From Capitol News Illinois: A federal judge has upheld a first-of-its-kind Illinois law that protects consumers and retailers from paying so-called credit card “swipe fees” on taxes and tips

From Capitol News Illinois: Illinois lawmakers are pursuing data center regulations to address concerns about price increases, electricity shortages and environmental impacts

The Chicago Bears could receive a resolution of where the NFL franchise will build its new stadium in the coming months after a six-year process. Here's a look back at how the Bears got here.

From Capitol News Illinois: Former Republican state legislator Darren Bailey is trying to improve on his 2022 campaign for governor by taking a new approach to voters in the Chicago area. Bailey has also echoed President Donald Trump’s calls for Gov. JB Pritzker to be arrested

From Capitol News Illinois: Illinois residents can face long delays in clearing their marijuana-related records even after judges approve expungement and sealing orders

The four Republicans running for Illinois governor support giving the federal government access to state voter rolls but had more nuanced responses when asked about President Donald Trump’s suggestion of nationalized elections.

Over the past few weeks, Shaw Local has evaluated how each position group from the 2025 Chicago Bears did over the past season and started looking toward the offseason. Here’s a look at the special teams room.

From Capitol News Illinois: Gov. JB Pritzker is backing one of his longtime Statehouse allies, Rep. Margaret Croke, to be Illinois’ next comptroller

From Capitol News Illinois: A new report suggests Illinois could be on the hook for plugging and cleaning up thousands of inactive and abandoned oil and gas wells scattered across the state

Over the past few weeks, Shaw Local has evaluated how each position group from the 2025 Chicago Bears did over the past season and started looking toward the offseason. Here’s a look at the safety room.

With more than $12 million in contributions, the Democratic primary in Illinois’ 9th District is the highest-priced congressional contest in the state, a Daily Herald analysis of federal records revealed.

The Chicago Bears will reportedly promote the team’s passing game coordinator Press Taylor to be its new offensive coordinator.

From Capitol News Illinois: With Gov. JB Pritzker’s annual budget address less than two weeks away, a new report from his office is setting the table for a speech that’s likely to be bleak in tone

From Capitol News Illinois: Governor candidate Ted Dabrowski argues he is uniquely positioned to unite the fractured Illinois GOP, raise the funds needed to compete statewide and win back suburban voters crucial to a Republican victory

A 19-year-old man who died in a Grayslake traffic crash last week has been identified as a Lake Villa resident, authorities said.

From Capitol News Illinois: A federal judge on Friday granted a preliminary injunction in the case concerning the Trump administration’s freeze on $10 billion in child care and family planning funding to five blue states, including Illinois

From Capitol News Illinois: Marimar Martinez, the Chicago teacher shot five times by Border Patrol agents last fall, was granted permission Friday by a judge to release certain evidence from her case

Over the next few weeks, Shaw Local will evaluate how each position group from the 2025 Chicago Bears did over the past season and start looking toward the offseason. Here’s a look at the cornerback room.

Chicago Bears left guard Joe Thuney won the NFL’s inaugural Protector of the Year award Thursday night. The Bears also won the NFL's moments of the year while head coach Ben Johnson took fourth in Coach of the Year voting.

From Capitol News Illinois: The attorney general’s office won the first-ever civil hate crime lawsuit brought by the state under a 2018 law. Two white residents of Carroll County were charged with intimidation and hate crimes against their neighbor, who is Black

Should private equity and hedge funds be allowed to purchase so many homes? Congressional candidate Barry Wicker: "Yes." Read his full questionnaire here

The Antioch Village Board has approved an agreement with Andrew Lichterman to serve as the community’s new village administrator.

“In Search of His Lost Cords - His Life, His Plea,” the story of Wauconda resident and recording artist Eric Kinkel’s quest for recovery of his brain and vocal cord functions, will have a free screening Feb. 7.

The Lake County Chamber of Commerce 2026 Legislative Breakfast will take place Feb. 11 in Gurnee.

Gurnee’s only free-standing memory care community, Gurnee Place Memory Care, is seeking donations for their Chemo Care Bags Service Project.

