McHenry County’s highest-ranking employee, longtime Administrator Peter Austin, announced Friday that he will retire at the end of the year.

Following a multi-day trial, former NIU running back LeShon Eugene Johnson was found guilty of six federal felonies related to his role in an illegal dog-fighting operation based out of Oklahoma.

The Northern Illinois football team held their first practice Wednesday in the Chessick Practice Center at NIU in DeKalb as they prepare for the upcoming season.

Following a string of shootings over five weeks in May and June in the Annie Glidden North Neighborhood, DeKalb residents came together Friday to march for peace and rally against gun violence.

At her first town hall in DeKalb this month, freshman lawmaker and state Rep. Amy “Murri” Briel, D-Ottawa, spoke about the effects that federal funding cuts could have on rural schools and food banks.

Organizers with the city of DeKalb, police agencies and an area church are organizing a public peace rally Friday to encourage the community to work together against gun violence.

Illinois students won’t need to fill out applications for most state universities to be admitted — if they have high enough grades. The program will begin in the 2027-28 school year, with nine of the state’s 11 public universities participating

PDM Plumbing, Heating & Cooling’s website said it can “repair, maintain and install every brand of plumbing, drains, heating and air conditioning equipment.”

NIU is the first public university to receive funds from the Sarah Siddons Society. The university is the fifth Chicago-area college to receive scholarship funds.

Loved ones are remembering Ronald Modell, founder of Northern Illinois University’s jazz program, for the love he had for music, the joy he brought to teaching and the laughs he shared along the way. He died at his home on June 10.

Column: I am retiring in August from teaching at Northern Illinois University and have decided to retire from writing this monthly column as well, writes Mary Gardner. She adds in parting: Literacy cannot only be for certain groups of people.

Northern Illinois University’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies and department of philosophy recently was awarded an American Council of Learned Societies grant to create more teaching positions.

A Northern Illinois University student has been charged in connection to a sexual assault reported at a DeKalb fraternity house in 2024, according to court records.

Multiple Northern Illinois University union workers crowded into the Board of Trustees meeting Thursday to tell officials they don’t make enough money to get by.

Looking for something to do in DeKalb County this weekend? Check out the Flag Day Car Show at Hy-Vee in Sycamore on Saturday, a youth fishing derby in DeKalb, a performance of "Legally Blonde the Musical" and more Pride Month events.

Some Northern Illinois University clerical, professional and administrative workers represented by AFSCME Local 1890 were in attendance at the NIU Board of Trustees meeting Thursday to ask for higher wages when their contract expires at the end of the month.

Stargazing enthusiasts have another chance to view the full “strawberry moon” Wednesday night at Northern Illinois University’s Observatory in DeKalb.

An NIU student from Batavia was charged Monday after police searched his dorm room in DeKalb and allegedly found more than 20,000 images depicting child sexual abuse on his electronics. Police allege he used AI and photos of real people he knew and sold the materials via Snapchat

Ellen Hanson, a recipient of the Northwest Herald's Women of Distinction honor, was a longtime teacher but has had many other roles helping others in the Crystal Lake area.

Pride Month is almost here, and there are plenty of ways to celebrate if you live in the DeKalb area.

A crowd gathered in DeKalb Friday to celebrate as Pride Month kicks off. Organizers said Pride Palooza was a chance to show area families how welcoming the community can be. "We need to embrace the differences," organizer Violeta Shaw said.

A’Jah Davis once believed that following her hoop dreams meant going overseas to play basketball. But the DeKalb native and standout NIU women’s basketball star, has since found her calling mentoring area youth.

High school seniors, college undergraduates and students from across DeKalb County celebrated milestones in their educational journeys this month. Check out photos from various ceremonies here.

Northern Illinois University graduates walked across the stage this weekend for the Class of 2025 Commencement ceremony, celebrating their diplomas as loved ones filled the Convocation Center.

