Two Wisconsin brothers both pleaded guilty Thursday to shooting a firearm nine times at a home in Harvard knowing it was occupied, and each was sentenced to nine years in prison.

Democratic candidate Kat Abughazaleh on Thursday scored another first in the crowded race to succeed U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky in the largely suburban 9th District by releasing a cable TV ad.

The west leg of Miller Road at Randall Road in Lake in the Hills near Crystal Lake is set to reopen Friday for the holidays.

Woodstock junior guard Max Beard scored his 1,000th point this week and seeks to become the school's all-time leading scorer before he graduates. Plus notes on McHenry and Burlington Central in the Northwest Herald's boys basketball notebook.

Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake will host "Jingle Belles" live comedy, the Elgin Symphony Orchestra and Classical Blast! performances this weekend.

A Wonder Lake man who was convicted decades ago of murdering his wife – and who was cleared last year of domestic violence – has admitted guilt to a new charge of domestic abuse.

Months after approving salary raises for countywide elected officials, the McHenry County Board has decided not to take up compensation for its own members in the near future.

A battery energy storage facility is being eyed for Prairie Grove, but residents question the potential impacts on safety and wildlife.

Junior guards Carson Trivellini and Nick Stowasser each dished out four assists, with Trivellini scoring a team-high 17 points, as Crystal Lake South held off a late rally to beat Huntley 54-49.

No horses were injured after a barn caught on fire and the owner successfully extinguished it Wednesday afternoon near Woodstock, officials report.

McHenry suspended its leaf pickup, hopes to get remaining leaves in the spring, but offers yard waste pickup through end of the week.

A contractor working at the Water’s Edge development in Crystal Lake was flown to a trauma center after falling off a scaffolding Wednesday.

A canopy of a gas station in Cary collapsed Sunday from the snow after it was initially damaged from a severe thunderstorm in August.

Downed live wires in front of a home in Algonquin caused electrical sparks and a fire Wednesday morning, officials report.

A pair of young deer who got stuck in ice on Pistakee Bay were moved to safe ground by McHenry County Fire Protection District personnel.

An employee suffered serious burns in a fire at a Marengo manufacturing facility.

Jayce Schmitt scored 19 points, Jarrel Albea added 17, and Johnsburg's boys basketball team beat short-handed Richmond-Burton 71-46 Tuesday night in a Kishwaukee River Conference opener.

Crystal Lake South and Huntley exchanged leads five times in the fourth quarter. In the end, it was the Gators who came out on top. Senior Laken LePage tossed in 10 of her game-high 25 points in the fourth quarter as South held on for a 47-45 win.

Adam Anwar finished with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Nate Ottaway added 12 points and four rebounds as McHenry fought off Hampshire 47-38 in a defensive Fox Valley Conference boys basketball matchup Tuesday evening.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed into law a bill banning Homeland Security agents from arresting people in or near daycare centers, hospitals, colleges or courthouses who are suspected of being in the country illegally.

Johnsburg sophomores Skye and Summer Toussaint have averaged almost 40 points a game for the undefeated Skyhawks. The twin sisters hope to lead Johnsburg to its first conference championship since 2017.

A high-profile contender for the congressional post now held by U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky has survived a legal challenge to her candidacy.

Crystal Lake residents are speaking out against a proposed third Dunkin’ Donuts in town, saying the location will further cause traffic headaches in the neighboring residential area already dealing with Lake Roots overflow.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker made a quiet appearance in Crystal Lake last week visiting local nonprofits and leaders to learn about food insecurity in McHenry County.

An Elgin man accused of posting an “explicit photo” of a Marengo woman on Snapchat, printing it on a T-shirt and twice violating an order of protection has been detained in McHenry County jail, records show.

The Green Street Cafe's owners will rent the building from McHenry for up to a year under agreement to sell it to the city before they retire.

Cary's very merry holiday celebration Merry Cary brought a parade and lots of seasonal mirth to town Sunday after another snow left the village looking that much more like Christmas.

Following a huge snowfall the previous weekend, most of McHenry County awoke Sunday to about another half a foot of white flakes.

More of the roof and walls at Thompson’s Appliance in Woodstock caved in Sunday morning, Dece. 7.

McHenry-based Bupp Woodworks & Design has national reach, looking at potential for expanding their shop that preserves flowers in resin for customers across the country.

Tina and Trevor Bupp of McHenry-based Bupp Woodworks & Design, have made a name for themselves preserving florals like wedding bouquets and funeral flowers to memorialize important events.

Huntley made the season bright Saturday with A Very Merry Huntley, featuring live reindeer, a big Santa arrival, Kris Kringle market, the Lighting of the Square, fireworks and, for the first time this year, a parade.

A new hotel is still planned for downtown Woodstock - but with some changes, including how long it will take.

A Republican candidate running to succeed longtime U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky in the largely suburban 9th District was convicted of a sex crime against a juvenile decades ago, records show.

Prosecutors allege that a Crystal Lake man asked a stranger online for sexually explicit images of children ages 8 to 12.

People gather to honor late veterans during a wreath-laying ceremony on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in McHenry. The event was hosted by McHenry American Legion Post 491 and Team Home Depot. Organizers and supporters adorned thousands of gravesites with wreaths at St. Mary's and several other cemeteries in the area.

A Sleepy Hollow woman said Friday she is offering a $30,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in her daughter’s 2009 death, which authorities ruled in 2022 was a “homicide.”

A chunk of ice, believed to have come from a truck driving ahead, smashed through a van's windshield near Marengo Friday, hospitalizing the driver.

A judge said a Woodstock woman in jail on drug charges “made several phone calls” to her roommate about “hiding narcotics still in her residence.”

Nathan Ottaway scored a game-high 19 points, Adam Anwar had 10 of his 15 points in the second half, and host McHenry rallied past Burlington Central 53-47 Friday night in a Fox Valley Conference boys basketball game.

Marissa Taege caught fire early with three first-quarter 3s, Zoe Nanos chased down two key offensive rebounds late, and Prairie Ridge held on to beat Hampshire 42-36 in their Fox Valley Conference game Friday night.

Johnsburg senior Kainoa Ancog won the 157-pound title at the Vernon Hills Cougar Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday, Nov. 29. Ancog was voted the Northwest Herald Athlete of the Week in an online vote.

McHenry County businesses are having another go at Small Business Saturday this weekend after last week’s promotion was mostly derailed by almost a foot of snow that blanketed the region.

City officials don’t have a set timeline on when a portion of Clay Street in downtown Woodstock will reopen, as a roof cave-in at Thompson’s Appliances has raised fears the building could collapse.

Crystal Lake's 1850s Academy Building is expected to be demolished now that efforts to raise money to move the structure from church property have not succeeded.

Holiday events include a Very Merry Huntley, Home for the Holidays at the McHenry County Historical Society & Museum and Merry Cary Holiday Parade & Festival.

The cold weather has snuffed out the luminary light display and music that had been planned for Thursday evening in downtown Crystal Lake, but organizers hope Luminary Nights will be back Dec. 11 and 18.

The roof of a business in downtown Woodstock has collapsed, causing the block to be shut down amid concerns of further collapse.

AJ Berndt posted career bests of 26 points and seven 3-pointers, and Cary-Grove's boys basketball stayed hot by beating Crystal Lake South 59-52 in a Fox Valley Conference opener Wednesday night in Cary.

A woman who initially claimed an intruder shot her and her husband on their property in near Wonder Lake admitted Tuesday that she fired on her husband and was sentenced to 22 years in prison.