1. Residential Fire on Clark Street
2. Pearl City Co-Op and Stephenson Service Company Shareholders Approve Merger
3. New YMCA to Feature Field House and Aquatic Center
4. City Waiving Late Fees for Some Residents
5. ROE 8 Gets a New Regional Superintendent
6. Polo Superintendent Receives Statewide Honors
7. Byron Man Convicted of Murder & Arson
8. Local Dairy Holds Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with State and Foreign Dignitaries
9. Partial Offset for Medicaid Cuts to Rural Communities Announced
10. ComEd Seeks $15B Grid Plan Approval
11. Electrical Transmission Line to Illinois Clears Legal Hurdle
12. New Data Centers Could Lead to Ballooning Electricity Costs in Illinois
13. City of Freeport Holding Graphic Design Contest
14. February Lunch & Learn on “The Rise and Fall of the Western as an Art Form and Moral Messenger in the U.S.”
15. Lectures in American History at the Freeport Public Library
16. FHS Speech Team to Put on Performance Open to the Public
17. HCC Announces Auditions for Summerset

Global climate change has been a controversial area of discussion in our community for decades. But a new speaker series at the Freeport Public Library aims to educate us all on the significant and real impacts of climate change on the northwest Illinois region.

Alan Wenzel sat down with Dr. Jack Hermann, Clinical Associate Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois, to talk about global climate change and the speaker series currently underway.

1. Pecatonica School Board Votes Not to Retain Teacher Over Pronoun Use
2. Lena-Winslow Staff Member Charged with Obscenity
3. Freeport Schools Welcomes New HR Leader
4. HCC announces Dean’s List
5. Area man named President of Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs
6. Freeport Animal Shelter Holding a Fundraiser to Expand Services
7. Stephenson County Farm Bureau Holding Freezer Meal Fundraiser
8. Illinois Plans to Withhold $500M in Spending
9. Illinois Medicaid Faces Looming Funding Crisis
10. American Red Cross Calls for Donors Amid Severe Shortage
11. OSF HealthCare Names New President
12. Sorensen Announces $33M for Water and Sewer Upgrades
13. New Illinois Law Seals Non-Violent Convictions After 3 Years
14. Greater Freeport Partnership Announces Annual Dinner & Awards
15. Senior Resource Center to Host Outreach in Jo Daviess County in February
16. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Comes to Northwest Illinois
17. Take Part in the 42nd Annual Bald Eagle Watch

If you've been to an event in downtown Freeport, then you've seen Lance Ferguson. Whether he is hosting as the owner operator of Davis & Company, or volunteering, Lance is a constant presence in his community.

Freepod host Tim Connors speaks with Lance about running an entertainment business in Freeport, as well as the importance of volunteerism in Freeport.

1. City of Freeport Releases Strategic Plan
2. Freeport Park District Gets IDNR Grant
3. HCC Awarded Grant for Training Future Educators
4. Darin Stykel Receives Community Impact Award
5. Galena Approves Demolition of Historic Police Station to Build Parking Ramp
6. CrimeStoppers Asks for Help in Solving Storage Unit Thefts
7. Changes to SNAP Rules Begin February 1
8. Health Insurance Plan Enrollment Deadline Extended
9. USDA Reports Growing Gap Between Costs to Produce and Price Received for US Crops
10. Highland Accepting Submissions for Juried Art Exhibit
11. Showtime Fundraiser at Cannova's
12. Park District Dances Registrations Now Open
13. Sensory Science at Severson Dells
14. Great Backyard Bird Count Begins
15. Illinois Poet Laureate Presenting in Galena
16. New Mental Health Office in Mt. Carroll
17. U of I Extension Offers Free Family Life Program in Ogle County

In this ever expanding multimedia world, media production services are becoming more and more essential for businesses and non-profits.

In this week's interview, Freepod host Alan Wenzel talks with Will Clark, founder & creative director of 815 Natives, a media production company based in Freeport, Illinois. Will shares the story of his business, as well as what the future holds for multimedia and what its like being a young entrepreneur in our community.

1. Freeport Fire Chief Announces Retirement
2. Krape Park South Entrance Improvement Project
3. SC Health Dept is a Drug Overdose Prevention Program
4. Illinois AG Uses Illinois Hate Crimes Act for Carroll County Crime
5. Gov. Pritzker Signs Historic Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act
6. Environmental Study Group Presents "Our Changing Climate: The Science, Risks, and Getting to Solutions"
7. Trump Administration Attempts to Freeze $1B in Federal Funds for Illinois Child Care & Social Services
8. Elizabeth Business Receives Economic Development Grant
9. Terry and Bonnie Sueltman Scholarship Fund Established to Support Freeport High School Graduates
10. HCC 2025 Excellence Award Recipients
11. Audition for the Pitmen Painters at HCC
12. Winter Trails and Naturalist Tales
13. Driftless Region Beef Conference

Theraplay is a local children's therapy operation focusing on helping kids with a range of needs by offering occupational, physical, and speech therapy.

Freepod host Becky Connors spoke to Kelsey Grove about what treatment looks like at Theraplay.

1. FREEPORT AWARDED $31 MILLION FOR NEW WELL AND CLEANER DRINKING WATER
2. LIBRARY TO HOST LECTURE SERIES ON COST OF LIVING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE IN NORTHWEST ILLINOIS
3. FREEPORT PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS MORE TO OFFER
4. FLU CASES SURGING AND LIKELY TO GET WORSE
5. FHN IS NOW MERCYHEALTH FHN
6. LOCAL LAWMAKERS SHOW BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR NEW NICU LEAVE LAW
7. NEW LAWS FOCUSING ON EDUCATION IN ILLINOIS
8. SENIOR RESOURCE CENTER HOSTS MONTHLY OUTREACH IN JO DAVIESS COUNTY
9. PARK DISTRICT HOSTS FIT FOR LIFE
10. ORANGEVILLE NATIVE MAKES IT TO OLYMPICS ROSTER
11. FREEPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT SWEARS IN NEW OFFICERS
12. CHRISTMAS TREE DISPOSAL
13. EAGLE VIEWING IN CARROLL COUNTY
14. WEE NATS PROGRAMMING FOR JANUARY
15. HIGHLAND BEGINS A NEW SEMESTER
16. INDOOR FARMER’S MARKET THIS SATURDAY

Mort's Bar & Grill in downtown Freeport has been a local institution for decades. Freepod host Tim Connors sat down with owner and manager Mike Marten to talk about the bar's history, the role he's played in the downtown community, and Mort's Dinner Theater.