In this week's column, Toby Moore writes that New Year's Day resolution may not always be followed, but they do serve a purpose.

Turning bills into laws is only one step in a lengthy process. Money is usually required, and simply getting people talking about an issue is no guarantee those conversations will lead to action.

The big news coming out of the IHSA was an expansion of the football playoffs from 256 qualifying teams to 384.

As I prepare to close an 8-year chapter serving as city manager of Rochelle, I want to take a moment to sincerely thank the residents, businesses and community partners who have supported our organization and our shared vision for this community.

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

That we’re still on the improvement path seven years later isn’t the most encouraging, but it does show a commitment to actually addressing problems.

In many ways, 2025 has been a year of sharp, jagged stab wounds.

We can learn a lot by looking at ourselves through the eyes of others. A Chinese scholar gave us that opportunity in his book, “America against America.”

Police departments faced many challenges in 2025 and policing will be even more demanding in the coming year, Tom Weitzel writes

Explore the white wines from The Hilt and Jonata labels.

Some districts will seize these new opportunities. But not every Illinois school is equipped to offer such options.

Dec. 31 marks the 250th anniversary of the death of Richard Montgomery, who was killed in the frontal assault on Quebec City on New Year’s Eve 1775.

What a joy it is to me when we can be with our loved ones. Let us remember the reason for the season.

My brain has changed my daily routine. The most significant impact has been on those precious moments in the morning when I am on the edge of waking up.

One more time looking back at the sports stories and people from 2025 through the eyes of your local sports editor, looking back at feel-good moments and sorrow, best quotes and interviews, favorite story and favorite game and those we've lost

During World War II and into the post-war period, two religions had chaplains: Christian (Protestant and Roman Catholic) and Jewish. There are now five religions with chaplains: Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu.

At this time of year, whether we celebrate Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or Christmas, the message is clear: love one another.

As Christmas gatherings take place, enjoy being with your friends and family. This is what the holiday season is all about.

Merry Christmas, Bears fans. For the first time in a while, it is a merry football season and a happy playoff year. How many people did you hug last Saturday night? Joyous, glorious hugs even from strangers because of what we witnessed.

In recent years, Christmas decorations have been coming out immediately after Halloween, and by Thanksgiving we’re bombarded with demands that we buy this or that gift. Unfortunately, I suspect some of my ancestors might be responsible for this holiday excess.

Column: As we close out the year, we look forward to continuing our mission of guiding, inspiring and promoting our member businesses, writes Shirley Mott of the Batavia Chamber of Commerce.

December is almost over. We participated in the annual Christmas Walk parade. Our float was decorated with Christmas lights, a Snoopy doghouse and the Peanuts characters.

Trying to keep up with all that's happening in the battle against Alzheimer's disease isn't easy when you're a caregiver. The Alzheimer's Association is here to help with five things that were learned about the disease in 2025.

Toby Moore shares his thoughts on Christmas, how they've changed over the years and what he looks forward to when the holiday season rolls around.

In fiscal 2025 the state’s public K-12 spending was just shy of $11 billion. In fiscal 2026, it’s nearly $11.2 billion. Each figure constitutes roughly 20% of the General Revenue Fund.

Hellmich: Most people in the Sauk Valley value the spirit of collegiality and use it to find common ground with people of varying political, social, and religious views to improve our communities.

'Giving public money to a professional sports franchise doesn’t crack the top 100 things the people of Illinois are asking for, expecting, or willing to tolerate right now.'

A recent study published by three state agencies warns that electricity shortages are coming to Illinois.

More than 250 new laws take effect in Illinois Jan. 1. As has become custom around here I like to use the last few columns of December to review legislation that might not have gotten proper attention earlier in the year.

DeWalt: Heavy alcohol use can cause genetic mutations, impair tumor suppression, and limit the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food that help protect against cancer.

Christmas in the White House in the 1860s was a far cry from the ornate displays of decor familiar to Americans today. During the Lincoln administration, the holiday was observed in a low-key manner.

Daniel and I are going to bake and decorate Christmas cookies. Or at least we are going to attempt to. I can’t imagine what his will look like, but I’ll give him an A for effort.

From our editorial board: If the Chicago Bears’ stadium saga feels endless, it’s because it is. Years of proposals, renderings, press conferences and open letters have produced exactly one consistent result: nothing.

How do you assess a year that’s about to end? A simple enough task, I thought. But turns out it is not. It began as a challenge in the form of a writing prompt. That’s a writing assignment, if you choose to accept it.

Rochelle historian Tom McDermott tells the story of German immigrants Rudolf and Else Metzger and their journey to Rochelle.

Meier: If you hold a professional license, a great deal of detailed information about you and your work is public information, likely published online by regulatory authorities. This increases the chance of a targeted scam attempt against you.

Every year I am asked what I would like for Christmas. Each year my reply is “Peace on Earth.” I understand peace to mean not merely the absence of conflict, but also a wholeness to creation.

As Dixon’s oldest landmark, the 1837 foundation of the Nachusa House reaches back almost 200 years. None of the city’s other historic buildings – religious, commercial, residential or governmental – come even close to the age and prestige of the grand old Nachusa House.

In a testament to how spiritual values have changed, a Sunday conclusion to the prestigious Dvorak wrestling tournament did not merit much, if any consternation.

As with facial scans and voice recognition, technology falling under the blanket descriptor of “artificial intelligence” is advancing far more rapidly that any legislation could hope to match.

Welcome to the biggest regular-season game at Soldier Field since the Bears faced Green Bay in the 2013 finale, where the winner took the division title, Marc Silverman writes. His prediction? Bears 27, Packers 23

After so many years of disappointments, it might be understandable for Bears fans to be a bit skeptical about this year's team. However, they just might be a team worth getting behind ... finally.

What do we really want from our leaders? Maybe we just don’t care what they say or do as long as we agree with them in some way.

Holmes argued there are 'over 20 guardrails in place' against coercion, abuse and forgery, including potential felony charges. No doctors, providers or pharmacists would be required to participate; some health systems have already announced they’ll abstain.

Dick Van Dyke – one of the most joyful performers in American television and film – has spent a lifetime making gravity look negotiable.

Columnist Tom Weitzel asks whether justice is always blind or is sometimes "bent to power" when individuals with political pull are involved?

The two most intense state legislative pressure campaigns I’ve witnessed both ended in failure.

'What they have today is a joke compared to what we had in earlier years… and what we had was non-polluting.'

Paisley: Sometimes it feels like the real meaning of Christmas gets a bit lost in the midst of the decorations, presents and whirl of activities surrounding the end-of-the-year festivities.

Column: It’s important to reclaim a pocket of silence every now and then. In a way it’s an act of resistance to the bombardment of sensory stimuli all around us, particularly at the holidays, writes Joan Budilovsky.