LOOK: Start the year with The Week in Photos gallery
Daily Herald photographers made pictures of the best events in your neighborhood in the first weeks of the new year.
Women share a laugh as they chat before the 41st Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026 at Elgin Community College in Elgin.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
“Happy New Year, everybody, thank you for coming out to this annual event we have never, ever stopped, I don’t care how cold,” said Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunnington, wearing a Chicago Bears hat. At the first plunge of the morning, Cunningham motivates the plungers at the 27th annual Waukegan Polar Bear Plunge on Jan. 1, 2026 at Waukegan Municipal Beach.
Karie Angell Luc/for the Daily Herald
Bilingual biology teacher and staff instructional coach Mauricio Orozco works with his students Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025 at Palatine High School.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Pedestrians are surrounded by swirling snow-filled wind as they walk on the sidewalk near McLean Ave. as snowy weather rolls through the area Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026 in Elgin.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Local royalty queens wears tiaras over warm hats at the 27th annual Waukegan Polar Bear Plunge on Jan. 1, 2026 at Waukegan Municipal Beach.
Karie Angell Luc/for the Daily Herald
The first wave of plungers returns from lake water plunging at the 27th annual Waukegan Polar Bear Plunge on Jan. 1, 2026 at Waukegan Municipal Beach.
Karie Angell Luc/for the Daily Herald
A Canadian National freight train veers toward the southeast while using a recently-laid section of track, which is sometimes referred to as a “shoo-fly,” that will take it around the construction site of an underpass that will take U.S. 14 beneath the busy railroad line in Barrington. Temporary detours for both the highway and the railroad track, which sees the passage of 25-30 freight trains per day, have been built and are in use. The stub-ended track is on the original right-of-way— the project is expected to be completed in 2027.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Joe Zitkus, of Elk Grove Village checks out a model boxcar train for sale during the monthly Great Midwest Train Show on Sunday, January 04, 2026 at the DuPage County Fairgrounds in Wheaton. The show featured hundreds of model train vendors buying and selling trains and accessories as well as model trains that kids can operate.
Ryan Rayburn / for the Daily Herald
Visitors and vendors are seen during the monthly Great Midwest Train Show on Sunday, January 04, 2026 at the DuPage County Fairgrounds in Wheaton. The show featured hundreds of model train vendors buying and selling trains and accessories as well as model trains that kids can operate.
Ryan Rayburn / for the Daily Herald
Arlington Heights Firefighter/Paramedic Scott Miller holds the tending line as his brother Dan, a Schaumburg firefighter/paramedic, exits the water and onto the snow-covered beach during a MABAS Division 1 water rescue training at Lake Arlington on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026 in Arlington Heights.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
High School District 214 and 220 students train to become official election judges at John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2025.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Children build tracks during play time at Two Rivers' head start daycare Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026 in Elgin.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Delani Hernandez works with a group that patrols the Elgin area and documents and warns people about enforcement actions. She was among the group shot at with tear gas and pepper spray at Maple Lane.
Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
Nic Geudtner and his mother, Diana, own Living Roots Farm in Fox Lake, a family operation that provides fresh produce to homes and restaurants across the area. They will be doing a grand opening of their storefront in February.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Scott Spielmann, of Mount Prospect reacts after missing a chip shot during the Chili Open at the Des Plaines Golf Center on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Peter Kastanis gives change to customer Emmanuel Gianakakos, of Wheeling at the Original Granny's restaurant on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026 in Wheeling. Local business owners have found it harder to obtain pennies since the U.S. Mint has stopped making them.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Villa Olivia snow tube hill is covered in snow while everything around it is bathed in sunlight last week. The Bartlett Park district facility has the ability to make snow for it’s tube hill and ski and snowboard hill at 1401 W. Lake St. in Bartlett. The facility has plans to reopen this weekend at the time of this writing. Go to https://bartlettparks.org/ for information and updates.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
A baby snapping turtle swims in a glass tank at the new DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center, formerly known as the Willowbrook Wildlife Center Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026 in Glen Ellyn. A new clinic and visitor center will treat thousands of injured, sick and orphaned animals a year.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
X-ray of an injured Virginia Opposum that is recovering from surgery at the new DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center, formerly known as the Willowbrook Wildlife Center Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026 in Glen Ellyn. A new clinic and visitor center will treat thousands of injured, sick and orphaned animals a year.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
A Lakemoor Police officer and recovery personal work to remove a vehicle from a small pond Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026 in Volo.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Board member of Food for Greater Elgin Bob Langlois moves food donations into the warehouse during the Dr. King Food Drive on Sunday, January 18, 2026 at Food for Greater Elgin food bank in Elgin. "The people we help are so grateful and appreciative of what we do. We provide short term support so they can get back on their feet." Langlois explains about the local residents the food pantry provides services for during the annual event.
Ryan Rayburn / for the Daily Herald