At its meeting Monday, Aug. 25, the Rochelle City Council unanimously accepted a strategic communications plan that will see it adopt purple as the city’s official color and change branding in coming months.

Spring Lake Pool in Rochelle saw its highest attendance numbers in 5 years this summer, Flagg-Rochelle Community Park District Director of Recreation Maureen Stevens said Aug. 21, 2025.

Trump derangement syndrome (TDS) is an affliction of mostly the leftists in the country.  TDS can be defined as a personal behavior where one views everything that Trump does as bad.

Northern Rehab Physical Therapy Specialists are hosting an after-hours open house on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the clinic, 1211 Currency Court, Rochelle.

After its grant cycle ended in the summer of 2025, the Rochelle Elementary School District will be locally funding its HUB Program this semester through Dec. 12, district officials said Aug. 21.

Stepping Stones Preschool began operations at the newly reopened May Elementary School on Aug. 19, 2025, Rochelle Elementary School District officials said.

Batavia City Council members are expected to approve a new energy policy at their Sept. 2 meeting to set sustainability goals and guide future energy decisions.

Every fall, additional bricks in the Rochelle Veterans War Memorial are engraved in time for Veterans Day. Orders for brick engraving are collected and the engraver is hired to perform the work on a dry day in the fall. 

Chana Methodist Church will celebrates its 150th year Sept. 7, 2025.

Richard Sax and Joseph Dubin were two Chicago men with a dream, very little money, but a dream. The two men wanted to start a printing company but could not afford the high costs of opening a shop in Chicago.

Here is a list of property transfers for Ogle County for Aug. 18-22, 2025.

The Kishwaukee College Foundation recently announced student scholarship recipients for the Fall 2025 semester. The Foundation awarded 296 scholarships totaling $218,866.

The annual summer banquet and officer installation for the upcoming year of Rochelle American Legion Post 403 was held at Storybook Gardens in Rochelle on Aug. 13.

Kris Wexell, program director and operations manager at WYOT-FM and WRHL-FM, has been recognized by Radio Ink magazine as one of the Best Program Directors in America for 2025.

The Rochelle Chamber of Commerce presented its Lawn of the Week award for the week of Aug. 22 to Jose and Lourdes Arroyo. They received a sign and a $25 Rochelle ACE Hardware gift card, presented by Rochelle Ace Hardware Manager Jesse Lopez.

On Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, the City of Rochelle held a groundbreaking for the expansion of its Rochelle Intermodal Transload Center at 1851 S. Steward Road.

Augustana College recently recognized 555 students during its 165th commencement ceremony.

Shaw Media is set to buy four northern Illinois newspapers after their publisher abruptly shut down operations earlier this month, including The Rochelle News-Leader, Ogle County Life, The Mendota Reporter, and The Amboy News

The Ogle County Economic Development Corporation recently hired longtime resident Liz Hiemstra as its new director.

A Rochelle woman was hospitalized Wednesday after suffering what police called a medical issue while driving that caused her car to crash into a tree, according to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.

An animal rights activist accused in Ogle County of falsely reporting a shooting at a rodeo near Rochelle pleaded not guilty Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, after a judge ruled that the case against her will move forward.

There are fraternal organizations in the Sauk Valley where veterans gather to share stories and celebrate camaraderie. However, these fraternal organizations may not be around much longer unless more is done to help keep them open.

Several northern Illinois counties have struggled in the past two years to regulate area rodeos after an animal rights group captured multiple videos of animal abuse at the events. The advocacy group's footage shows animals being hit in the face, tripped and prodded.

The TALK-LINE interview for Aug. 11, 2025, featured Lee County Industrial Development Director Tom Demmer discussing the latest additions of business to the South Dixon Gateway Park area. That includes a new strip mall and a new McDonald’s restaurant.

John R. Anderson, III, 42, pleaded not guilty Wednesday Aug. 6, 2025, to two counts of aggravated stalking, five counts of stalking, harassment by telephone, and three counts of violating an order of protection.

Roberts Armory World War II Museum in Rochelle will be open to the public from 1-4 p.m. Aug. 16, 2025, during the Lincoln Highway Heritage Festival.

While the Land of Lincoln has its share of Bulldogs, Eagles, Tigers and other standard nicknames, we also have some more unusual prep mascots. Here are the stories behind some of the most interesting ones

News Media Corporation‘s decision to end operations has led to the closure of the Rochelle News-Leader, Ogle County LIFE, Ashton Gazette, Amboy News, Mendota Reporter, and three other northern Illinois newspapers

Kishwaukee College recently announced the student-athletes nomination for the Arrowhead Conference All-Academic Excellence Team.

Resource Bank N.A. recently awarded its 2025 Centennial Service Award to 15 DeKalb County area high school graduates.

Here is a list of property transfers for Ogle County for July 21-25, 2025.

The event will feature a 10 a.m. shotgun start at Fairways Golf Course, a day of community connection and a shared celebration of the Foundation’s growth since its founding.

Rochelle CAN serves children in low income households and provides backpacks with school supplies, books, coats, shoes and Christmas gift cards

A rodeo in Rochelle is under fire for steer tailing.

Here is a list of property transfers for Ogle County for July 7-11, 2025.

Brandon M. Schmidt, of North Topsail Beach, North Carolina, was pronounced dead at Rochelle Community Hospital.

Northern Rehab Physical Therapy Specialists will partner with DeKalb County United to host a food and school supplies drive to benefit DeKalb, Genoa, Sycamore, and Rochelle residents. The drive runs through July 18.

A 40-year-old man is dead, and another person injured, following a mid-air skydiving incident near Rochelle.

From live music and food vendors to car shows and carnivals, here is a list of local places to celebrate the holiday.

A variety of featured gardens in Mt. Morris and the surrounding countryside will be part of the tour

In observance of PTSD Awareness Day, 13 volunteers, including veterans, jumped out of a perfectly good airplane Friday, June 27, 2025, at the Chicagoland Skydiving Center in Rochelle.

Thirteen volunteers agreed to jump out of a perfectly good airplane Friday, June 27, 2025, at the Chicagoland Skydiving Center in Rochelle in recognition of PTSD Awareness Day. The jumps were organized by the Valor Support Project in Sterling.

Take a look back at some of our recent pictures of fathers and grandfathers for Father's Day.

Summer Solstice Gathering is June 21 in Franklin Grove, Touch-A-Truck is June 28 in Rock Falls.

Scholarships are given to those students who best exemplify the goals of PFLAG: advocacy, support, and education.

The free concerts will continue each Wednesday evening through July 30.

State Rep. Bradley Fritts, R-Dixon. will host a prescription drug dropoff event from 9-11 a.m. Tuesday, June 10, in the Rochelle City Hall parking lot.

The program challenges students to read eight books before Monday, July 14.

The Ogle County event is held in memory of Maggie Rosko and her son, Amos, who died in 2016.

The Illinois College & Career Pathway Endorsement Program allows students to earn a formal endorsement on their high school diploma or transcript by completing a series of structured requirements designed to prepare them for life after high school in their chosen career path.