Get caught up on news, sports and features from the Sauk Valley for the week of Feb. 13-19, 2026.

The Chicago Bears will need to clear up some salary cap space over the coming weeks to get under the cap. Here are a few potential Bears players who could become salary cap casualties.

This special program recognizes current and former Rock Falls residents who have served – or are currently serving - our country in any branch of the United States military.

Catch up on the week’s top Sauk Valley news for Feb. 15-21 in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Funds must be used exclusively for programs benefiting local residents. Applications will be accepted through Feb. 27.

From Capitol News Illinois: The debate over how to regulate data centers in Illinois is intensifying as lawmakers struggle to balance a host of competing interests.

Denver Sandrock set two school swimming records as he and Lucas Porter each qualified for state. Sterling took third as a team and coach Kyle Ruiz was named sectional coach of the year.

Sterling junior Sarah Doughty won the IHSA state bowling title on Saturday at The Cherry Bowl in Rockford. Her 2,770 total is one of the highest in state tournament history. She had a record-setting 800 series on Friday and finished with a 230.8 average game.

From Capitol News Illinois: Providers warned that flat funding combined with rising operating costs and continuing funding cuts at the federal level could strain services statewide

The program offers full-time paid employment with all required training to safely and compassionately provide care for patients, while also preparing participants for the Certified Nursing Assistant exam.

Local historian Tom Wadsworth will reveal the surprising connections between Charles R. Walgreen and Dixon – including how a small-town start in 1891 helped spark a national retail empire.

With $39,000 yet to be raised, the Dixon Park District is seeking contributions.

Check out photos of the potential site of the new Chicago Bears stadium in Hammond, Ind., by photo editor Scott Anderson. The sites include Wolf Lake Memorial Park in the 2300 block of Calumet Avenue and Lost Marsh Golf Course

Class 1A, 2A and 3A wrestlers compete for the state title Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at State Farm Center in Champaign.

Guests will enjoy a full weekend itinerary, including a Friday night welcome reception with butler-passed hors d’oeuvres, intimate educational seminars, and a multi-course wine dinner paired with standout selections from the featured wineries.

The day after Indiana made a major play to lure the Bears, officials involved in negotiations with the team on this side of the state line played defense, saying the team still is very much interested in Arlington Heights

Newman's Landon Near and Dixon's Charlie Connors will wrestle for state titles on Saturday. Sterling's Sarah Doughty is leading at state bowling and Sterling's Jack Saathoff set the single-season rebounding record.

Newman's lone senior Lucy Oetting stepped up with 24 points as the Comets beat Bureau Valley 66-41 to win their first regional title since 2009.

Sherrard threw the first punch Friday at Lancaster Gym, then Dixon countered. But the Tigers finished things off down the stretch, surging from a late deficit to top the Dukes 63-61 in a back-and-forth regular-season finale that set the stage for the postseason.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is demanding billions of dollars in refunds from President Donald Trump following a U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down sweeping federal tariffs

A tariff is a tax levied on imported goods. Reports estimate tariffs put in by the Trump administration have cost the average American household at least $1,000 over the past year. What happens now that the Supreme Court has struck down a wide swath of the tariffs?

Dixon Knights of Columbus Council 690 will host its monthly breakfast from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, at KayCee Hall, 506 W. Third St.

Lee County 4-H invites all new 4-H families and interested families to attend the upcoming New 4-H Family Orientation, designed to help youths and parents feel confident and prepared as they begin their 4-H journey.

The Chicago Bears will travel to Indianapolis for the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine next week as they progress through the offseason. Shaw Local's Michal Dwojak and Joe Aguilar preview the combine and what they can learn from the Bears in Indianapolis, plus some stadium talk

The Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s far-reaching global tariffs on Friday, handing him a significant loss on an issue crucial to his economic agenda. Furious about the defeat, Trump said he would impose a global 10% tariff as an alternative

Dixon boys play host to Sherrard Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, for the final game of the 2026 regular season. Sherrard won 63-61 on a game winning shot with 10 seconds left.

