A graphic features the top story from each of the Northern Star’s sections throughout 2025. The Northern Star’s website reached a new view count record with over 1 million views during 2025. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)
By Northern Star Staff
Jan 11, 2026
Northernstar.info surpassed 1 million views for the 2025 year, the highest view count in a single year. Here are the top four stories with original photos from each section that helped this record.
An NIU sign is pictured in the MLK Commons. Five international students had their visas revoked, according to NIU officials. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)
A photo shows a sign from the city of the DeKalb posted on the Halal Pros restaurant at 817 W. Lincoln Highway. According to the city, the restaurant was deemed uninhabitable due to a water leak. (Devin Oommen | Northern Star)
A graphic shows the three highest paid employees at NIU. The Northern Star’s Salary Issue included the salaries of all full-time employees. (Anthony Becker | Northern Star)
The Northern Star paperweight sits in front of the NIU sign. The Northern Star treasure hunt began April 7, with five clues released each day after. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)
NIU football players rush onto the field before the Huskies’ 2025 season finale against Kent State University on Friday at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. With NIU’s season finished, players officially began entering the NCAA transfer portal on Jan. 2. (Edison Miller & Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)
NIU redshirt sophomore running back Jaylen Poe (28) celebrates with redshirt junior offensive lineman Abiathur Curry (55) after scoring a rushing touchdown during 11-on-11 drills in the team’s Spring Showcase on Saturday at Huskie Stadium. Curry and Poe are projected to have large roles on the Huskies’ offense this season. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)
NIU President Lisa Freeman (left), NIU Vice President and Director of Athletics Sean Frazier and NIU head football coach Thomas Hammock pose for a photo after a press conference held in the McCareins Auditorium inside the Yordon Center in DeKalb. NIU’s membership agreement with the Mountain West Conference, which the school will join as a football-only affiliate in 2026, was obtained by the Northern Star on Jan 16, 2025. (Edison Miller | Northern Star)
NIU redshirt senior running back Chavon Wright (10) looks on as redshirt sophomore quarterback Josh Holst is sacked by San Diego State University sophomore linebacker Owen Chambliss during a football game on Sept. 27 at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. NIU’s 6-3 loss to San Diego State was the third among the Huskies’ six-game losing streak, longest of the 3-9 season. (Alexia Beck | Northern Star)
The Pokémon Froakie sits atop a tower with the Prism Tower in the background in “Pokémon Legends: Z-A.” “Pokémon Legends: Z-A” released last Oct. 16 with positives and negatives. (IGN under Fair Use)
A hand holds the chocolate-covered strawberry crème frappuccino from Starbucks. Several coffee shops welcomed Valentine’s Day with love-themed drinks (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)
Four players try to knock each other out of the ring in “MultiVersus” using the characters Steven Universe, Batman, Velma and Bugs Bunny. “MultiVersus” announced their live service will end on May 30 at the end of Season Five. (Warner Bros. Games under Fair Use)
A graphic depicts a ball of yarn with a crochet hook, a woman playing guitar, a sewing machine and a hand drawing. Opinion Columnist Nia Jackson argues that people should think about what their favorite hobby means to them and to find purpose in their hobbies. (Emily Beebe | Northern Star)
Then-sophomore Sean Carroll reaches out of bounds to reset at the center of the mat at the match against Purdue University on January 12, 2025. Opinion Columnist Colton Peterson argues that AEW is no longer elite. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)
A photo depicts a shelf full of PlayStation games. Opinion Columnist Ethan Ernst argues that SAG-AFTRA is shady, especially when it comes to video game companies. (Marco Alvarez | Northern Star)
Fans pack the stands to watch NIU, then-ranked No. 23 in the nation and then-No. 2 in the Mid-American Conference, compete against the University of Buffalo on Sept. 21, 2024. Opinion Columnist Santiago Montañez Bertoletti believes that students should attend more NIU sports. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)