CG Granite Countertops in Gurnee will host a Spring Fashion Pop-Up Event on Feb. 10, with guests welcome to stop by anytime between 3 to 8 p.m. at the company’s showroom.

While frigid winter weather keeps many people at home, a handful of Lake County blood donors are still stepping forward when patients need them most.

Improv Playhouse Theater and Training Center in Libertyville, is proud to announce a new partnership with Kindermusik Northshore, bringing world-class early childhood music education to Improv Playhouse families beginning winter 2026.

Jill Egan, managing broker of the North Region offices of Chicago real estate brokerage, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago, is pleased to share that the office collected close to 75 toys for the Marine Corps Reserve Toys For Tots Foundation this year.

The Midwest Creation Fellowship presents Dr. Paul Nelson from Logos Research Associates and Biola University on Feb. 9.

PM&L Theatre will host auditions for “Mamma Mia!,” on Feb. 9 and 10, with callbacks on Feb. 11.

In recognition of Human Trafficking Awareness Month, the Lake County Human Trafficking Task Force on Jan. 16 hosted a training for judicial and court personnel, bringing together more than 50 prosecutors, probation officers, judges and service providers from Lake County.

Charles Danyus of Round Lake Beach writes a letter to the editor.

Norge Ski Club has dropped one of its ticket vendors for its annual ski jump event after a photo went viral on social media showing a sign displayed at the establishment in which the ski club says “encouraged violence.”

From Capitol News Illinois: As the U.S. sheds manufacturing jobs, Illinois is accepting applications for $24 million in grant funding to establish training facilities at community colleges aimed at bolstering the state’s manufacturing labor pool

From Capitol News Illinois: The Chicago woman who Border Patrol agents shot five times last October called the incident an attempted “execution.” Court documents state Martinez’s vehicle collided with a federal agent’s although it is undetermined which vehicle initiated the crash

As the Bears’ stadium flirtation with Indiana heats up, backers of the team’s relocation to Arlington Heights plan to rally the troops next week to keep the NFL franchise on this side of the state line

Over the next few weeks, Shaw Local will evaluate how each position group from the 2025 Chicago Bears did over the past season and start looking toward the offseason. Here’s a look at the linebacker room.

The 121st edition of the Norge Ski Club’s annual winter tournament in Fox River Grove was a tale of fire and ice.

From Capitol News Illinois: Gov. JB Pritzker said he will push forward on his 2024 proposal to fully fund pensions and address other funding issues. Illinois remains a long way off from the 2045 target, but there have been small signs of progress in recent years

From Capitol News Illinois: JB Pritzker announced Illinois will join the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, allowing the state to receive information about diseases and how to respond to them

A one-time Democratic candidate for Illinois’ largely suburban 9th Congressional District seat has withdrawn from the race, and another has suspended his campaign.

Maria Peterson: This is a common-sense approach: modernize our tax system to create a dedicated funding source, honor our past commitments, and ensure the system is fair for our current and future public servants. Read Peterson's full questionnaire here

Martin McLaughlin: I will continue to vote against any tax increases, and I will support property tax relief. Read McLaughlin's full questionnaire here

From Capitol News Illinois: Federal judges have twice issued temporary restraining orders on the freeze. The current order will end Friday, Feb. 6

Over the next few weeks, Shaw Local will evaluate how each position group from the 2025 Chicago Bears did over the past season and start looking toward the offseason. Here’s a look at the defensive line room.

From Capitol News Illinois: Gov. JB Pritzker donated $5 million in December to a political action committee supporting Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton’s U.S. Senate bid, according to federal campaign finance records filed over the weekend

From Capitol News Illinois: The comptroller does not directly deal with the legislative process of approving a budget, but the candidates had plenty of ideas on how the state should manage its finances

Over the next few weeks, Shaw Local will evaluate how each position group from the 2025 Chicago Bears did over the past season and start looking toward the offseason. Here’s a look at the offensive line room.

From Capitol News Illinois: For the first time in five years, certain forms of student loan forgiveness will be taxable following a change in federal tax policy this year. And those tax implications could extend to Illinois state taxes as well unless lawmakers act