Cary home a total loss after New Year's Eve fire; family dog missing

A house in Cary was a total loss following an afternoon fire New Year’s Eve and fire officials say a dog remains missing.

Why the Bears are treating the Lions like a playoff game

Bears head coach Ben Johnson quickly ended any talk about how the team would approach Week 18 in his Monday news conference.“Yeah, we’re playing to win this week,” he said.

The Week in Pictures gives you our favorite photos from the end of December

What do your prep sports New Year’s resolutions look like?

And as we embark upon 2026 in the world of high school sports, how about committing to these New Year’s resolutions?

Boys basketball: Benet clinches Pontiac Holiday Tournament championship that had eluded it

Benet finally captured the Pontiac Holiday Tournament crown it coveted, earning a 52-43 win over DePaul Prep on Wednesday night in a matchup of defending state champions.

Illinois maternal mortality report finds rise in pregnancy-related deaths

Preventable pregnancy-related deaths rose and stark racial disparities remained in the Illinois Department of Public Health’s most recent maternal mortality report. The r...

New Illinois education measures focus on immigrant rights, AI in the classroom

Immigrant rights and artificial intelligence were two of the hot-button issues that influenced public education in 2025. They are also the subject of new education-related laws that will take effect at the start of the new year.