From Capitol News Illinois: The measures included a ban on junk fees, classification of “child torture” as a Class X felony, a retry at a nonprofit savings bill, and a bill to strip Chicago’s authority to alter the minimum wage for workers who make tips

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles could reward right tackle Darnell Wright for a second-team All-Pro season with a contract extension this offseason. Here’s a look at what a potential extension could look like.

From Capitol News Illinois: An Illinois House committee advanced a bill that would prohibit the federal government from operating an immigration detention center within 1,500 feet of any home, school, daycare center, park, forest preserve, cemetery or place of worship

From Capitol News Illinois: The bill would establish an independent board with the ability to set and implement the maximum price on certain prescription drugs

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias joined state and local leaders in warning of a deluge of text scams that arrive on targets’ phones disguised as official court or government communications.

From Capitol News Illinois: A House education committee unanimously approved the latest version of a bill that would require school boards to prohibit public school students from using their cellphones in the classroom

From Capitol News Illinois: Midwestern governors, including Illinois’ JB Pritzker, are seeking a permanent solution to being able to use the ethanol blend E15 gasoline that’s cheaper but some say more polluting at a time when gasoline prices are rising

A Gurnee man got a six-year sentence after pleading guilty to cocaine possession in McHenry County after initially being charged with intent to sell cocaine and fentanyl.

As lawmakers returned to Springfield Tuesday, Gov. JB Pritzker said that a deal to get a Bears stadium in Arlington Heights “needs to happen sooner rather than later,” but is in the hands of the state legislature.

From Capitol News Illinois: A Cook County judge will hear arguments next month over a petition to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate and charge alleged crimes committed by federal immigration agents during last fall’s “Operation Midway Blitz”

The storms will be rapidly developing and pushing southeastward across the region, according to the National Weather Service.

From Capitol News Illinois: State Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, who works as an insurance agent, said the new bill was an improvement over earlier versions. But he said it does not address the factors that he said are the real causes of rising premiums

An Antioch man faces charges after he fired a warning shot at fishermen that he said were trespassing on his private pond, police said.

From Capitol News Illinois: Raw milk advocates saw Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s appointment as Health and Human Services Director as a win, but it hasn’t translated to loosened regulations in Illinois

The Chicago Bears could go in multiple directions with their first-round selection in next month's NFL draft. Here's Shaw Local’s Michal Dwojak first mock draft as he tried to figure out how the first round of this year’s draft will unfold.

Illinois Department of Public Health reports that Illinois fire departments responded to 9,860 carbon monoxide-related calls across the state in 2024 alone.

An Antioch man is accused of reckless discharge of a firearm, told officers he shot in air because boaters came onto his pond.

The Fox Lake Police Department has announced the addition of K9 Officer Yogi to its ranks.

Shaw Local has compiled mock drafts from across the NFL media landscape. Here’s who experts think the Chicago Bears will select in the first round.

From Capitol News Illinois: As large data centers burn electricity as fast as some small cities, utilities and advocates are looking for ways to ensure they’re not passing the buck for related infrastructure costs to everyday ratepayers

A Lake County felon was sentenced Friday to 20 years in prison for unlawfully possessing a pistol and illicit drugs found during a traffic stop in McHenry.

On March 28, Gurnee Park District will welcome guests to this year’s Bunny Bash event. Tickets are limited and available for purchase at gurneeparkdistrict.com.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Bess Bower Dunn Museum in Libertyville will host a spring break food drive, inviting visitors to give back while exploring Lake County’s past.

The Cook County Clerk’s office and multiple police departments are warning residents of a scam circulating that falsely claims a court order requiring payment for traffic violations.

Crystal Lake Central meets Wauconda in a nonconference softball game on Friday, March 20, 2026, at Crystal Lake Central High School.

From Capitol News Illinois: Illinois food producers and businesses can apply for a share of $3.6 million through the Illinois Department of Agriculture as part of a grant program to support local food infrastructure systems

From Capitol News Illinois: Illinois law does not specifically shield companies from having to pay employees for time spent completing required pre- and post-work activities, the state Supreme Court unanimously ruled.

From Capitol News Illinois: Margaret Croke will advance to the November election and face Republican Bryan Drew of Marion in the first open election for the comptroller’s office since 2016

Elburn mayor Jeff Walter, is leading a four-way race to face off against Bill Foster in November for the Illinois 11th District congressional seat.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority Access Home program provides eligible homebuyers with up to $15,000 for assistance on a 30-year, fixed rate mortgage on existing homes and new construction.

The Chicago Bears addressed some areas of need in free agency, but there are still some obvious upgrades that need to be made. Here are the Bears’ top areas of need following free agency.

From Capitol News Illinois: A recent decision from a local appellate court in Washington, D.C., striking down a ban on large-capacity magazines could have an impact on a pending case challenging a similar ban in Illinois.

A 42-year-old Fox Lake man has been charged with misdemeanor domestic battery involving a 7-year-old boy who reached out to school counselor, police said.

From Capitol News Illinois: A proposed bill bearing the name of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson would require high schools to offer a voter registration opportunity for all eligible students graduating from Illinois high schools.

An additional person has been charged in connection with an October drive-by shooting death in Ingleside.

On Friday, March 6, a jury convicted Jesus Vargas, 33, of first-degree murder in connection to a 2022 stabbing of a Grayslake man.

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

Midwest Veterans Closet will host a Military Families Eggstravaganza! on March 21.

Midwest Veterans Closet will host a Spring Grocery Stock-Up for veterans on March 20.

Lake County Community Development is now accepting grant applications for its Healthy Houses program.

Selected from nearly 600 nominations statewide, Kristina Lancaster, a fourth-grade general education teacher at Big Hollow Elementary in Ingleside, is one of just 30 finalists for the 2026 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching.

University of Illinois Extension in Lake County will host a hands-on professional development session, “Find Food. Share Support” on March 25 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the Extension Auditorium, located at 100 S US Highway 45, Grayslake.

Less than 24 hours after winning one of the most closely watched primary races in the nation, 9th Congressional District Democratic nominee Daniel Biss of Evanston greeted voters in his hometown Wednesday.

Fresh from a come-from-behind victory in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton greeted voters Wednesday and explained why she thinks an aggressive anti-Trump message resonated in Illinois.

Those running to represent Illinois in the next Congress will be part of one of the most consequential midterm elections in decades

From Capitol News Illinois: The newly introduced POWER Act seeks to regulate new data centers built in Illinois and address concerns about their effects on energy prices, water and the environment

From Capitol News Illinois: Republican gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey said his campaign will focus heavily on the Chicago area. Bailey heavily lost suburban counties in Tuesday’s primary that he won four years ago but said he intentionally focused recently on downstate

The Chicago Bears are bringing back a familiar face. The team announced that they signed linebacker Jack Sanborn, a Lake Zurich-native, to a one-year deal Wednesday.

The Chicago Bears reportedly boosted their defensive tackle depth Wednesday. They’ll sign veteran tackle James Lynch to a one-year deal.

Voters in McHenry, Ogle, Lee, Grundy and many other counties are weighing in on whether they think Illinois should opt into a voucher-style federal scholarship program that would give donors a tax credit.