From Capitol News Illinois: The Illinois General Assembly passed a bill that would address concerns from service providers that contract with the state

While weather apps and local news issue alerts and warnings as storms approach, the meaning and severity of these warnings are not always clear.

The Chicago Bears ended their offseason program last week with the end of a three-day mandatory minicamp. Here are four questions the Bears still need to answer after their offseason program.

The Coal City Police Department is investigating the theft of a vehicle, criminal damage to property, and criminal trespassing that occurred on Saturday.

Morris Cruise Night returned for the summer on Saturday, benefiting Project Fire Buddies while filling Downtown Morris with all sorts of classic and show cars.

A muddy Goold Park in Morris didn't deter the musicians at the Gebhard Woods Dulcimer Festival on Saturday, as they filled the park with their acoustic stylings.

Northern Illinois is under a Level 3 severe weather risk on Wednesday as forecasters warn of tornadoes, damaging winds, large hail, and flash flooding

From Capitol News Illinois: A federal jury this week found a southern Illinois man guilty of five gun-related charges tied to what prosecutors described as a small-scale gun manufacturing operation run from his southern Illinois home that included guns made with a 3D printer.

From Capitol News Illinois: Small volunteer groups that provide food assistance to Illinoisans in need could be eligible for a new round of grant money under a program announced this week.

From Capitol News Illinois: After months of negotiations in the spring legislative session resulted in no final action on Gov. JB Pritzker’s flagship housing proposal, housing advocates are celebrating a few legislative victories – and holding onto hopes for future negotiations.

From Capitol News Illinois: Gov. JB Pritzker announced Friday that 434 Illinois pharmacies will receive nearly $25 million in support, the first distribution of annual funding established through legislation he signed last year.

From Capitol News Illinois: The Illinois State Board of Education formally adopted a plan Wednesday aimed at improving math instruction and boosting student math scores throughout the state.

Rogelio Alvarado-Alarcon, of Kankakee, was arrested Friday on multiple charges by the Kankakee Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group.

From Capitol News Illinois: Illinoisans now will have access to a large collection of high-quality digital information and educational resources for free by going to their local library or the Illinois State Library’s website.

Dwight library's free summer lineup.

From Capitol News Illinois: A bill that would require the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to consider access to reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare before placing foster children out of state passed the legislature during the last week of session.

The Grundy County Health Department announced Friday that it discovered West Nile Virus from mosquitoes in Coal City earlier in the week.

Federated Bank welcomes a new mortgage loan officer with nearly 20 years of lending experience to its Braidwood branch.

The University of Illinois Extension is offering free, research-based guidance to help residents safely clean up after severe storms and prepare for future weather disasters.

A Kankakee teen has been found guilty in Will County of the 2024 attempted murder of a fellow juvenile detainee who suffered traumatic brain injury in an attack, court records show.

The sky turned an eerie blend of orange, pink and red tones after Thursday's storms. Why was that?

Camp 911 took advantage of the beautiful weather Friday morning, the day after some of the stormiest seen in the region in a long time, to show kids what to do should an emergency situation arise again.

A number of Joliet area baseball players earned all-conference honors for their play this season.

The Chicago Bears offense was confident about the next step it can take next year during the last month's offseason workout program. Here's why there's confidence at the end of minicamp.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams no longer felt like he was drowning at the end of mandatory minicamp Thursday. Williams and the offense looked comfortable heading into training camp next month. Plus more notes from the final day of minicamp.

More severe weather is expected Thursday across northern Illinois, with the entire region placed under a tornado watch Thursday afternoon into Thursday evening.

The annual Hall of Fame Induction event, normally held at Joliet's Rialto Theatre, will be held at Harris Theater in Millennium Park on Sept. 27, and future ceremonies may go out of town as well.

After a rollercoaster season, Chicago Bears Braxton Jones has regained trust in himself as he competes for the starting left tackle spot this offseason. Plus more notes from the second day of mandatory minicamp at Halas Hall.

From Capitol News Illinois: A bill that will soon head to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk will officially remove an estimated 10,000 people from the state’s Medicaid program, leaving them without any form of health coverage.

From Capitol News Illinois: Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said his office was underfunded by $10 million in the latest budget, and that could make it more difficult to fight legal battles against the Trump administration.

The Illinois Coaches Association announced its 2026 ICA All-State teams this week, with 11 Herald-News area softball standouts selected for first-team honors and dozens more for other ICA accolades.

From Capitol News Illinois: A federal judge on Tuesday OK’d the release of highly anticipated and extremely rare transcripts from a trio of grand jury sessions in October, showing alleged prosecutorial misconduct by assistant U.S. attorneys.

High heat and humidity will continue over the next two days across northern Illinois, with several rounds of severe thunderstorms expected.

Layoffs began in May for workers of Ideal US Talent Systems in Cook, Kane, Kendall, McHenry and Will counties. Ideal is a platform where workers use their smartphones to find on-demand shift work

The memorial devoted to those who lost their lives in the Global War on Terror will be in the Square in downtown Joliet from noon Thursday until 6 p.m. Sunday.

From Capitol News Illinois: Rep. Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva, plans to file an amended megaprojects bill that would create new requirements that were not included in the original plan passed by the House. Gov. JB Pritzker says he’s open to a special session on the issue

Chicago Bears defensive tackle Gervon Dexter is expecting to play as a whole different person next season as he enters the final year of his contact. Plus more notes from the Bears' first day of mandatory minicamp.

From Capitol News Illinois: There were some high-profile caveats that underscored the limits of Gov. JB Pritzker's clout among his fellow Democrats who run the state legislature

Proceeds from the fundraiser benefit the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Memorial Squad, which provides full military honors for veterans.

Forecasters warn Thursday could bring tornadoes, destructive winds, large hail, and flash flooding to northern Illinois as a dangerous weather pattern takes shape

After the Chicago Bears announced last week that they’re advancing a new stadium project in Hammond, Indiana, a suburban Republican state lawmaker is trying to provide a new framework to keep the team in the Prairie State.

The old prison in Crest Hill will be demolished and rebuilt. The state plans to build two new prisons: one for men and one for women.

Outside of Lincoln-Way West softball's historic state championship, it was a busy weekend around the Herald-News coverage area. Here are a few of the other top stories in our Weekend Rewind.

Seneca seniors Lexie Buis, Camryn Stecken and Tessa Krull led the Fighting Irish softball team to a runner-up finish at the IHSA Class 2A State Finals at Peoria's Louisville Slugger Sports Complex.

From Capitol News Illinois: Illinois lawmakers gave hospitals and community health centers much of what they wanted this session by passing a bill that prohibits drug manufacturers from interfering with their access to discounted medications through a federal drug pricing program

The Chicago Bears board of directors voted to advance its stadium project in Hammond, Indiana. Does that mean the team is moving to Indiana? Shaw Local's Michal Dwojak and Joe Aguilar discuss that and preview this week's minicamp.

The 73 districts receiving grants provide fire protection to about 250,000 Illinois residents, primarily in rural areas of Illinois.

The Chicago Bears will start the latest part of their offseason Tuesday when they start a three-day mandatory minicamp at Halas Hall in Lake Forest. Here are a few storylines to watch at minicamp this week.

It has become very difficult to contain the Minooka baseball team's offense as Edwardsville found out on Saturday as the Indians pounded out 14 hits in a 15-1 win to claim the Class 4A Normal Community Sectional title.

The Illinois River Valley Chapter serves 1.1 million people in five counties including Grundy, Kane, Kendall, LaSalle, and Will.