U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 832 home structure fires per year that began with decorations, excluding Christmas trees.

The 2026 Genesis GV70 3.5T is further evidence that the Korean automaker has arrived.

A portion of Route 31 was closed to traffic after a car crash Monday morning in Crystal Lake, officials report.

The Chicago Bears blew out the Cleveland Browns 31-3 on Sunday to stay near the top of the NFC playoff race. Shaw Local's Michal Dwojak and Joe Aguilar break down the win and the Bears' latest news

Flu activity is high in McHenry County, according to the department of health.

Crystal Lake South's Annalee Aarseth, an IHSA state runner-up last year, is off to a strong start to her junior season. She recently finished first at the E-Rab Girls Invitational and has goals of winning a state championship.

The Chicago Bears took care of business in a 31-3 blowout win over the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field on Sunday. Here are the five big takeaways from a nice win at home.

A week ago, Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson challenged the Chicago Bears not to overlook the Cleveland Browns. On Sunday, the Bears responded with their best performance of the season in a 31-3 win.

A developer that creates single-story apartment homes is looking into the possibility of creating a neighborhood in Prairie Grove.

A look back at the last week in sports in the Northwest Herald by Northwest Herald photographer Gregory Shaver and Patrick Kunzer, for the Shaw Local News Network.

An evening of songs and storytelling, heartstrings and laughter, the show features a blend of original holiday compositions, wintry covers and reworked classics woven together with holiday stories and memories.

The Chicago Bears beat the Cleveland Browns Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field in Chicago where wind chills dipped well below zero.

Three Wisconsin men are charged with armed robbery after allegedly stealing jewelry at gunpoint from two people in the parking lot of Harvard High School after arranging to buy jewelry from them.

The Bears beat the Browns 31-3 Sunday at Solder Field for their most lopsided win of the season. Here are three moments that mattered. What worked? What didn't work?

From Capitol News Illinois: The $12 billion the Trump administration is providing U.S. farmers is not nearly enough to make up for the losses farmers are suffering from tariffs, the director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture said.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze will be active against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at Soldier Field.

"In today’s world, where is our silent time? I believe it is a gift too precious to lose. So, I am fighting to keep sufficient silence in my life. The benefits may be immeasurable," Dori Lynn Michaels of Fox River Grove writes in a letter to the editor.

Mark Cook, who has led the public defender's office in McHenry County since 1986, is stepping down.

Woodstock co-op girls wrestling won the Sandy Gussarson Invitational at Antioch, while Johnsburg's Summer Toussaint scored 33 points and broke a school record for 3-pointers made in a game as the Skyhawks rolled over Sandwich in KRC play Saturday. Here's Saturday's NWH roundup.

Area wrestlers compete in the Tom DuBois Invite wrestling meet on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, at Richmond-Burton High School in Richmond.

Richmond-Burton crowned five boys wrestling champions, while Crystal Lake South finished with two champions as six McHenry County-area schools participated in the annual Tom DuBois Classic at Richmond-Burton on Saturday.

From Capitol News Illinois: The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals will continue to block the release of hundreds of undocumented immigrants that a lower court had ordered after they were allegedly arrested without a warrant.

From Capitol News Illinois: Gov. JB Pritzker signed a law Friday that will allow terminally ill Illinoisans to end their lives with physician-prescribed medication.

While wanting to help is commendable, it’s important to prioritize food safety. Those relying on food pantries often face higher risks of severe illness due to chronic health conditions, age or other factors.

The National Weather Service issued a Cold Weather Advisory early Saturday for much of northern Illinois.

What's next for the appliance store in Woodstock that has partially collapsed, as well as affected nearby properties and the street in front?

Meet the 2025 Northwest Herald All-Area football team.

Richmond-Burton's Mike Noll won his 300th game and led the Rockets to within one win of a state championship game berth. Noll is the 2025 Northwest Herald Football Coach of the Year.

A Day 1 varsity starter as a running back his freshman year, Prairie Ridge senior Luke Vanderwiel developed into an all-state quarterback. He is the 2025 Northwest Herald Football Player of the Year after leading the Wolves to an undefeated regular season.

Chicago Bears defensive end Montez Sweat has regained his stride during his second full season with the team this year. Here's how he's done it and how he can reach another level.

The lineup for 2026 is out, but what Wayne Jett won’t yet announce is whether the McHenry Music Festival will return in 2027.

Samson Averehi found his offensive game in the second half, scoring 15 of his game-high 18 points, as Jacobs pulled away to beat host Dundee-Crown 51-34 on Friday night in a Fox Valley Conference boys basketball game in Carpentersville.

Burlington Central's girls and boys basketball teams won Fox Valley Conference thrillers against Crystal Lake South, and more results in Friday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

Jacobs junior forward Olivia Schuster scored all 10 of her team's points in the first quarter and finished with a game-high 19 as the Golden Eagles cruised to a 55-23 Fox Valley Conference win over Dundee-Crown on Friday.

Aiden Marrello and C.J. Talbert were two of Crystal Lake South's five wrestlers to record pins during the team's 47-25 victory over Burlington Central in Fox Valley Conference action Friday night. The Gators are now 3-0 in FVC competition.

Saturday will start with temperatures in the mid-20s but then see those slowly fall throughout the day. By Sunday, wind chills as low as 20 to 25 below zero are expected.

In less than an hour, a McHenry County jury found a Belvidere man guilty of sexually assaulting a child.

The Chicago Bears could get some reinforcements on both sides of the ball for Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns. Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson is expected to return while wide receiver Rome Odunze was ruled questionable.

Severe cold headed into the area for the weekend has cause some disruption to weekend plans.

For the second year in a row, wreaths will be placed on local veterans' graves as part of Wreaths Across America. Community members are invited to participate and sponsor wreaths.

A portion of Virginia Road in Crystal Lake is closed to traffic due to a car crash.

McHenry County Sheriff and State’s Attorney say they welcome Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker‘s comments on revising the criminal justice reform SAFE-T Act that went into effect two years ago.

The Kane County Electoral Board heard more than an hour of argument over objections from Pamela Carr Hagerman against the nominating papers of Ignoffo. They are both seeking the GOP nomination in Dundee Township Precinct 1.

The Chicago Bears will start a critical final four-game stretch against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at Soldier Field as they make their playoff push. Here are the top five storylines to watch.

Woodstock's Liam Laidig, a 6-foot-5 sophomore forward, scored 28 total points and recorded two double-doubles in wins against Grant and Rockford Boylan. Laidig is the Northwest Herald Athlete of the Week.

The Chicago Bears will start a critical final four-game stretch in their playoff push Sunday when they host the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field. Shaw Local's Michal Dwojak and Joe Aguilar give the latest news from Halas Hall before previewing the key matchups in Sunday's game

The 2026 McHenry Music Festival will combine country, southern rock and metal acts - possibly for the last time

A man convicted in a New Year’s Day 2005 drunken-driving crash in Chicago that killed a taxi driver and passenger has been charged with DUI and causing a crash near McHenry.

Meet the 2025 Northwest Herald All-Area Girls Volleyball Team.

Prairie Ridge first-year coach Leah Groat led the Wolves back to the Class 3A state tournament and their most wins in 20 years. Groat is the 2025 Northwest Herald Girls Volleyball Coach of the Year.