NorthWest Herald

The Northwest Herald is a daily newspaper based in Crystal Lake, Illinois. It serves a readership of approximately 33,000 and covers McHenry County as well as northern Kane County in the northwest suburbs of Chicago.

Local

English

Newspaper

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Ranking

Global

#38256

United States

#7621

Sports/American Football

#20

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Monthly visitors

Articles

Police say Port Barrington man, 77, had explicit video chat with child, offered pot for sex acts

2 days ago | shawlocal.com | Amanda Marrazzo

Huntley police allege a 77-year-old Port Barrington man asked a child to perform a sex act over a video chat, initiated sexually explicit texts, arranged to meet the child and “offered cannabis in exchange for sexual acts.”Robert Wilkinson is charged with two counts soliciting of a child to perform a sex act, which are Class X felonies, and soliciting to meet a child for unlawful purposes, according to Huntley police and a criminal complaint filed in McHenry County court.
Catch a 2025 fireworks show in Starved Rock Country

2 days ago | shawlocal.com | Ryan Searl

Planning your Fourth of July festivities? Consider taking a trip out to Starved Rock Country this upcoming holiday weekend and catch some of the best aerial displays central Illinois has to offer. Here are just a few of the must-see fireworks shows taking place across Starved Rock Country.
Photos: Kishwaukee Valley Storm, Sycamore Sycos participate in Storm Dayz tournament

2 days ago | shawlocal.com | Mark Busch

Kishwaukee Valley Storm players cheer on their teammates Friday, June 27, 2025, during their 16u game against Northern Ice in the Storm Days tournament at the Sycamore Community Sports Complex. (Mark Busch)Mark Busch Mark has won dozens of awards as a photographer and has several years experience delivering quality, informative and engaging photojournalism to the readers. To purchase photo reprints visit https://photos.daily-chronicle.com/. Twitter @Mark_R_Busch.
Fire in Glen Ellyn multi-unit residence remains under investigation

2 days ago | shawlocal.com | Bob Rakow

A fire Thursday at a multi-unit residential building in Glen Ellyn remains under investigation, authorities said. Six residents had already evacuated the building, 775 Pershing Ave., when the call was placed about 9:06 a.m. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered a fire at the rear of the two-story, 16-unit building, according to a news release. As firefighters prepared to contain and extinguish the blaze, Glen Ellyn police officers continued to evacuate residents.
‘Utterly barbaric’: State seeks maximum sentence for man’s hatchet attack on estranged wife in Crystal Lake

2 days ago | shawlocal.com | Amanda Marrazzo

Mark Alex was perusing dating sites from around the world prior to committing an “utterly barbaric” attack on his estranged wife in her Crystal Lake apartment, a McHenry County prosecutor said Wednesday at Alex’s sentencing hearing. In April, a jury found Alex, 61, guilty on two counts of attempted murder, Class X felonies. Alex, who lived in Mundelein at the time of the offense and has been in jail since his arrest March 6, 2022, faces 12 to 60 years in prison.
2025 Northwest Herald Softball Player of the Year: Prairie Ridge’s Reese Mosolino

2 days ago | shawlocal.com | Alex Kantecki

Prairie Ridge junior Reese Mosolino found another gear in the postseason. After leading the Wolves to their first Fox Valley Conference title since 2016, the 6-foot-1 right-hander was a driving force for the team’s longest postseason run ever. Mosolino started her Class 3A playoff run with a no-hitter and 13 strikeouts against Woodstock. She followed that up with a one-hitter and 13 more strikeouts as the Wolves knocked off Harvard 1-0 to capture back-to-back regional championships.
2025 Northwest Herald All-Area Softball Team

2 days ago | shawlocal.com | Alex Kantecki

Meet the 2025 Northwest Herald All-Area Softball Team. P–Christine Chmiel, Marian Central, jr. Chmiel was one of three Hurricanes named to the All-Chicagoland Christian Conference team after a dominant junior campaign. Chmiel recorded a 2.25 ERA and struck out 236 over 118 innings. At the plate, she was one of the team’s top hitters with a .385 batting average. Chmiel was named to the Illinois Coaches Association All-State second team in Class 2A. P–Hailey Holtz, Richmond-Burton, sr.
2025 Northwest Herald Softball Coach of the Year: Prairie Ridge’s Scott Busam

2 days ago | shawlocal.com | Alex Kantecki

Prairie Ridge set lofty goals after a breakthrough 2024 campaign that saw the Wolves contend for a Fox Valley Conference championship and earn their first regional title in six years. Led by third-year coach Scott Busam, the Wolves rode that momentum into 2025 and put together one of the most dominant seasons in McHenry County history with a 29-2-1 record along with winning FVC and regional, sectional and supersectional titles.
Casten legislation designed to reform American democracy

3 days ago | shawlocal.com | Bob Rakow

U.S. Rep. Sean Casten, D-Downers Grove has introduced a package of legislation designed to reform American democracy by increasing the size of the United States Senate and House of Representatives as well as restoring the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction to better align with Article III of the US Constitution. The legislation, which includes two bills and a Constitutional amendment, would:Establish 12 at-large senators to be elected through a national popular vote.
Photos: Sweeney pleads guilty in DUI crash that killed DeKalb County sheriff‘s deputy Christina Musil

3 days ago | shawlocal.com | Mark Busch

June 26, 2025NewsHigh School SportsBearseNewspaperEvent CalendarWeekend PlansShaw Local RadioNathan P. Sweeney, (right) 45, of DeKalb, talks to his attorney John Kopp Thursday, June 26, 2025, during his plea hearing at the DeKalb County Courthouse in Sycamore. Sweeney pleaded guilty Thursday for driving under the influence on March 28, 2024, and causing a crash that killed DeKalb County sheriff‘s deputy Christina Musil. (Mark Busch)More Shaw Local Network news