The 2026 boys lacrosse season is underway. Here are this year's season preview capsules for McHenry County area teams.

The 2026 boys lacrosse season is officially underway. Here are five players to watch in the McHenry County area.

The Johnsburg and Huntley baseball teams both opened their seasons with a wins, and McHenry's softball team did the same. Plus, more in Friday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Oskar Freund and Mason Klimek delivered clutch hits in the seventh inning, Dylan Dumele struck out three batters to earn the save and Cary-Grove rallied to beat Fremd 3-2 in its season-opening baseball game Friday evening.

Crystal Lake Central junior Oli Victorine struck out 16 batters in a shutout, and sophomore Harper Wright collected a pair of two-out RBI hits to lift the Tigers to a 2-0 season-opening win over Wauconda on Friday.

Huntley girls basketball coach Steve Raethz is stepping down after 27 seasons and 505 career wins with the Red Raiders.

A man pleaded guilty Thursday to attempted aggravated arson in connection with a fire he started in a Crystal Lake motel room.

Weeks after McHenry County was sued for turning down a pair of solar farms in December, two more solar developers who were denied that night also have filed lawsuits against the county.

Woodstock wants to make sure its 5% hotel-motel tax applies to short-term vacation rentals in town operated through sites like Airbnb.

A Marengo woman has pleaded guilty to driving drunk a fifth time and was sentenced to prison, but still has another DUI case pending.