The one-hour walk through the halls of the Executive Mansion, led by Mrs. Kennedy with CBS correspondent Charles Collingwood, gave the American people a behind-the-scenes look at the history, style, and décor of the White House. It remains a signature moment of the Kennedy years.

Nov. 19 marks the anniversary of the Gettysburg Address, a two-minute oration that is considered among the greatest speeches in American history.

Never apologize for beating teams on the schedule. For years, the Bears were the team that others looked forward to playing. They are no longer that, Marc Silverman writes

Column: As we all ease into the holiday spirit, you’ll notice that DeKalb County certainly doesn’t lack festive celebrations, writes Katherine McLaughlin of the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

In this week's column, Toby Moore writes that maintaining a life balance is crucial, but this balance is allowed to be altered.

Whether these bills might become law is analysis best saved for someone more familiar with Madison than Springfield but it’s interesting to at least consider the proposals as well as underlying factors in order to draw comparisons to Illinois.

Larson: The origin of the word “woke” is in the vernacular speech of African Americans of the 1930s. It originally meant one was aware and attentive to issues of social injustice, including racism and discrimination.

House Democratic legislators received a stern lecture during the second week of veto session about leaks from their private party caucus meetings.

After visiting a teller in person and signing off on several forms, we got seven letters confirming the change – one for each checking and savings account affected – then two days later seven more initially sent to the old house and rerouted to the current address.

Column: Friday, Dec. 5 brings one of the most magical nights of the year, when the Christmas Walk officially kicks off the holiday season in Geneva, writes Johanna Patterson of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce.

One hundred and sixty-two years ago Nov. 19, Abraham Lincoln delivered his incomparable Gettysburg Address at the dedication of Gettysburg National Cemetery. In the years before, the designer of the cemetery had left his imprint on Illinois.

Wise: We have much to be thankful for in the Sauk Valley. Our local governments, from Oregon to Fulton, work to meet the needs of our communities. There may be occasional shortcomings, but overall, we are thankful for those who do that work.

Wadsworth: Dozens of early local villages had “grove” in their name. You’re probably familiar with Franklin Grove, Sugar Grove, Gap Grove, and Deer Grove. But there were many more.

Harris: So, what kind of standing in the world does the United States currently have? Are things looking better or are they deteriorating? How about at home? Do things look better here?

Obendorf: A package came in the mail for the Polo Historical Society. In it were several things, including several badges worn by Joe Powell when he was chief of police for Polo and when he was Ogle County sheriff.

I’m going to share the recipe for this coffee cake my sister Susan and Ervin brought to our house recently when they came for supper

The number of living veterans has generally decreased yearly, but again Illinois account for about 3.2% of the nation’s 14.2 million veterans.

“Got a question for you. Would Jesus swat a fly or stomp on a spider?”

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to get consumed by our work. The projects, meetings, deadlines and community commitments can fill every hour if we let them.

They are our neighbors, our teachers, our coaches, our friends. They carry stories of courage, sacrifice, and quiet strength – stories that continue to shape the places we call home

The Rochelle Lions Club would like to thank everyone who participated in our annual Candy Days.

There have been many clubs and organizations in the Rochelle area. The longest organization in continuous operation is Horicon Masonic Lodge No. 244.

Column: Unfortunately, massage is not covered by insurance in our good ol’ US of A, so it can be difficult on the pocketbook. And here’s where our wonderful local community college can help, writes Joan Budilovsky.

There are currently at least 42 million Americans dependent upon SNAP to provide the necessary funds to feed themselves and their families.

Explore the fine wines of Italian winery Tenuta Luce as it celebrates its 30th anniversary.

Designed as an annual program, “The Visionary Series” brings dynamic, high-profile speakers to the Joliet region in an elevated luncheon format, providing a platform for inspiration, knowledge sharing, and networking.

That failure contradicts the General Assembly’s reputation as a place where powerful Democrats always get what they want and subverts the expectation of the veto session as a setting for ramming through transformative legislation on deadline in dark of night.

Are the Bears good? The best answer I can give is, I don’t know, Marc Silverman writes

Proficiency rates “would have increased if we had kept the same cut scores. However, we changed the cut scores, so we can’t tell you what they would have been. But we know they would have improved.”

It’s impossible to enter any cemetery in Kendall County and not find the graves of veterans of virtually every war in the nation’s history, from the American Revolutionary Warright up through modern Mideast wars.

When tragic things happen in our community, those of us at your local newspaper share in the loss and sadness. 

Political influence has moved from reasonable policy setting into operational micromanagement, and that shift is corroding public safety, Tom Weitzel argues in his Roll Call column

In this week's column, Toby Moore write this country's greatness comes through human hearts and hands, not government checks.

Harp: The mental health profession doesn’t recognize Trump Derangement Syndrome as a true mental illness. The President’s supporters have nevertheless enjoyed some success in discrediting his opponents with that label. They probably don’t, however, appreciate its larger meaning.

The heart of the transit funding package is a decision to use all state motor fuel sales taxes to fund mass transit instead of sending that cash to the Road Fund.

SB 2111 doesn’t represent a comprehensive, statewide solution and its passage puts the onus back on those dissatisfied with the status quo to push lawmakers to keep working on the challenges even without an imminent financial disaster.

Dickson: After reading recent comments in the Ogle County Life I wondered if, in general, we are weak on civics and maybe weak on composition skills as well.

Cooper: President Trump's "alternative facts" seem to now be a central feature in appeals of several lawsuits involving his deployment of National Guard troops into Los Angeles, Portland and Chicago in response to protests of ICE immigration tactics.

Our minds wander, and before you know it, stories of your family find their way into your column

Obendorf: Up at the Dr. Burns House in the newspaper room is a beautiful antique slanted wooden piece of furniture for reading the big newspaper books. Since the newspaper books are now being brought to the museum, we want to bring this antique down to the museum.

Through every season, Nature sings different songs, and if we listen closely, those songs can inform the cycles of our soul’s internal seasons we move through in life.

The Budget Reserve for Immediate Disbursements and Governmental Emergencies is only $100 million. Democrats created the pool by sweeping money from 57 other funds in anticipation of federal decisions with negative fiscal implications for Illinois.

How did we do it? There are days I wonder.

Henry Henze, of Rochelle, stood guard over Abraham Lincoln’s casket from Chicago to Springfield on his last ride home. 

Clearly $20 is significant to someone counting every penny, but as a yearly figure it won’t sway anyone’s vote. The loss of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits is a different story, with an average of about $184 per beneficiary each month.

It’s okay to say it, Bears fans. Caleb Williams has to be better, and he has to be better right now, Marc Silverman writes

But it is precisely because we see and feel all of the cruelty, pain and destruction, that we have no choice but to continue to live and give from the heart.

Alzheimer's disease has a way of turning a milestone anniversary into a bittersweet celebration.

As the vibrant leaves change colors and the temperatures begin to drop, we are reminded that fall has officially arrived in Rochelle.

In this week's column, Toby Moore writes that that harshest times can often create the strongest of souls.