A distinctive whistle sound announced the world's largest steam locomotive would soon arrive. Union Pacific's newly restored Big Boy No. 4014 had powered through the suburbs Friday as part of its "Great Race Across the Midwest." By around 2:10 p.m.,...

This weekend DuPage County Fair: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday through Sunday, July 26-28, at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton. Music, animals, demolition derby, craft beer garden, watermelon- and pie-eating contests, craft fa...

This weekend West Chicago's Fun Fridays at the Shell: 11 a.m. to noon Friday, July 19, at The Shell in Reed-Keppler Park, 129 W. National St., West Chicago. Ben Tatar & Tatar Tots, a jazzy funk band for kids, will perform. Bring a lunch. Free. we-go...

When Dave Corron says the Corron Farm Dairy Barn in Campton Township "hasn't had cows in there since 2002," he makes it sound like that was yesteryear. Just 17 years ago may not qualify as distant history, but 1875 does - and that's when the dairy b...

The 150th anniversary celebration of the Transcontinental Railroad's completion isn't over yet. Union Pacific is just gathering steam following its May 9 ceremony in Ogden, Utah, commemorating the anniversary. The newly restored Big Boy No. 4014, th...

This weekend Barrington Fourth of July Fest: 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday, July 5, and 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, July 6, at the Barrington North Metra Lot, 201 S. Spring St., Barrington. Brats, bands, beer, rock walls, sports games, a bounce h...

Progress is part of the natural order of things. The landscape changes continually and almost inevitably. But sensitivity ought to be part of the natural order, too. By now, you've likely heard of West Chicago High School's desecration of a memorial...

The unannounced removal of a memorial tree at West Chicago Community High School is opening old wounds for the friends and family of a young woman who died more than 15 years ago. Amanda Meiborg was a valedictorian at the school in 2002. But her lif...

School districts statewide now can use snow days and other emergency days for e-learning, according to new legislation signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Friday. That means instead of spending time on snowball fights and tobogganing down sledding hills...