tree-lighting Friday.