Check out these restaurants the next time you make plans for your weekend brunch.

The Sterling City Council is looking forward to warmer weather, a birthday party and a new festival.

The Chicago Bears will head to Indianapolis next week for the NFL Scouting Combine as the NFL offseason takes shape. Here are three things that we can learn from the Bears at the combine.

Three area wrestlers advanced to the Class 1A state semifinals as Newman’s Landon Near (113 pounds) and Landon Blanton (132), and Dixon’s Charlie Connors (144) won two straight matches in Champaign.

While Geneva made key plays in Thursday's Class 3A Dixon Regional championship, Dixon suffered one of its worst shooting nights of the season in a 49-40 Vikings victory at Lancaster Gym.

Ottawa defeated Sterling 33-27 to win the Class 3A Regional title on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026 in Sellett Gymnasium at La Salle-Peru Township High School. Check out photos from the game by MaKade Rios.

U.S. Congressman Darin LaHood, R-Peoria, visited Focus House north of Rochelle on Wednesday to tour the facility and meet with the organization’s leadership regarding its programming and desire for a new residence hall.

From Capitol News Illinois: Two Illinois high school students worked with a legislator and stakeholders to draft a bill mandating disposal programs for electronic smoking devices like vapes

From Capitol News Illinois: Fidel Marquez, a former executive for electric utility Commonwealth Edison, was sentenced to two years of probation Thursday for his role in a yearslong bribery scheme intended to influence ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan

The Chicago Bears made their first cost-saving move of the offseason Thursday. Chicago announced that it released linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga.

On this episode of Talk Line, host Brandon Clark chats with Sam Kersey from the Rock Falls Chamber of Commerce about its upcoming 70th anniversary, Spring Bingo and April speed-networking events.

From Capitol News Illinois: Republicans were less generous in their assessment of the budget picture Pritzker painted. But they found some items to agree on, including slightly less charged rhetoric than his 2025 speech, which was delivered just weeks into Trump’s second term

MJ: The Illusion, the ultimate Michael Jackson experience, will be at The Dixon Historic Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 21.

National Margarita Day is Sunday, Feb. 22. Check out where you can find the best margarita in your area.

National Drink Wine Day is Wednesday, Feb. 18.

The Chicago Bears announced Thursday that they promoted Jeff King to be the team’s new assistant general manager. He'll replace Ian Cunningham, who left to become the general manager of the Atlanta Falcons last month.

The Chicago Bears’ potential move to Northwest Indiana took a key step Thursday morning. The Indiana House Ways and Means Committee passed an amended Indiana Senate bill 24-0 that would set up a framework for a new Bears stadium in the area.

Dixon and Geneva meet in the Class 3A girls basketball regional Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. Geneva took the hard fought win 49-40.

The long-stalled legislation would allow the Bears to negotiate directly with local taxing bodies over the amount of taxes that should be paid on at least a portion of the sprawling property for up to 40 years

Here are the 18 Sauk Valley area qualifiers for the IHSA individual state wrestling meet. Newman's Landon Near, Dixon's Jack Ragan, Oregon's Nelson Benesh, Dixon's Charlie Connors and West Carroll's Connor Knop are all Top 4 seeds in their brackets.

From Capitol News Illinois: In his eighth State of the State address, Pritzker focused on affordability issues affecting Illinois residents and blamed President Donald Trump for the state’s tight financial condition

Now that the Bears are good, the payroll decisions only become more of a puzzle, and shedding DJ Moore's salary could impact the defense more than his skillset affects the 2026 team and beyond, Marc Silverman writes

The event is from 4-6 p.m. Call the school office for more information at 815-625-4400.

Thirty champion spellers from around the area competed Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, for a chance to go to the National Spelling Bee. Cindy Pelka, a Morrison Junior High seventh-grader, took home the regional title.