Bill Foster defeated Jim Oberweis in the 14th District's March 8 special election. The election was held to fill the seat for the remaining term of former House Speaker Dennis Hastert. Foster won with 53 percent of the overall vote and 56 percent of the...

The Kishwaukee Valley United Way announced the winners of its 2008 Spirit of Caring Award. Volunteers Jim Keck and Ron Mullen were honored during the group's annual meeting March 13. Keck won the community volunteer award and Mullen won the staff volunteer...

Unusual weather this winter has brought unexpected expenses for public works departments in cities and towns throughout DeKalb County. The City of DeKalb had a budget of $110,000 for this snow season. "We estimate that we have doubled that amount [to]...

Gas prices are typically higher in DeKalb than nearby cities, NIU transportation manager Bill Funucane said. Finucane finds with crude oil over $100 a barrel, prices are expected to be higher, especially around DeKalb. "About a week ago, gas prices were...

The DeKalb City Council voted on its initial acceptance to increase the city's sales tax and create a gas tax after a lengthy, and at times heated, series of public comments. During the March 10 regular meeting, council members voted unanimously to create...

The Kishwaukee Family YMCA, 2500 W. Bethany Road, recently received a $7,000 grant in support of a YMCA Adventure Guides Program. The grant was given by the Kimberly-Clark Corporation, an organization that produces paper-based products under brand names...

Free assistance available in DeKalb County makes tax season less taxing for some. The AARP- and IRS-supported Tax Aid program offers free tax assistance for both online or paper taxes. Bob Morrison, district coordinator of DeKalb County Tax Aid and Sycamore...

Sycamore High School returned to a normal school day Wednesday after only about one-third of students attended Tuesday following a threat of violence against the school. Following the threat found Sunday, only 439 of the 1138 students returned to school...

Extreme weather this winter has caused more than just potholes. Rainy weather followed by the cold led to severe icy conditions that have sent some to the hospital. A dozen people were hospitalized for ice-related injuries in just the last week, said...

Residents have the opportunity to cast an absentee ballot or vote early in the 14th Congressional District Special Elections being held Saturday. "I would guess people leaving campus early will come Friday," said DeKalb County Clerk Sharon Holmes. Residents...

WASHINGTON (AP) - John McCain clinched the Republican presidential nomination Tuesday, an extraordinary comeback for a candidate whose White House hopes were dashed eight years ago and whose second bid was left for dead eight months ago. "The most important...

Contacting librarians can now be done 24-7 through the Sycamore Public Library Web site. The Sycamore library has been using the library's online Illinois reference service called "Ask Away" for about one month. "Ask Away" enables anyone to chat online...