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.

Column: As the year winds to a close, the DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation is reflecting on a year that was shaped by the one thing that has always made our county stand out from the pack – innovation, writes Mellissa Amedeo.

Schwendau: Given the disrespect and misinformation being shown towards our seated President Donald Trump, I think it is time to drop some hard truths that are not up for debate.

The “waiting room.” What a perfect name ... for a room where you wait.

The present reality, at best, makes it harder for taxpayers to advocate for better allocation of public resources. At worst, the system offers an inviting shield for elected officials to deflect blame for poor (or intentionally harmful) decisions.

Wadsworth: For many early stagecoach passengers, the Rock River ferry forced them to stay for the night. But for others, the beauty of Dixon’s unique perch above the river would inspire them to stay for a lifetime.

Pinot Noir is the perfect compliment to your Thanksgiving Day feast.

In the Nov. 17, 2025, edition of Ogle County Life, Reed Harris asked “When do we start winning?” He posed a lot of questions for our consideration. They were more than questions, though. Framed in a manner critical of the current administration, they make me ask questions.

Why Marc Silverman is choosing to be “sports happy” and not nitpick how the Bears win and who they continue to beat. Even if this team isn’t a true contender in 2025, they’ve got the coach, quarterback, and other assets to make them viable heading into the future

November is National Family Caregivers Month, which is meant to shed light on the job family members do in caring for their loved ones. Have you ever wanted to lend a hand but just don't know where to start? These suggestions might help.

Density, infrastructure and other factors vary widely by ZIP code, but every state agency deals with similar regional discrepancies and SB 2111 simply didn’t go far enough in addressing concerns about the shared basic need to get from here to there.

In this week's column, Toby Moore writes that permission from the so-called gatekeepers or institutions are no longer needed to reach customers, readers or supporters.

Rochelle stands at the doorstep of another wave of technology investment: data centers. Questions about water, energy and neighborhood impact are natural — but so are the opportunities.

I love the city of Rochelle for many reasons. First and foremost, it is the city where I grew up. For this reason, I try to volunteer whenever I have a chance, to give back to the city that helped raise me.

The literally last-minute petition filing meant that people who would’ve run if García had announced his intent earlier were shut out of the race.

The projects might’ve cost less if started earlier but the Department of Natural Resources budget was shuffled down the priority list during years when even social service agencies weren’t close to adequately funded.

As another harvest season ends, Kendall County residents don’t need eagle eyes to tell that things continue to rapidly change around these parts.

Column: Holiday magic is coming to DeKalb! writes the chamber's resident festive elf, Elfie. Local magic is real — and you’re part of it. Let’s make this holiday season shine brighter than ever.

On April 27, 2025, Governor Pritzker spoke at a New Hampshire Democrat Party fundraising event, calling for “mass protests, mobilization, and disruption” against Republicans to protest the current administration.

Column: What's Happening in Batavia? Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry and Clothes Closet open house is Nov. 21. Public input is needed on a longterm city energy plan. And the city's fiscal 2026 budget draft has been published, writes Lori Botterman.

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

Neighbor Amy brought us some Winesap apples from her tree. I was really glad for them. They have a good taste for fresh eating, but are also good to bake with.

He is Pope Leo XIV, and he recently marked his first six months in the role he was elected to in May after the death of Pope Francis.

Thanksgiving is a time when families and friends gather to share a meal together. It is a time of fellowship and reminds all of us to think about what we are grateful for.

I was wondering if Jesus would stomp a spider or smash a fly?

What’s a better framing for the reserve, 2% or $29 million? What about Pritzker’s proposal versus what Democrats formally budgeted: who wanted to pull which levers of power at what time or, from the other side, who was willing to bear the criticism if the money doesn’t move?

In the early morning hours of Oct. 31, while most Illinoisans were asleep, legislative Democrats pushed through a sweeping overhaul of the state’s public transit system.

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.