Chicago Bears coordinators met with reporters Thursday at Halas Hall as the team continued preparing for its regular-season finale against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field on Sunday. Here are three of the most interesting things the Bears said Thursday.

A home was left uninhabitable after a fire in the Marengo area late on New Year’s Eve

Two people were hospitalized after a car crashed into a house in Johnsburg on Thursday morning

Space heaters are most often responsible for home-heating fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Illinois’ statewide 1% grocery tax will go away on Jan. 1, though many people will continue to pay it at the local level.

Visit Moraine Hills near McHenry or one of the area's additional state parks for a First Day Hike on Jan. 1.

2025 saw a number of restaurants open across northern Illinois.

Hear hits like "Hotel California," "Take it Easy," "Life in the Fast Lane" and many more Eagles hits at the Jan. 3 concert.

These 15 stories from The Scene saw the most visitors this past year.

National Bloody Mary Day is Jan. 1. Celebrate with a cocktail at one of these award-winning bars in Kane and McHenry counties, the Sauk Valley and the Illinois Valley.

A fire Wednesday evening at Walmart in Woodstock prompted the store to be evacuated and to remain closed for the evening.

There were no injuries reported, but the Cary home and its contents are considered a “complete loss,” and a dog remained missing as of early Thursday

Bears fans, stop waiting for the other shoe to drop, Marc Silverman writes. This team is real, Caleb Williams is built for the moment, and Ben Johnson delivered on every promise. Buckle up – January is going to be fun

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze would’ve continued to miss practice according to an estimated report the team released Wednesday. Rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III and left tackle both would've been limited.

President Donald Trump said he’s dropping — for now — his push to deploy National Guard troops in Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon, a move that comes after legal roadblocks hung up the effort

Preventable pregnancy-related deaths rose and stark racial disparities remained in the Illinois Department of Public Health’s most recent maternal mortality report.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams said it'd be cool to be the first Bears quarterback to pass for 4,000 yards in a season if he accomplished the feat against the Detroit Lions on Sunday. He's 270 yards away from reaching the mark.

Scam texts typically claim that the recipient’s vehicle registration or driving privileges are at risk of suspension and prompt immediate action through a link.

The Salvation Army encourages Illinoisans to consider post-holiday giving. “As the year comes to a close, the need in our communities does not,” said Lt. Colonel Jonathan Rich,

From Capitol News Illinois: Also beginning Jan. 1, students in seventh and eighth grade will be able to get an early jump on earning high school credits

Two men face felony charges that they “knowingly misrepresenting” the cost of repairing the driveway of an 87-year-old Crystal Lake homeowner.

Dundee-Crown and Huntley boys basketball won on the last day of the Chuck Dayton Holiday Classic, Hampshire girls finished 2-2 at the Komaromy Classic, Harvard girls took runner-up at the North Boone Christmas Tournament, and more in Tuesday's roundup.

Two Men and a Junk Truck, an offshoot of Two Men and a Truck, is expanding to Crystal Lake and Aurora.

The McHenry County Coroner’s Office has identified a woman who died Monday morning in a Harvard car crash.

Launch snowballs, test a blubber glove in icy water, explore the northern lights and warm up with hot chocolate at the Illinois State Museum.

The Chicago Bears' loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night raised a question: Is the Bears defense ready for the playoffs? Here's a look at what the numbers say.

"First and foremost, Illinois must restore a sense of fiscal responsibility," state Sen. Craig Wilcox of McHenry writes of his wish list for 2026.

The Chicago Bears fell a play short in a 42-38 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night. Shaw Local's Michal Dwojak and Joe Aguilar break down the loss and what's next with a week left in the regular season

Singer-songwriter Joe Fisher delivers the full “Nebraska” album, stripped down to its bare essence — with the stark poetry of America’s backroads.

Expect some slick roads late Tuesday afternoon and again on New Year's Eve as periods of light snow move in

McHenry County’s first Scooter’s Coffee location is open inside the Algonquin Meijer, located at 400 S. Randall Road.

Harvard's Summer Jones scored a program-record 30 points to beat Alden-Hebron and lead the Hornets to the championship game of the North Boone Christmas Tournament. Plus more holiday tournament scores in Monday's Northwest Herald roundup.

The biggest increase in hospital admissions for the flu in Illinois is in children ages 5 to 17. Only 1 in 5 Illinois residents has received the flu vaccine

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson met with reporters virtually Monday a day after his team fell a play short in a 42-38 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Here are three of the most interesting things Johnson said Monday.

From Capitol News Illinois: The Trump administration filed a lawsuit seeking to nullify a new state law that allows Illinois residents to sue federal immigration agents who arrest them in or near courthouses or if they believe their constitutional rights were violated

The law applies to both part- and full-time workers. It covers a broader swath of workers than the federal Family and Medical Leave Act.

Prairie Ridge sophomore Tymen Robinson captured the 106-pound championship at the Larkin Royal Throne Invite and went 5-0 during the week. Robinson was voted the Northwest Herald Athlete of the Week.

The Chicago Bears couldn't pull off some late-game magic in a 42-38 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night. Here are the five big takeaways from tough loss out on the road.

The Chicago Bears had a chance to win their game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night. But Caleb Williams and the offense fell a play short. Here's a breakdown of the final minutes of the Bears' failed comeback.

The Chicago Bears' DJ Moore and Darnell Wright will both be active Sunday night against the San Francisco 49ers after they were added to the injury report over the weekend with illnesses.

Next summer, area residents and visitors will be able to gather for a new festival in Algonquin following the end of Founders Days.

Strong winds, with gusts ranging from 45 to 55 mph, will usher in a cold front Sunday night that could result in snow showers in some areas, the National Weather Service said.

After more than a decade of whole milk being absent from school cafeterias, legislation allowing for more milk options awaits the president’s signature.

These 10 stories across Shaw Local saw the most visitors in 2025.

The Huntley Red Raiders Fastpitch travel softball program has opened a new indoor facility. In the past the organization rented space wherever available; now it's got a home to all its own.

Maine South held on for a 48-46 triumph over Huntley on Saturday to advance to Monday’s Komaromy Classic semifinals at Dundee-Crown High School. The Red Raiders will play in the fifth/seventh place bracket.

The Chicago Bears won their first NFC North championship since 2018 on Saturday night after the Green Bay Packers lost to the Baltimore Ravens.

McHenry boys basketball defeated West Chicago to win the Elgin Holiday Tournament consolation championship, Woodstock boys topped Antioch, Burlington Central girls moved to 10-3 with a win against Pecatonica at the Dixon Christmas Classic, and more in Saturday's roundup.

Storms and falling temperatures are expected Sunday into Monday in northern Illinois.

Planned Parenthood provided services for nearly 35,000 Illinois Medicaid customers across the state in 2024, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services said.