Caterpillar rules Illinois out of plant plans, cites business climate

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) – Caterpillar Inc. has ruled Illinois out of plans to relocate a factory and 1,400 jobs from Japan, citing both logistical problems with building the plant in its home state and ongoing concerns about the business climate. ... Read More »

Santorum: I won and raised about $250K Tuesday night

WASHINGTON (AP) – Resurgent Rick Santorum said his sweep of three GOP contests earned his shoestring campaign $250,000 overnight, cash he needs to take his upstart bid for the Republican presidential nomination to Mitt Romney's turf. ... Read More »

Wonder Lake man stabbed to death; roommate in custody

WONDER LAKE – Jeremy Lechner was killed trying to defend someone else during an argument over missing medication, family members say. ... Read More »

Ill. lawmakers introduce gay marriage bill

Audio recording bill moves forward in Ill. House

Koehler praises county achievements, finances in annual address

Recent News

Video: Huntley remains perfect in the Valley

Quickcast: Feb. 8, 2012

Video: Cary-Grove defense keys win

Quickcast: Feb. 7, 2012

Photos: Dundee-Crown beats Prairie Ridge 44-29

Photos: Arthur Fish

Photos: Woodstock North defeats Hampshire 54-45

Photos: Alden-Hebron Elementary School's Award

Man admits to reckless homicide in CL crash

WOODSTOCK – An Arlington Heights man faces between two and five years in prison after pleading guilty on Wednesday to reckless homicide in a crash that left his girlfriend dea ... Read More »

Kane County Sheriff to award $500 scholarship

ST. CHARLES – Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez will award a $500 scholarship to a Kane County resident as part of the Illinois Sheriff’s Association scholarship program. The scho ... Read More »

Ill. lawmakers introduce gay marriage bill

SPRINGFIELD (AP) – One year after civil unions came to Illinois, some lawmakers are beginning a push to authorize gay marriages. The legislation was filed Wednesday by three m ... Read More »

Reputed mobster 'The Large Guy' gets 25 years

CHICAGO (AP) – A federal judge in Chicago has sentenced a reputed mob boss to 25 years in prison. Michael "The Large Guy" Sarno was also ordered to pay nearly $1.8 million in ... Read More »

Boehner: Congress to overturn birth control policy

WASHINGTON (AP) – House Speaker John Boehner accused the Obama administration Wednesday of an "unambiguous attack on religious freedom," promising that Congress will reverse a ... Read More »

Congress tries to give president line-item veto

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Republican-controlled House sought Wednesday to give President Barack Obama and his successors the line-item veto, a constitutionally questionable power ... Read More »

D-C dodges bullet

CARPENTERSVILLE – Dundee-Crown’s Cordero Parson thought coach Lance Huber was joking when he told his sophomore guard to hang around for postgame interviews with reporters. ... Read More »

Blackhawks' road misery continues

DENVER – Gabriel Landeskog broke a tie 38 seconds into the third period, and David Jones added two goals, helping the Colorado Avalanche snap a five-game skid with a 5-2 win a ... Read More »

Rivers' buzzer-beater stuns Tar Heels

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Freshman Austin Rivers buried a three-pointer at the horn to give No. 10 Duke an 85-84 win over No. 5 North Carolina on Wednesday night. Rivers scored a se ... Read More »

Memphis caps  Big East rebuild

The Big East has acquired all the pieces needed to build a new coast-to-coast conference. Putting them all together, though, will take a while. The conference wanted to rebuil ... Read More »

Caterpillar won't add Illinois plant

CHAMPAIGN – Caterpillar Inc. has ruled Illinois out of plans to relocate a factory and 1,400 jobs from Japan, citing both logistical problems with building the plant in its ho ... Read More »

Our view: Adjustment to PTELL worth a look

It’s a shame that state Rep. Jack Franks failed in his initial efforts to persuade fellow lawmakers to make local governments hold the line on – or better yet, decrease – tax ... Read More »

Oliver: Schools aim to share love of reading with children

Why do I love reading? I often ask myself that in preparation for my annual trek to Westwood Elementary School in Woodstock. It’s Love to Read Week once again in District 200 ... Read More »

Hammock highjacked

To the Editor: Actually, this letter is directed to the person who took the hammock I strung between two trees on Collins Road west of Woodstock, in the middle of the cornfiel ... Read More »

Criticism poorly aimed

To the Editor: Good grief, Charlie Brown. When I read a letter so full of hate and criticism by a Mr. Doll (It’s Your Write, Jan. 22), I have to wonder where he was during the ... Read More »

Williams Street Repertory to stage 'I Love You'

Williams Street Repertory will present “I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change” at 8 p.m. Friday, and at 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams ... Read More »

Madonna's first tour since '09 to start in Israel

NEW YORK (AP) — Madonna's not finished with stadiums. Live Nation Entertainment announced Tuesday that the Material Girl's first tour since 2009 will include a Sept. 6 show at ... Read More »

Bonbons are handmade chocolates anyone can make

Attempting to make chocolate bonbons from scratch is enough to test anyone’s love. First you have to cook up some fussy filling, and get it into – and to hold – just the right ... Read More »

Have Your (Wedding) Cake And Eat It, Too!

Meet Tiffany Wilkins, a Crystal Lake wedding planner who predicts the latest trends of 2012. ... Read More »

"I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change"

The approach of Valentine’s Day always brings a tsunami of romance, with theater playing along. I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change cuts through the candy-colored crap an ... Read More »

Renting? Tips on choosing your roommates wisely

When it comes to renting a place to live, tenants often find it easy to team up with a friend or roommate to share the cost of rent and expenses as well as have someone to talk with in the downtime spent at home. ... Read More »

The homes that inspire Fashion Week

From sleek and styled to bright and eclectic, the homes of fashion designers are just as stunning as their collections. ... Read More »

» Make it Pop

Van Halen sound familiar on 'A Different Kind of Truth'

Here is a look at new music out this week.

» Web Views

Wiretapping law change could help NWH video

It's exciting news that the Illinois Legislature finally is reworking the state's terrible wiretapping law, a law which has impacted the Northwest Herald several times.

» The Bulletin Board

Hultgren: Quinn's failed policies cost state Caterpillar jobs

Congressman Randy Hultgren issued the following news release on Wednesday:

» Opening Doors

Reporter's Notebook: County Board members frank about Franks

Some McHenry County Board members had a few choice words Tuesday for state Rep. Jack Franks and bills he has filed aimed at the structure of county government.

» Woodstock Blog

Eco road trip docu-comedy presented tonight

WOODSTOCK – The Defenders' environmental film series continues with a showing of the documentary "YERT - Your Environmental Road Trip" at 7 p.m. tonight, Feb. 8, at the Woodstock High School Auditorium, 501 W. South St., Woodstock.