The Whiteside Forum will kick off a new season with a presentation on “The History of Pizza” by guest speaker Wolf Koch at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in the Community Room of the Odell Public Library. The library is located at 307 S. Madison St. in Morrison.

The annual Taco Throwdown is set for Friday, Sept. 26, from 3-10 p.m. in Rock Falls.

From wine tastings to historic tours, Galena is the perfect destination for a quick weekend getaway.

Looking for an outdoorsy getaway this season? Check out these four destinations in northern Illinois.

Although Week 5 isn't filled with games pairing undefeated teams, there's more than enough contest of intrigue to keep an eye on. Steve Soucie takes a look at some of the top games of Week 5.

How did a 50 burger turn into a hotdog celebration just one week later? The answer is easy. Ben Johnson cooked, Marc Silverman writes.

The drive-thru flu shot clinics will return Wednesday, Oct. 8, and Wednesday, Oct. 15, allowing community members to receive their vaccination without leaving their vehicles. OSF Saint Katharine will also host a flu shot booth at the Discover Dixon Scarecrow Fest on Oct. 18.

Dixon girls golf took third at the Big Northern Conference Meet after being led by Reese Dambman and Rachel Drew. E-P and Sterling girls golf won, Newman's Grace King took eighth and more in Wednesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Newman never trailed after getting ahead early in the first set of a 25-20, 25-13 win over visiting Mercer County in a Three Rivers Conference crossover match Wednesday in Sterling.

Road closures will begin around 5:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, in Rock Falls. The parade begins at 5:30 p.m.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams had his best game of the season Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. Here's how he got there and can take another step against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.

Chicago Bears rookie tight end Colston Loveland and starting right tackle Darnell Wright both missed practice and led a group of five players who didn’t participate Wednesday at Halas Hall in Lake Forest.

All Illinois adults should get a COVID-19 vaccine this fall to prepare for this year’s respiratory illness season, state public health officials announced this week

The Grand Detour Arts Festival was recently held and the results are in, with many accolades for area artisans.

Rochelle will begin providing leaf vacuuming services for residents on Oct. 20, 2025. The vacuuming service will end Dec. 1 or upon an accumulating snowfall, whichever occurs first.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week in Week 3 on Wednesday after his four-touchdown performance against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

From Capitol News Illinois: The Illinois Supreme Court has ordered former Illinois attorney general Republican nominee Tom DeVore’s law license suspended for 60 days, following a yearslong public feud involving his client-turned-girlfriend

While many Oktoberfest celebrations happen in September, here's a list of German-themed beer festivals happening in October.

Newman, Erie-Prophetstown, Mendota and Orion compete Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, in a girls golf meet at Emerald Hill.

An unexpected wrinkle was introduced into the projection this week, changes of the enrollment number to over 300 schools by the IHSA, as such some things moved around. Steve Soucie breaks down how the playoff field projects after the fourth week of games.

Lee County volunteers were recognized at the 2025 University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener Conference for their outstanding contributions to projects such as the Lee County Jr. Garden and Kids in the Kitchen program.

Newman welcomes Mercer County for a volleyball match-up Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025. Newman wins in straight sets.

The Milledgeville and Polo volleyball teams each helped raise money during Tuesday's game for the family of Jacob Promenschenkel, a 2024 Milledgeville graduate who passed away from cancer in August.

“Attributing autism to a single preventable cause minimizes the reality that autism is a complex neurodevelopmental condition and trivializes the experience that those with autism and their families that care for them go through,” Dr. Terry Ho of OSF HealthCare said

Jacob Penaflor, 40, is charged with aggravated driving under the influence of drugs in connection with the May death of Benjamin Weidel, 39, of Prophetstown

With low commodity prices, high input costs, weather, taxes, personnel and other concerns, farmers and ranchers face a myriad of stresses in their lives – and free resources are available to help get through those tough times.

Maurice De La Cruz had Sterling's best rushing game in almost three years, Dixon was dominant again, Newman's Matthew Blackert led the Comets to 4-0 and more in this week's Sauk Valley football notes for Week 4.

From Capitol News Illinois: Gov. Pritzker said the order is designed to combat federal policies by the Trump administration that are likely to increase costs on the state and put pressure on the economy

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams had his best outing of the season Sunday in the team's 31-14 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Here are some of the most interesting statistics behind that performance.

The Harmon United Methodist Church is hosting its fall bazaar from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at 202 N. Grove St., in Harmon.

Congratulations to these 23 Illinois high school football players who were voted onto Friday Night Drive's Team of the Week for Week 4 of the 2025 high school football season

Brother Rice continued its climb up the Friday Night Drive Power Rankings in a week with substantial shuffling of the rankings.

The United Women of Faith of the Ashton Methodist Church are hosting a kuchen coffee and bake sale Saturday, Oct.18, 2025.

Sterling, Dixon, Dixon Rural and Rock Falls firefighters spend a day with hands-on command training Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, in Dixon.

Sterling girls golf took second at the Western Big 6 Conference meet. Sterling boys golf took sixth, Dixon soccer won and more in Monday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson and some players met with reporters at Halas Hall in Lake Forest on Monday a day after the team’s 31-14 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Here are three of the most interesting things they said.

Try the Mega Hike at Starved Rock State Park.

Rock Falls senior volleyball player Addison Miller is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week. She leads the team in blocks this season, and posted 18 solo blocks in five matches at the Byron invite.

A Morrison bank robbery case has moved into federal court

The Sterling Fire Department was called at 9:09 a.m. Friday, Sept. 19, to a reported residential structure fire at 309 W. Seventh St., according to a news release

Sauk Valley Community College hosts local artist Les Allen for a new exhibit titled “The Shape of Light”. The exhibit runs to Thursday, Nov. 20, and takes place in the Sauk Art Gallery. The gallery is open during campus hours and is free to the public.

The Chicago Bears won their first game of the season Sunday when they beat the Dallas Cowboys 31-14. Shaw Local's Michal Dwojak and Joe Aguilar recap the win and what it means moving forward.

CSB of Rock Falls opened for business in 1975 at 1801 First Ave. in Rock Falls, and today has grown to serve four additional communities: Sterling, Dixon, Morrison and Fulton.

Check out these news, sports and feature Sauk Valley photos from Sept. 12-18, 2025.

In what has become one of the busiest weekends of the year, SVM photographer Alex T. Paschal made his way to six events Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, to document the diverse and colorful people of the Sauk Valley.

Thousands decorated Morrison's downtown Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, during the annual Paint the Town event. - Photos by Jessie Otten/Shaw Local News Network

The Bears put together their best performance of the season in a 31-14 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Here are the five big takeaways from the first win of the year.

The Chicago Bears' 31-14 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday at Soldier Field was a longtime coming since the team hired Ben Johnson over the offseason. The Bears had an efficient offense and quarterback Caleb Williams was at its center.

Illinois Elks Children’s Care Corporation in cooperation with Northwest District Elks Lodges will sponsor a free children’s podiatry assessment clinic Thursday, Oct. 23, at Morrison Family Care Clinic, 303 N. Jackson St. in Morrison.

Chicago Bears starting running back D’Andre Swift will be active against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field. Swift was limited all week with a quad injury and was questionable to play.