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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media since 1899

 

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Illinois Capitol Building sits in the sun. The SAFE-T Act, going into effect on Sept. 18, will eliminate cash bail in Illinois. (Getty Images)

Illinois to become first US state to eliminate cash bail

By Gabby Crabtree, Former News Editor | September 8, 2023

DeKALB – July 18, 2023, the Illinois Supreme Court voted a 5-2 ruling to pass the SAFE-T Act. This bill will be going into effect on September 18, 2023, during a press conference.  The SAFE-T Act is filled with many different changes to the Illinois...

Emergency workers stand at the site of a structure fire at 1024 W. Hillcrest Drive. The fire started around 2 p.m. Friday. (Michael Mollsen | Northern Star)

BREAKING: Structure fire on Hillcrest Drive; no injuries

By Northern Star Staff | September 8, 2023

Editor’s note: This piece will be updated as soon as more information becomes available. DeKALB – Around 2 p.m. Friday, a structure fire took place at 1024 W. Hillcrest Drive, a vacant building that was in the process of being renovated.  There...

A Sycamore student aged 17 died Sept. 7 after being stabbed. (Getty Images)

17-year-old student dies after stabbing in Sycamore

By Michael Mollsen, Former Written Managing Editor | September 8, 2023

Editor’s note: This piece was updated at 10:57 a.m. to include additional information. This piece will continue to be updated when more information becomes available. At 6:10 p.m. Sept. 7 near Elm Street and Somonauk Street in Sycamore, a 17-year-old...

The new Wahlburgers restaurant sign advertised on the Hy-Vee grocery store. (Brandon Clark | Northern Star)

Wahlburgers restaurant opens in Sycamore Hy-Vee

By Brandon Clark, News Reporter | September 7, 2023

SYCAMORE – Busy shoppers searching for a bite to eat no longer have to choose between lunch and finishing their errands. Wahlburgers restaurant opened inside the Hy-Vee grocery store at 2700 DeKalb Ave. on Aug. 22.   The casual dining restaurant...

Cars and a motorcycle pass a block's worth of stores in downtown Dekalb. In 2022, tourism in DeKalb County increased over 10%. (Northern Star File Photo)

DeKalb tourism contributes to record economic growth

By Brandon Clark, News Reporter | September 7, 2023

DeKALB – Visitors, and their wallets, are flocking to DeKalb County for all it has to offer.  Recent data released by the Illinois Office of Tourism showed that in 2022 tourism spending in DeKalb County increased by more than 10%, resulting in $123.4...

A group of children are playing with a tree-like toy. A 2022 Promise Grant to Neighbors’ House provided new board games and learning activities for after-school groups. (Courtesy of DeKalb County Community Foundation)

DeKalb Promise Grant applications open

By Eli Tecktiel, Lifestyle Writer | September 6, 2023

DeKALB – The DeKalb Community Foundation has opened applications for their Promise Grant program. According to the organization, the Promise Grant works to “inspire, educate, and empower individuals who may experience extraordinary challenges due...

Prescription drugs lay on a countertop. The Sycamore Police Department is hosting a day-long prescription drug drop-off service for people to safely discard their prescription medications. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, file)

Day-long medication drop-off at Sycamore Police Department

By Brandon Clark, News Reporter | September 6, 2023

DeKALB – The Sycamore Police Department has partnered with State Sen. Dave Syverson and State Rep. Jeff Keicher in an effort to keep unused prescription drugs out of circulation. A prescription drug drop-off will be held 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m....

A gas pump ticks up as a tank gets filled. Gas prices are decreasing right now. (Bobak | Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5)

Gas prices going down, may stay there

By Zack Rodriguez, Former Sports Reporter | September 5, 2023

DeKALB – The long-awaited relief has arrived, as gas prices continue their incremental decline, drivers could have additional opportunities to save.  A recent GasBuddy survey encompassing 4,378 stations across the state, revealed that prices per...

 A sign instructing visitors to wait sits on a DMV desk. Secretary of State Alex Giannoulias' "Skip the Line" program which took effect Sept. 1, is aiming to decrease the wait time at the DMV. (Courtesy of Wikimedia)

DMV rolls out new Skip the Line program

By Joseph Howerton, Video Editor | September 5, 2023

DeKALB – Going to the DMV just got easier and less stressful for DeKalb residents. Starting Sept. 1, the Driver and Motor Vehicles facility located at 1360 Oakwood Street has begun taking measures to reduce wait time for individuals and make their...

An empty storefront at 2565 Sycamore Road sits stationed in the sun. The empty store's windows are decorated Crumbl Cookie bannners. (Michael Mollsen | Northern Star)

‘Let’s get ready to Crumbl,’ new cookie shop to join DeKalb

By Rachel Cormier, News Reporter | September 5, 2023

DeKALB – The cookie scene in DeKalb just got fierce with the sneak peak of a Crumbl Cookie store “coming soon” sign appearing in the college town. The formerly empty property on 2564 Sycamore Road, between the GameStop and the Westside Children's...

A white SUV was part of a two-vehicle collision Friday. The area of the crash, the 1500 block of South Fourth Street, was reopened to the public at around 11:20 a.m. (Devin Oommen | Northern Star) (edited)

BREAKING: Car Crash on South 4th Street

By Devin Oommen, News Reporter | September 1, 2023

Editor's note: This piece was updated at 11:50 a.m. to reflect the area of the accident is no longer blocked. DeKALB – Around 10:09 a.m. Friday, a car crash occurred at the 1500 block of South Fourth Street. Two cars were involved, an SUV and a five-axle...

Cars drive under the newly painted NIU underpass mural entering and leaving the NIU campus on Annie Glidden Road. The mural was a collaboration between NIU and the city of DeKalb funded from a grant to create more public art in DeKalb. (Rachel Cormier | Northern Star)

New NIU mural welcomes students to Huskie Nation

By Rachel Cormier, News Reporter | August 31, 2023

DeKALB - Huskie Nation has a defining new entrance with the unveiling of the mural painted on the Annie Glidden Road underpass. Huskies can now see new NIU decor around campus from the new NIU logo street signs and the visible red and black “Huskie...