In Rochelle, like many other cities, it is the diversity of its citizens that makes it special.

An Ogle County judge set a Feb. 17 trial for an animal rights activist accused of falsely reporting a shooting at a rodeo near Rochelle

Rochelle Township High School will host its eighth-grade curriculum night on Wednesday, Dec. 3, for eighth-grade students and parents from 6:30-8 p.m. in the RTHS Auditorium

A historic and longtime-vacant downtown Rochelle building will be seeing redevelopment over the next year.

As we move deeper into the fall/winter season, I am excited to share some highlights and updates from the past month in Rochelle.

A ribboncutting event was held Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, for Rochelle Community Hospital’s Behavioral Health Services department that launched in April.

Several politicians, including those who are also veterans, have said in a video on Nov. 18, 2025, directed at current serving members of the military, that “You must refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution.”

After the telephone moved beyond experimental use, telephone service began appearing in Illinois in the late 1870s and 1880s

Here's a list of Ogle County property transfers for Nov. 24-28, 2025.

The exhibit runs through Wednesday, Dec. 17, at the Flagg-Rochelle Public Library. The display is free and open to the public at any time the library is open. The pop-up exhibition connects audiences with the people and places that shaped the nation's birth.

The 20th annual Two-Ton Thanksgiving Food Drive in Rochelle, hosted by 102.3 The Coyote, SuperHits 93.5, and Prescott Brothers Ford, set new records this year with more food and monetary donations than ever.

Rochelle columnist and historian Tom McDermott chronicles the life of Chief Shabbona, a key figure in the area's American Indian history.

The Rochelle Township High School varsity and junior varsity competition cheer teams both took first place in the Wilmington Spiritline Competition in their divisions on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025.

The city of Rochelle’s fiscal 2026 budget is $13 million less than the previous year’s, primarily due to less spending on capital projects, City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh said.

The Rochelle City Council on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, unanimously approved two parameters ordinances authorizing the future issuance of general obligation bonds to fund projects at the Rochelle Technology Center and the Rochelle Municipal Airport.

A ribboncutting ceremony was held Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, for Royal Arcade, a new arcade space inside local ice cream shop Roiel Scoop at 316 N. Sixth St.

Devore: "I just read Reed Harris’ column, 'Consider this: Why I love Rochelle', in the Sunday, Nov. 23, Rochelle News-Leader and I commend his love of Rochelle."

The Rochelle Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the Light Up Lincoln Christmas Parade on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025.

The Merry & Bright Decorating Contest is once again being sponsored by the Rochelle Chamber of Commerce. The chamber encourages all residents and business owners to make the community festive this holiday season.

Here is a list of Ogle County property transfers for Nov. 17-21, 2025.

The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act passed by the state legislature in late October stands to impact the city of Rochelle-owned Rochelle Municipal Utilities and its customers, city officials said Nov. 19. Gov. JB Pritzker has pledged to sign the bill.

Dewayne Adams of Holcomb served in the United States Army from 1955-1957. His duty included driving a supply truck during the Korean War. 

The city of Rochelle is moving toward construction on a new electrical substation project for Rochelle Municipal Utilities on Centerpoint Drive off Illinois Route 38 west of town, RMU Superintendent of Electric Operations Blake Toliver said Nov. 19, 2025.

The city of Rochelle is considering issuing alternate revenue bonds for potential projects at the Rochelle Municipal Airport and the Rochelle Technology Center that would likely total $2.7 million, City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh said Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025.

Rochelle’s new pocket park at 517 W. Fourth Ave. includes a concrete path, brick, native plants, space for seating and food vendors, light poles and cafe lights. A custom bench will run along a concrete ledge.

The Vince Carney Community Theater at 108 S. Main St. in Rochelle will host its 10th annual winter gala fundraiser Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025.

The 18-year-old is charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm, a Class 1 felony, and aggravated use of a firearm as a person under the age of 21, a Class 4 felony

The Rochelle Township High School Board of Education on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, heard a report from RTHS Principal Chris Lewis on the school’s Every Student Succeeds Act designation for the past year.

All-Interstate 8 forward Brody Bruns is one of several players set to return for the Rochelle boys basketball team this season. The Hubs will begin the season at Sycamore's Strombom Tournament later this month.

The Flagg-Rochelle Community Park District Board of Commissioners on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, unanimously approved a $21,118 purchase of new signage for 10 parks.

Focus House celebrated its 50-year anniversary Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, to honor the half century it has provided residential, counseling, education and alternative programming to at-risk youths.

Constellation, owner of the Byron Nuclear Plant, presented a $15,000 donation to the Rochelle Christian Food Pantry on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025.

Community members nearly filled Rochelle City Hall council chambers Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, to see presentations by city officials and data center developer LFF Industrial, which has been working on a potential project with the city.

Ogle County residents on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, were able to get a glimpse at the Illinois Department of Transportation’s plans regarding a proposed roundabout for the state Route 251 and state Route 64 intersection north of Rochelle.

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.

Wreaths may be sponsored up until the deadline of Nov. 28 for placement this December.

Here's a list of Ogle County property transfers for Nov. 10-14, 2025.

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.

When the harvest ends, creativity begins – and round hay bales become art. Need an idea for a neat front yard creation? Look to Rochelle, where the community comes up with colorful creations on circular canvases.

Two-sport standout Roman Villalobos, an IHSA state qualifier last season, is one of multiple experienced and talented seniors back for the Rochelle boys wrestling team this season. The Hubs, who went 21-7 last season, are seeking a fourth straight Interstate 8 Conference crown.

A ribboncutting was held Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, for The Fit Hub’s new location at 126 state Route 38. The business serves health-centered drinks including coffee, shakes, tea and more.

The Rochelle Christian Food Pantry at 770 Lincoln Ave. saw an all-time record with 237 families served during the week of Nov. 2-8, 2025.

National Rural Health Day is Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Rochelle Community Hospital is the only facility of its kind in Ogle County and the only hospital in a 30-minute radius of Rochelle.

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.

A Shabbona home is a total loss after a Thursday fire broke out, leaving an estimated $350,000 in damages, Fire Chief Joseph Herrmann announced.

The city of Rochelle will host a town hall meeting to discuss a potential data center development Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025.

The University of Illinois Extension serving Ogle and Carroll counties has received a $1,000 donation from CHS Rochelle to support the Ag in the Classroom program.

A structure fire destroyed a house on the south side of Shabbona Thursday afternoon near Shabbona Grove Road. Several local departments responded to the general alarm.

Seniors Jaydin Dickey and Carmela Bright will be tasked with leading a Rochelle girls basketball team seeking to improve on an 8-23 record and a 1-9 mark in the Interstate 8 last season. Rochelle's 2025-26 season begins at the Oregon Tip Off Tournament next week.