DeKalb

An NIU student from Batavia was charged Monday after police searched his dorm room in DeKalb and allegedly found more than 20,000 images depicting child sexual abuse on his electronics. Police allege he used AI and photos of real people he knew and sold the materials via Snapchat

On Monday night, Opportunity DeKalb wrapped up the completion of programming for Breakthrough Community Business Academy's second cohort by hosting a graduation ceremony.

The play is an adaptation of the hit movie of the same name starring Reese Witherspoon.

Andrea Elion, mother of Ezra Hill Jr. and Brandon Elion Ezra’s stepfather, get ready for the Ezra Hill Jr. Memorial Rock Painting event that will be held on June 7 at Tyler Elementary School in DeKalb. The event celebrates the memory of Ezra, who was was murdered in 2019 in Harvey, and raises gun violence awareness.

Adults and teens can learn about the basics of hand mending to repair worn items at a DeKalb Public Library workshop.

The DeKalb Public Library will host a meeting of a senior book club for adults to discuss “Slaughterhouse Five” by Kurt Vonnegut.

A retail clothing and home goods department store is coming to Northland Shopping Center in DeKalb, according to a city announcement Wednesday.

The DeKalb Park District will hold its annual free Music at the Mansion concert series for the summer. Shows kick off on June 11.

Magician Cody Clark will perform his sensory-friendly magic show for people ages 8 and older with special sensory needs at the DeKalb Public Library.

Summer reading program registration opens June 2 in DeKalb

Though summer’s here and a new school year seems a distant thought, DeKalb County parents got some recent help prepping their children for kindergarten.

Kishwaukee College recently named college board of trustees member Linda Mason as the recipient of the John C. Roberts Community Service Award.

Pride Month is almost here, and there are plenty of ways to celebrate if you live in the DeKalb area.

A DeKalb man was charged this month with the criminal sexual assault dating back to August 2024 after the victim alleged the man “asked for a hug,” and then assaulted them, court records show.

Got bud? The city of DeKalb wants to help one local dispensary in making that pitch to consumers easier to act on. DeKalb city leaders moved one step closer this week to allowing Excelleaf Dispensary, 305 E. Locust St., to open what its founders are calling a “tasting room.”

The DeKalb Public Library will host a community sing for residents to get into the groove for summer.

Rooted For Good will be at multiple locations in June with Grow Mobile, a mobile food pantry that offers free food and household items to all who visit, with no requirements necessary.

The DeKalb Public Library will host two grief support group meetings in June for adults experiencing grief and loss.

The Sycamore Golf Club will host a Cross-Town Showdown for DeKalb and Sycamore residents to participate in a friendly competition.

The public is invited to donate blood to a good cause at a blood drive Monday at the Kishwaukee Family YMCA in Sycamore.

Every year, when school lets out for spring break, it is a painful reminder for Andrea Elion because her son, Ezra Hill Jr., 10, was shot and killed in March 2019. In his memory, she's preparing to host the fifth annual memorial rock painting event June 7.

A crowd gathered in DeKalb Friday to celebrate as Pride Month kicks off. Organizers said Pride Palooza was a chance to show area families how welcoming the community can be. "We need to embrace the differences," organizer Violeta Shaw said.

Kishwaukee College will offer a fast-track phlebotomy technician program during the summer semester. The program will run from June 2 through Aug. 15.

Family Service Agency of DeKalb County and Youth Outlook partnered to host the inaugural Pride Palooza Friday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in DeKalb.

Kishwaukee College recently recognized 12 students for completing the college’s radiologic technology program during a pinning ceremony.

The foundation’s Community Needs Grants totaled $113,528 and support a wide range of community priorities – from public safety and education to the arts and preservation of local history.

The DeKalb Public Library will offer bingo for teenagers in sixth through 12th grade to compete and make new friends.

A DeKalb County judge on Thursday denied release to a man accused of shooting and severely injuring a teenager outside a DeKalb apartment complex Wednesday. “This defendant literally brought a gun to a fist fight with minors," prosecutor Heather Darsie said.

Youth Outlook and Family Service Agency’s School-Based Services and Youth Programming are teaming up to host the inaugural Pride Palooza. It all takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. May 30 at Bethlehelm Lutheran Church, 1915 N. First St., DeKalb.

KVAL’s 54th annual Northern Illinois Art Show is set from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 31 and June 1 on the front lawn of the DeKalb County Courthouse, 133 W. State St. in Sycamore.

One person suffered serious injuries in a shooting mid-afternoon in DeKalb Wednesday, Police Chief David Byrd said. Two suspects are in police custody. This is a developing story.

A’Jah Davis once believed that following her hoop dreams meant going overseas to play basketball. But the DeKalb native and standout NIU women’s basketball star, has since found her calling mentoring area youth.

Summer is officially here, and so is the 30th season of the DeKalb Farmers’ Market presented by Northwestern Medicine! Mark your calendars for opening day on Thursday, June 5, writes Virginia Filicetti of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce.

May 1 wasn’t just National Principal’s Day for Jefferson Elementary’s Melanie Bickley. She also received a surprise: She was named Administrator of the Year by the Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

High school seniors, college undergraduates and students from across DeKalb County celebrated milestones in their educational journeys this month. Check out photos from various ceremonies here.

The gym and field house at DeKalb High School were filled Saturday with kids ages 7-18 having fun and learning skills at the A'Jah Davis Foundation Basketball Camp and Wellness Day.

The Beth Fowler Dance Company and School of Dance will hold performances of “Fame & More” in June to conclude its 2024-2025 season.

For many Monday, Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, a day off work and a chance to haul out the grill. But it’s not a day of celebration, reminded area veterans and dignitaries at DeKalb’s annual Memorial Day ceremony.

The DeKalb County Retired Teachers Association will hold a meeting for retired DeKalb County teachers on June 10 at the Lincoln Inn in DeKalb.

In its 12th year, donors set a new Give DeKalb County record by contributing more than $2.1 million in support of nonprofit organizations. “Give DeKalb County is a powerful reminder of what this community can do together,” organizer Ben Bingle said.

The club will begin at 6 p.m. May 28 in the library’s lower-level Bilder Family Meeting Room, 309 Oak St.

DeKalb Memorial Day events were held Monday to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country.

You’ve heard of beer and wine tastings at local establishments and breweries. What if you could go to a cannabis edible tasting at your neighborhood dispensary? That’s a question one DeKalb dispensary owner will pose to the DeKalb City Council this week.

DeKalb County-area veterans groups, cities and organizers will host Memorial Day events throughout the county for the public to come together to honor all who’ve died in service to the country. Memorial Day is May 26.

DeKalb High School's Class of 2025 collected their hard-earned diplomas Saturday during a commencement ceremony held at NIU's Convocation Center in DeKalb.

The Sycamore Public Library will hold a “Turn the Page and Join the Quest: A Summer of Epic Tales” program to encourage residents to read stories. The program runs May 30 through Aug. 1.

The scholarship is meant to serve as a lasting tribute to the late Jim Dombek, a longtime Sycamore School District 427 school board president and volunteer, according to a news release. Dombek was known for his lifelong commitment to education, youth and community service.

The Indian Valley Theatre recently named Grace Anderson, Keygan Hake, Asher Munar and Brendan Massey recipients of the 2025 IVT Mimi Bryan Memorial Scholarship.

The June Brown Bag Lunch and Local Lore series at the Ellwood House Museum will feature a program on the story of history through artwork. Jubilee Artisans exhibition curator Ayanna Johnson will discuss how art creates space for diverse perspectives.

The DeKalb Public Library will host a workshop for adults and teens to learn about the library’s genealogy resources.