The 2024 season was the first time Drew Hoth didn't play tackle football since the fifth grade. But he had a new passion to takes it places as he started student teaching. He's set to be a 5th grade teacher at Mitchell when the school opens in the fall.

Dixon High School students signed letters of intent Tuesday, May 6, 2025, to go into the teaching profession.

Workers’ rights, immigration, and higher education free of government oversight were among issues protesters decried Saturday as under attack by the Trump administration, urging the large crowd gathered in DeKalb to put “unrelenting” pressure on legislators to push back.

The Northern Illinois University Art Museum’ “Mysterious Dream Suite,” featuring four exhibits run through mid-May.

The visas of five Northern Illinois University international students that were revoked by the federal government weeks ago have been reinstated, a university spokesperson said Tuesday.

Work to build a roundabout near Northern Illinois University campus in DeKalb will begin in May, a plan that city officials have said will improve pedestrian safety.

The cost to attend state universities has been rising, and some institutions have said they’ll have to continue pushing the brunt of state budget shortfalls onto students and families if there isn’t a change.

Northern Illinois University recently held a youth basketball tournament for the five Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice youth centers.

Federal immigration agents are reversing the termination of legal status for international students across the country, and a spokesperson for Northern Illinois University said Friday that NIU leaders are keeping apprised of the ongoing situation.

A large crowd turned out this week to protest the federal government’s decisions to revoke visas from five international students at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. Attendees included U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood and Cortland Mayor Mark Pietrowski, who works at NIU.

Dozens of people took part in a rally Wednesday at Northern Illinois University, in support of international students, faculty and staff in light of the federal government's recent spike in revocations of visa's from international students across the country.

A reception for senior capstone projects highlighting the creative works of graduating Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science students in Northern Illinois University’s School of Art and Design is fast approaching.

After the relocation of the historic Hired Man’s House from Sycamore to DeKalb last fall, project leaders said building improvements were in order and are expected to be completed in the coming months.

The Eagle’s Nest Art Gallery recently received a donation of three paintings by artist Henry Howard Bagg from retired Northern Illinois University professor of geology Jonathan Berg.

Northern Illinois University officials declined to provide more information Thursday on the public institution’s five international students whose visas have been revoked by the U.S. government. No one has said publicly why the students lost their visas as of Thursday.

A Northern Illinois University spokesperson confirmed Thursday that five international students there had lost their visas

An American political science scholar has been arrested and charged in Thailand with insulting the Thai monarchy, the U.S. State Department announced. Paul Chambers, 58, an NIU alum from Oklahoma, could face 15 years in jail.

A press conference was held Wednesday afternoon in the Convocation Center at Northern Illinois University where Jacey Brooks was named the new NIU women's basketball coach.

The return of the Reality Bytes Student Film Festival on April 15 and 16 in DeKalb will feature more than 20 different international films, organizers said.

Families and community members of all ages are invited to the second annual DeKalb County Earth Fest on Saturday, a chance to learn about sustainable living, celebrate the environment and have a little fun.

Opinion: If you’re passionate about a healthy environment and sustainable future, then DeKalb County Earth Fest – a free and family-friendly event from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. this Saturday in DeKalb – is for you, writes Thomas Skuzinski.

The City of DeKalb has tapped a Freeport-based construction firm to build a $1.8 million roundabout at Lucinda Avenue and Normal Road near Northern Illinois University. Construction could be complete by the fall.

Former NIU running back LeShon Johnson was charged in connection to illegal dog fighting after federal authorities seized 190 dogs from his Oklahoma property, the U.S. Department of Justice announced this week.

The Northern Illinois University football team held its first spring practice Thursday inside the Chessick Practice Center as they prepare for the 2025 season.

A Northern Illinois University weather researcher, whose forecasts are regularly used by storm chasers across the U.S., will help lead a study for scientists to better understand hailstorms, impacts and their role in severe weather patterns.

Northern Illinois University‘s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will host a discussion featuring journalist and author Naomi Klein as part of its final Rebuilding Democracy Lecture Series for the season.