When business leaders gathered in Genoa on Wednesday for the 69th annual Genoa Area Chamber of Commerce meeting and award dinner, they took time to honor a woman who many said carved a local business legacy.

Businesses and community leaders were honored on Wednesday during the Genoa Area Chamber of Commerce's annual awards dinner. New this year, a legacy award honored the lasting impact of former chamber director Pattie Marx.

Catch up on the week’s top DeKalb County news in minutes for the week of Feb. 1-7. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Kishwaukee College recently named its graduates for the fall 2025 semester.

Dozens protested an event held at Genoa-Kingston High School on Thursday that the district’s superintendent said was initiated by the Department of Education at the request of a local student chapter of Turning Point USA.

A group gathered near Genoa-Kingston High School Thursday to protest the “History Rocks” assembly which was organized by the school’s Turning Point USA, Club America chapter, a nonprofit founded in 2012 by the late Charlie Kirk.

The Department of Education reached out to a Genoa-Kingston High School club about hosting a planned Thursday event that has since spurred criticism and some calls for protest by members of the school’s community.

DeKalb County has warming centers throughout DeKalb, Sycamore and Genoa free to use and open to all looking for shelter during the cold season and winter weather.

Bystanders helped emergency responders lift a flipped Dodge Charger off a Genoa teenager who’d become trapped as a result of a crash Wednesday on Five Points Road, according to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.

The Genoa-Kinston boys basketball team hosted Hinckley-Big Rock Tuesday night in a nonconference matchup.

AARP’s Tax–Aide will offer a free tax return preparation program in 2026 for everyone, focused also on area residents ages 50 and older. The program will be available at five locations in DeKalb, La Salle, Genoa, and Sycamore.

The Indian Creek boys basketball team traveled to Genoa Friday to take on the Cogs of Genoa-Kingston High School.

A Rockford man has been charged with driving under the influence after a car crash northwest of Genoa, according to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.

Trees were lit, parades were held and snow even made a major appearance in early December. Though this Christmas may not be white, festivities throughout DeKalb County spread holiday cheer in communities near and far. Take a look back at some highlights:

The Genoa-Kingston girls basketball team traveled to Rochelle Monday night for a nonconference matchup.

Elementary school students have been announced as winners of a Genoa holiday coloring contest and got to meet Santa Claus this month.

The Genoa-Kingston girls basketball team traveled to Shabbona Monday night to take on Indian Creek.

Column: The Genoa Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its annual “Celebrate the Season” from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, in downtown Genoa, writes Krissy Johnson of the chamber.

Santa Claus himself will visit DeKalb County this week in multiple places to ring in the most wonderful time of the year. On Thursday, DeKalb's annual Lights on Lincoln event will move indoors.

The Northern Illinois Food Bank is expected to feed more people this holiday season than in previous years, including the pandemic era, despite government assistance like SNAP reinstated to help put food on the table.

A Genoa man has been charged with aggravated DUI and driving with a revoked licensed in McHenry County after authorities said he hit a curb and a sign and drove into a grassy area.

Organizers of the annual Genoa-Kingston Community Thanksgiving Dinner are welcoming donations of frozen turkeys for the cause this Saturday.

Northern Rehab Physical Therapy Specialists will hold a community food drive to support T.D. Ryan’s “Freezin’ for Food” event. The food drive runs through Dec. 3.

The fanfare that Joey, a golden retriever with Canines 4 Christ, receives from many offers a stark contrast to how Vietnam veterans were initially greeted upon their return from war.

A Genoa woman was charged after police allege she intentionally hit multiple people with her vehicle off Illinois Route 38 when they tried to flee from her attack near a rural field, according to records filed in DeKalb County court this week.

As nonprofits, businesses and individuals across northern Illinois prepared for the uncertainty surrounding SNAP, President Donald Trump’s administration said Monday that it will partially fund the food assistance program

DeKalb County area communities have announced Halloween events and trick-or-treat hours for Oct. 31.

Genoa-Kingston travels to Dixon to take on the Dukes. The game took place on Dixon's Senior Night, October 24th, 2025

Many Illinois communities are adding back a 1% grocery tax that will otherwise expire on Jan. 1. Is your town among them?

Northern Rehab Physical Therapy Specialists will host a coat drive this month to collect items for the Sycamore United Methodist Church Coat Ministry. The coat drive runs through Oct. 17.

A Genoa woman was hospitalized after a rollover crash Friday involving an SUV and a truck in northern DeKalb County, authorities said.

The Rochelle High School volleyball team traveled to Genoa Monday night to take on the Genoa-Kingston Cogs.

The Genoa Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed new business Ritch Details Mobile Car Detailing during the Cruisin’ to Genoa Annual Car Show.

One option for those looking for some family-friendly fun outdoors this weekend is the annual Genoa Volksfest, a three-day festival featuring a rubber duck race along the Kishwaukee River, a beer and wine festival, wrestling and more.

That project, a 5-megawatt commercial solar energy system, is expected to be situated on a 40-acre property on the west side of Polk Road in Genoa Township, according to documents submitted to the county.

The University of Illinois Extension will offer a watershed stewardship program for community members in September at locations in Genoa and Sycamore.

Column: We’re wrapping up an eventful summer in DeKalb County and heading into the fall season with even more to experience, writes Alexis Aviles of the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The Genoa Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its 10th annual Cruisin' to Genoa Car Show Saturday.

Two people were hospitalized, including a Genoa woman who was airlifted to a hospital, after a two-car crash Thursday evening in northern DeKalb County, according to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.

Mosquitoes collected in Genoa city limits have tested positive for West Nile virus, according to the DeKalb County Health Department.

A Hampshire man was flown to a hospital on Sunday after suffering severe injuries in a car versus motorcycle crash north of Kingston, according to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.

With stops in Genoa, Sycamore and DeKalb, the 18th annual Veterans Weekend made its return over this past weekend to help area residents honor all who served.

Kishwaukee College recently announced the student-athletes nomination for the Arrowhead Conference All-Academic Excellence Team.

Local band Soundcheck will perform at this free event.

A Rockford woman was hospitalized Sunday evening after a rollover crash in northern DeKalb County left live wires on her upside-down vehicle, according to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.

The DeKalb American Veterans will hold its 18th annual Veterans Weekend in DeKalb, Genoa and Sycamore.

Four Genoa residents were hospitalized recently after an ATV rollover crash involving seven total people on a trail at Apple Canyon Lake, according to the Jo Daviess County Sheriff’s Office.

Genoa-Kingston high schooler Quincy James recently attended a national journalism conference in Washington, D.C., part of a program meant to inspire future media professionals and young leaders.

The DeKalb, Genoa Area, and Sycamore chambers of commerce recently celebrated the opening of Communities by Grainger’s Old Mill Park Clubhouse, a subdivision for residents 55 and older.

Northern Rehab Physical Therapy Specialists will partner with DeKalb County United to host a food and school supplies drive to benefit DeKalb, Genoa, Sycamore, and Rochelle residents. The drive runs through July 18.