Sandburg, with campuses in Galesburg and Carthage, has released the names of students who qualified for the dean’s list for the 2025 fall semester.

Throughout the fall semester, peer mentors remain in contact with new students and help them feel at home on campus.

Professional excavators and DIY homeowners alike are encourged to call 811 to safely mark utility lines before starting a digging project.

Rain totals varied Friday and Saturday across northern Illinois.

Catch up on the week’s top Sauk Valley news for March 29-April 4 in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

From Capitol News Illinois: Elected officials and advocates for both domestic violence survivors and immigrant rights are warning of an uptick in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence around Cook County’s Domestic Violence Courthouse, in violation of both an order fro

FACE (Fulton Association for Community Enrichment) has announced the 2026 grant application season will begin April 15 and extend to a May 31 deadline.

Sterling boys tennis picked up two wins, Oregon softball won 15-5 and more in Saturday's Sauk Valley roundup.

From Capitol News Illinois: Nearly seven years after Illinois lawmakers approved recreational cannabis legalization, applicants who lost out on coveted business licenses are still battling the state in court, alleging the law’s rollout undermined its purported equity goals.

The Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce’s Professional Women’s Network will host a Real Colors workshop presented by Karla Belzer on April 29 at Woodlawn Arts Academy.

Aurora University has named the following students to the dean’s list for the fall 2025 semester.

According to USDA, the national average price for conventional hard-shell eggs in mid-March was $1.43 a dozen.

The Fulton City Council approved a motion March 24 to allow Fulton American Legion Post 42 to hang veterans’ banners on the light poles along Fourth Street in the city’s downtown area.

Since the Illinois State Police began providing services on ​ April 1, 1922, 73 state police officers have died in the line of duty, according to the agency.

The Illinois Retired Teachers Association Foundation is proud to announce the availability of its area scholarships designed to support Illinois students who are pursuing careers in education.

With more thunderstorms in the forecast, most of northern Illinois is under a flood watch from through Saturday morning.

From Capitol News Illinois: While the state program that created them is still relatively new, Illinois' clean energy workforce hubs are struggling to convert training into employment.

Morrison City Hall will be closed intermittently through July 2026 to accommodate staff training and the implementation of a new computer system, according to a city news release.

From Capitol News Illinois: Faculty at the University of Illinois Springfield went on strike Friday after contract negotiations failed to produce satisfactory wage increases and address other concerns.

From Capitol News Illinois: Frustrated Peoples Gas customers and utility watchdog advocates gathered in Daley Plaza on Wednesday to protest rising heat bills, chanting “Rate hike? No! Record profits? No!”

Illinois Wesleyan University’s dean’s list for the fall semester of the 2025-26 academic year consisted of 885 students from 31 states and 23 countries.

The Chicago Bears won’t receive compensatory picks for the hiring of former assistant general manager Ian Cunningham. The NFL announced the final decision Friday.

Indoor spring markets continue through April and May before the outdoor markets begin to open.

Sauk Valley graduate and former Rock Falls boys basketball assistant coach Tony Tompkins, the athletic director at Johnson County Community College, was a recipient of the NACDA Athletic Director of the Year award.

The Illinois Retired Teachers Association Foundation has announced the availability of $42,000 in grant funding to support Illinois public school teachers.

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson sat down with Shaw Local at the NFL’s annual meetings in Phoenix this week. In this exclusive 1-on-1 interview, he touched on various topics, including his first year, quarterback Caleb Williams, and more

Storms caused a swath of damage across Lee and Ogle counties Thursday, April 2.

Dixon’s police chief is asking residents to keep an eye out for downed power lines jn the wake of a Thursday night storm that produced a confirmed tornado near the city.

A tornado watch issued for much of northern Illinois Thursday afternoon has been extended until 11 p.m. And a severe thunderstorm warning is now in effect until 8 p.m. for some areas, according to the National Weather Service.

The independent psychological thriller “Where Silence Lies” will arrive at The Dixon: Historic Theatre for limited screenings May 7 and 14, offering audiences a tightly focused story that explores shifting truths, identity, and psychological tension.

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that effective Wednesday, April 1, the 10-ton vehicle weight restrictions on Garden Plain Road and Freeport Road were lifted.

From Capitol News Illinois: Gov. JB Pritzker is urging Congress to authorize year-round E15 gasoline sales, arguing it would stabilize fuel markets and support rural economies

Chicago Bears brass met with reporters this week in Phoenix at the NFL’s annual meetings and discussed various things, including a new stadium. Shaw Local’s Michal Dwojak and Joe Aguilar break down what they learned about the Bears this week

From Capitol News Illinois: The blame game comes after Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas released a report that found property taxes in the state’s largest county have grown faster than inflation and wage growth over the past 30 years

Tom Wadsworth of Dixon will premiere his new historical presentation on the rivalry between John Dixon and John Phelps. These two pioneer leaders often clashed as they battled for the prominence of Dixon and Oregon, the towns they created.

Multi-genre, Blues Hall of Famer Michael Charles and his band will be performing a free concert at 9 p.m. Saturday, April 4, in Sterling.

The Bears let key defensive production walk this offseason. With the draft three weeks away, fixing a unit that wasn’t close to championship level is now the top priority, Marc Silverman writes

Sauk Valley Bank recently announced Lori Gajdzik is the Harvard market president of Sauk Valley Bank.

Lifescape AmeriCorps organized a volunteer fair Thursday, April 2, 2026, at Sauk Valley Community College in Dixon.

Newman baseball took its first loss 8-4 to Lena-Winslow after the Panthers scored five unearned runs. Fulton girls track & field won, Sterling baseball fell to Rock Island 5-4, Sterling softball fell at Ottawa and more in Wednesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Newman scored nine runs in the first inning and Gianna Vance pitched a two-hitter as the Comets beat Lena-Winslow 9-1. Newman's younger players also stepped up in the win.

Four astronauts embarked on a high-stakes flight around the moon on Wednesday, humanity’s first lunar voyage in more than half a century and the thrilling leadoff in NASA’s push toward a landing in two years

Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected to sweep across northern Illinois on Thursday afternoon and evening, bringing the potential for damaging winds, hail, and even isolated tornadoes

The Bears say they want a new stadium open by 2030, with a final decision expected in the coming months. Arlington Heights and Hammond, Indiana, remain in play as lawmakers negotiate key incentives

A Dixon man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to one count of criminal neglect/abuse of an elderly person, a Class 3 felony.

From Capitol News Illinois: More than 1,000 Illinois State Police vehicles have passed the threshold for replacement, but current funding levels mean it will take 18 years to replace them all, Director Brenden Kelly said

The Chicago Bears are still making an effort to potentially receive compensatory draft picks for former assistant general manager Ian Cunningham’s hiring with the Atlanta Falcons this offseason

The first yard waste pickup of the year for Amboy will be Thursday, April 23, according to Melissa Eisenberg, Amboy city clerk.

Newman softball beat Lena-Winslow 9-1 in a chilly afternoon game Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

A tentative agreement has been reached between First Student and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the union representing its more than 17,000 bus workers nationwide, according to a news release.