From Capitol News Illinois: The comptroller does not directly deal with the legislative process of approving a budget, but the candidates had plenty of ideas on how the state should manage its finances

Emi Bail, a student at Byron High School, has been selected for the High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

From 2-3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, the group will have coffee, snacks and a still life for you to sketch.

Enjoy a romantic dinner to celebrate Valentine's Day at one of these restaurants in northern Illinois.

Stop by the Erie Public Library through Feb. 14 to take advantage of the DIY Valentine station.

Over the next few weeks, Shaw Local will evaluate how each position group from the 2025 Chicago Bears did over the past season and start looking toward the offseason. Here’s a look at the offensive line room.

Get caught up on Sauk Valley news, sports and features from the week of Jan. 23-29, 2026.

Riverdale High School announces its academic excellence, high honor roll and honor roll for the first semester.

From Capitol News Illinois: For the first time in five years, certain forms of student loan forgiveness will be taxable following a change in federal tax policy this year. And those tax implications could extend to Illinois state taxes as well unless lawmakers act

An estimated one-in-four adults who check ICash discover they have missing money or other unclaimed property, the Illinois state treasurer’s office said.

Catch up on the week’s top Sauk Valley news for Jan. 25-31 in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

You don't need to travel too far to enjoy downhill and cross-country skiing.

A single-family home in Paw Paw that sold for $396,000 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Lee County during the past week.

Dixon wrestling won a regional title as five wrestlers won their bracket. Other local wrestlers advanced to the sectional round, Dixon and Rock Falls boys basketball won, Sterling's Sarah Doughty won the Dixon bowling invite and more in Saturday's Sauk Valley Roundup.

Alcohol won't be served on the Stephenson County Fairgrounds when the 2026 Stephenson County Fair kicks off July 21 in Freeport, the fair board has announced.

The single-family residence located at 54 East Bluff Street in Amboy was sold on Dec. 22, 2025, for $168,000, or $109 per square foot.

Individuals from Amboy, Dixon, Hall-Putnam County, Mendota, Marquette, St. Bede Princeton, and Sandwich all competed during the Class 1A Regional meet on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026 at Princeton High School.

From Capitol News Illinois: Those who spoke at Friday's Illinois Accountability Commission offered a number of recommendations for ICE and CBP accountability, including that immigration agents are not masked and have clearly displayed identification

PFLAG Sauk Valley president: Ending conversion therapy begins by recognizing that coercion has no place in care, faith, or family – and that compassion and affirmation are the only paths that protect life and dignity.

Oregon boys and girls basketball earn Big Northern Conference wins. Plus more area scores in Friday's Sauk Valley Media Sports Roundup

Sterling's Vivianna Torres won her weight class at the Western Big 6 Conference meet. Fulton boys basketball beat Morrison, Oregon boys and girls beat Genoa-Kingston and more in Friday's Sauk Valley Roundup.

Several local teams hit the mats Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in the Class 1A wrestling regionals held at Riverdale (Port Byron).

For prospective homebuyers eyeing the real estate market in the area of Lee and Whiteside counties, here's what sold for $500,000 or under over the past week.

The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks will face off against each other in Super Bowl LX and there will be plenty of Illinois connections. Here is a list of players and coaches participating in the Super Bowl who have a connection to Illinois or the Chicago Bears.

Mendota scored the first eight points of the game and led start to finish to beat Newman 65-46 on Friday, giving the Comets their first loss of the season.

Mendota defeated Newman 65-46 on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026 at Mendota High School. The Rockets suffer their first loss of the season as the Trojans improve their record to 20-5.

Sterling was unable to answer Quincy's full-court press in the fourth quarter as the Blue Devils rallied for a 59-52 overtime win. Quincy's 6-foot-7 freshman Brennan Lepper forced OT with a banked in 3-pointer.

The single-family residence located at 316 East 3rd Street in Dixon was sold on Jan. 8, for $200,000, or $94 per square foot.

Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Declan Doyle will reportedly leave to become the new offensive coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens

From Capitol News Illinois: The trio agreed that President Donald Trump’s second term has plunged America into a constitutional crisis

Victoria Onorato on the SAFE-T-Act: This law needs to be completely rescinded. Read her full election questionnaire here

Tony McCombie: In addition to SAFE-T Act reforms, I support reforming statutes that deal with habitual criminals, fleeing and eluding police officers, crimes against children, and more protection for victims. Read her full election questionnaire here

Sterling boys basketball meets Quincy on the court Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. Quincy took the win 59-52 in OT.

Check out these beer festivals happening in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin this winter.

A single-family home in Ashton that sold for $320,000 is leading the list of the best real estate deals in Lee and Whiteside counties in the past week

Over the next few weeks, Shaw Local will evaluate how each position group from the 2025 Chicago Bears did over the past season and start looking toward the offseason. Here’s a look at the tight end room.

Trixie Carroll scored 23 points in an Eastland win over Milledgeville and Polo's Laynie Mandrell had 13 rebounds in a win over AFC in Thursday's Sauk Valley Roundup.

Chicago Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham will become the new general manager of the Atlanta Falcons after the team hired him Thursday night.

The Sterling School Board has approved a collective bargaining agreement that gives Sterling teachers 5.5% raises the first two years and 5% raises in years 3 and 4.

From Capitol News Illinois: A first amendment advocacy group is suing Illinois’ secretary of state over a 40-year-old law that prohibits nonprofits from having the word “Democrat” or “Republican” in their name without the party’s approval.

The single-family residence located at 1117 Beech Drive in Dixon was sold on Jan. 7, for $240,000, or $116 per square foot.

The charges, all Class X felonies, were filed on Monday and are alleged to have occurred in May of 2025

Damian S. Harris, 48, is charged in Lee County with one count of criminal neglect/abuse of an elderly person (aged 60 or older), a Class 3 felony.

Windy City Dueling Pianos will perform at The Dixon: Historic Theatre on Saturday, Jan. 31.

A former Illinois sheriff’s deputy was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison for fatally shooting Sonya Massey, who had dialed 911 to report a possible prowler outside her Springfield home

Newman hosts EP in girls basketball Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. Newman took the win 52-21.

Sterling girls basketball beat Alleman 50-25 Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026.

I’m all for Poles taking multiple swings at the defensive line through the draft and repeating what he accomplished on offense last year, Marc Silverman writes

The Henry C. Adams Memorial Library in Prophetstown will host a crafting session, a clothing embellishment course and crochet classes alongside many other events in February.

Newman boys continue their unbeaten streak with a 57-49 win over conference rival Erie-Prophetstown on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026.