McHenry County Board Chair Mike Buehler has cast a tie-breaking vote to allow for a solar farm near Union.

Most of the McHenry County Board members whose seats are up next year are planning to run for reelection.

If Woodstock raises its sales tax, will it be the highest in McHenry County? Take a look at what shoppers pay in taxes for general merchandise in each county community.

The McHenry County Conservation District invites visitors to “Find Your Wild” and join its interactive journey through the county’s public open spaces all summer long in pursuit of fun prizes.

The family of a New York man who died in a house fire last year near Union is suing the estate of the homeowner who also died in the fire for wrongful death.

A man accused of hitting another man with a hammer near Union has a long criminal history, including a conviction for attempted murder, authorities said.

The Crystal Lake Soccer Federation has established a semi-pro women's team called the Force, which will play in the United Women's Soccer League. The team's debut is Saturday at The MAC.

Voters this week in McHenry County determined who will make the important decisions regarding their communities, schools, townships, fire departments, parks and libraries. See the results here.

Several McHenry County-area mayors and village presidents faced and fended off ballot-box challenges – but not all. Here's a look at who won and lost and who got a free pass for another term.

A person injured in a two-car crash near Union Tuesday was listed in serious but stable condition.

Starting on Saturday, April 5 and going until Sunday, April 13, the public is invited to visit at least eight of the 10 participating museums and libraries in McHenry and Lake counties, scavenger hunt style, to receive a prize at the eighth location.

A person was flown to a hospital with critical injuries following a two-car crash Tuesday near Union.

This spring, McHenry County voters get to decide who will make the important decisions regarding their communities, schools, townships, fire departments, parks and libraries.

A Minnesota woman has died following a crash Sunday near Union, the McHenry County Sheriff's Office reported. Several others were injured.

3 people were critically injured during a crash that occurred during while a late winter storm brought whiteout and slick conditions.

A Union woman who prosecutors said was on probation when she sold a fatal dose of methadone to a Crystal Lake man has been charged with drug-induced homicide.

A Marengo man charged in 2021 with driving drunk and causing a crash that killed his wife was sentenced to five years in prison.

The McHenry County Historical Society and Museum in Union has announced new hours for 2025 and an upcoming membership event.

A selection of some of the best news photos from 2024 in the Northwest Herald.

John Smith invited people to his home for years to see his model train set up before donating it to the Illinois Railway Museum. He still has a setup in his McHenry garage and invites families to see it.

The McHenry County Historical Society and Museum has a challenge to draw people to tiny Union. Its new director, replacing someone who left after a new months, aims for new programs.

Four months after Chief of Police Juanita Gumble was forced from office, the Hebron Village Board this week confirmed the appointment of Peter Goldman, with Village President Robert Shelton breaking a 3-3 tie.

Find an apple orchard in and around Geneva, Oswego, Plano, Woodstock, Plainfield, Aurora, Yorkville, McHenry, Union, La Salle, Mt. Morris and Rock Falls.

A pool of mosquitoes in Huntley tested positive for West Nile, the first in McHenry County this year; an owl was earlier found with the virus.

A Woodstock woman was taken to the hospital after her car crashed into a moving freight train, officials said.

Explore the McHenry County Historical Society & Museum in Union from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Friday for the Night at the Museum event.

The Illinois Railway Museum had opening day Saturday, in attendance was the Easter Bunny

Here's what will you pay in sales tax if a McHenry County-wide Mental Health Board sales tax referendum and Marengo local sales tax referendum are approved.

The McHenry County Museum and Historical Society's new director, Wayne Duerkes, talks about need for additional space and love of northern Illinois history in the 19th century.

McHenry County copes with extreme heat.

Heat indices on Wednesday are set to climb to 110 to 115 degrees, and the warning notes some areas may see heat indices higher than that.

Temperatures are once again climbing into the triple digits in McHenry County this week.

McHenry County farms are opening up for the fall season. Apple picking, corn mazes, and pumpkin patches await

A Union man admitted Thursday to “peeping” into the windows of unsuspecting women on two separate occasions in Woodstock and was sentenced to the max of three years in prison.

This week's 5 things to do in McHenry County include the return of Tulip Fest in Spring Grove, the Woodstock Farmers Market, the McHenry County Historical Society & Museum and Mini Links at the Woodstock Library, as well as Arbor Day celebrations in Huntley and McHenry.

McHenry County, Johnsburg, Huntley McHenry, Crystal Lake and Woodstock are all readying for summer 2023 construction projects.

Egg hunts and other Easter activities – both traditional and not – are planned for this weekend in Cary, Crystal Lake, Huntley, Fox River Grove, Lake in the Hills and Woodstock.

Egg hunts are planned in Algonquin, Cary, Fox River Grove, Lakemoor, Marengo, Spring Grove and Union. Looking for something else to do? There are craft fairs in Algonquin and McHenry and a 5K in Huntley.

This week's 5 Things to Do in and around McHenry County include opening day at Randall Oaks Zoo, a story time with miniature therapy horses, a hike to the McHenry Dam, historical Chicago buses on display, and a performance by Jim Messina.

The Illinois Railway Museum in Union, a majority volunteer-run effort with no government assistance, is seeking volunteers to work at the largest rail museum in the United States.

Egg hunts – by flashlight and not – are in the works this Easter season in Algonquin, Cary, Fox River Grove, Huntley, Lakemoor, Marengo, Spring Grove, Union and Woodstock.

The Illinois Railway Museum in Union is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, which began with a North Shore Line Day and Cabin Fever Day this past weekend.

Among this week's offerings in McHenry County are social dancing and Taste of Sri Lanka in Crystal Lake; eagle viewing in McHenry, Algonquin and Carpentersville; North Shore Line Day at the Illinois Railway Museum; and the Woodstock Community Choir.

McHenry County Historical Society & Museum will turn off the lights on its holiday display after Friday, administrator Kurt Begalka writes.

Mark the new year in McHenry County with comedy, music, parties, an oak rescue and a vintage Christmas display.

A list of those who are running for school board across McHenry County

Surveyors will be out in or near the communities of Harvard, Huntley, Lake in the Hills, Lakewood, Marengo and Union as part of a study to help local communities identify areas of high flood risk.

Santa Claus will be popping up more places around McHenry County, including the Happy Holiday Railway rides at the Illinois Railway Museum, the Christmas hut in Woodstock and the Volo Auto Museum.

The McHenry County Historical Society will hold its annual Holiday Open House from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the museum, 6422 Main St. in Union.

With the polls now closed in Illinois, the count can begin to see which candidates will take the 18 open seats on the McHenry County Board.