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Northern Star

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Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

A photo shows Mayor Cohen Barnes at a meeting on March 24. At Monday’s City Council meeting, the city council approved a $4 million contract to Curran Contracting for pavement resurfacing. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

DeKalb City Council approves $4 million contract to repave roads

By Gabriel Monk, News Reporter | April 15, 2025

DeKALB—The DeKalb City Council voted Monday night to proceed with a significant investment in street repairs, approving more than $4 million for asphalt resurfacing across several neighborhoods. The decision is part of a broader push to address residents'...

Bill Nicklas speaks at the city council meeting Monday. The council approved an agreement with Fehr Graham to perform construction engineering services at the intersection of Lucinda and Normal Rd this summer. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

City Council approves contract for Lucinda and Normal roundabout construction

By Gabriel Monk, News Reporter | March 25, 2025

DeKALB – Construction for the roundabout at the intersection of Lucinda and Normal is set to begin this summer, with a contract approved for construction services at Monday's City Council meeting.  ROUNDABOUT AT LUCINDA AND NORMAL The roundabout...

Members of the DeKalb City Council sit at the city council meeting on Sept. 23, 2024. The city council discussed the installation of new electric vehicle chargers at their meeting on Monday. (Northern Star file photo)

City makes progress on electric vehicle friendliness

By Joseph Ndu, Senior News Reporter | March 17, 2025

DeKALB – DeKalb Police Chief David Byrd presented the 2024 annual crime report at the City Council meeting Monday. Byrd said there were no murders in DeKalb in 2024. “In 2023, we went from five – one of those being a reckless homicide –...

A photo shows the DeKalb city council at its meeting Monday. The city proposed changes to bus routes that would reduce the number of stops on some lines. (Joseph Ndu | Northern Star)

Changes to bus route proposed at city council meeting

By Joseph Ndu, Senior News Reporter | February 26, 2025

DeKALB - The DeKalb city council rolled out a swath of new development plans including a new pizza restaurant, entertainment venue and changes to NIU bus routes at its meeting on Monday.  The route changes will begin March 9, during NIU’s spring...

Members of the DeKalb City Council sit at the city council meeting on Sept. 23. The city council discussed limiting the number of tobacco stores allowed in DeKalb at its meeting Monday. (Northern Star file photo)

City discusses limiting tobacco stores in DeKalb

By Joseph Ndu, Senior News Reporter | February 11, 2025

DeKALB - The DeKalb City Council discussed limiting the amount of retail tobacco stores in DeKalb on Monday. RETAIL TOBACCO STORES The City Council considered setting a limit on the number of tobacco stores able to operate in the city. After...

A car passes a farmhouse at 2036 W. Lincoln Highway which will remain after construction of the solar farm in the surrounding agriculture fields. The DeKalb City Council approved a request from PSE Huber IL Solar LLC to build a five megawatt solar farm. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

DeKalb Public Library proposes tax increase

By Devin Oommen, News Editor | November 13, 2024

DeKALB – The DeKalb Public Library is requesting a $1.18 million budget increase, a move questioned by city officials who demand an explanation. The city council discussed the increase Tuesday at the DeKalb Public Library. The library’s proposed...

The property where the DeKalb Fire Station #4 will be located, 1130 S. Malta Road, sits on a Monday afternoon. City Council discussed whether tax rates should be lowered in DeKalb at its meeting Monday. (Marco Alvarez | Northern Star)

New 1.3 million square foot development approved as DeKalb weighs tax cuts

By Devin Oommen, News Editor | October 29, 2024

DeKALB – The DeKalb City Council was divided at its meeting Monday during a discussion about whether the tax rate for DeKalb should be decreased for 2024. TAX RATE DECREASE The tax rate for DeKalb in 2023 was .81096. The proposed tax rate for...

Matt Streb, chief of staff to NIU President Lisa Freeman and NIU political science professor, stands behind a podium and addresses the members of the DeKalb City Council. The sale of the property where the Greek Life Center will be built is set to close on Oct. 21. (Devin Oommen | Northern Star)

NIU Foundation moves closer to closing sale for Greek Life Center

By Devin Oommen, News Editor | October 14, 2024

DeKALB – The DeKalb City Council approved a rezoning request for the property located at the Northwest corner of West Hillcrest Drive and Blackhawk Road. The property is the site of the planned construction of the Greek Life Center. “We’re...

The members of DeKalb City Council sit at the city council meeting Monday. The DeKalb City Council passed an ordinance in a 5-2 vote to add a cosmetic liquor license. (Devin Oommen | Northern Star)

City Council approves alcohol sales in salons, barbershops and spas

By Devin Oommen, News Editor | September 24, 2024

DeKALB – Barbershops, salons and spas are now able to apply for licenses to sell alcohol. The City Council passed an ordinance to add a cosmetic liquor license with a 5-2 vote. Council members who voted for the ordinance were 1st Ward Alderwoman...

Members of the DeKalb City Council sit at a table during Mondays City Council meeting. The DeKalb City Council passed an ordinance decreasing the salary of the city clerk from $8,000 to $0. (Devin Oommen | Northern Star)

City Council proposes new tax district

By Devin Oommen, News Editor | August 27, 2024

Correction: This piece was updated at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday to remove incorrect information regarding the TIF district boundaries. The district is from East Taylor Street south to I-88. DeKALB — The DeKalb City Council had a public hearing Monday to...

Matt Streb (left), chief strategy officer for NIU, discusses the developments for the purchase of land for the NIU Greek Life Center with Catherine Squires, vice president of University Advancement and president and CEO of the NIU Foundation. Shop owners of DeKalb's Central Business District voiced their concerns over a proposed levy for downtown DeKalb residents to reimburse the city for street maintenance costs. (Rachel Cormier | Northern Star)

NIU expects to purchase land for Greek Life Center

By Rachel Cormier, News Reporter | April 23, 2024

DeKALB – New conceptual drawings of NIU’s Greek Life Center were shown to the City Council to back a hopeful consideration to purchase the land where the eventual construction of the center will take place.  The last update for the center happened...

The DeKalb City Council sit and share their council member reports at the City Council meeting on April 8. The board approved an agreement for the Illinois Aviation Academy to train pilots at the DeKalb Municipal Airport. (Rachel Cormier | Northern Star)

DeKalb Airport to house second Illinois Aviation Academy

By Rachel Cormier, News Reporter | April 8, 2024

DeKALB – The DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport will train pilots and potentially house an extended campus of the Illinois Aviation Academy with the City Council’s approval of a “Specialized Aviation Service Operation” agreement. The City Council...

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