Illinois
Illinois streets among America's best for Christmas shopping
A new ranking of the best streets in America for Christmas shopping features several entries from Chicago’s suburbs.
The ranking, compiled by Present.com via a survey for more than 3,000 people, features a total of four streets from the state of Illinois.
Tops among those streets is Woodstock Square in suburban Woodstock, which was ranked as the No. 37 street for Christmas shopping in the U.S.
Woodstock Square is well-known nationally because of its prominent place in the film “Groundhog Day,” where most of the movie was filmed in the early 1990s.
According to “Naturally McHenry County,” the square transforms into a wonderland every holiday season, with lights, locally-owned shops and plenty of cozy restaurants to choose from. Caroling and parades are also part of the holiday fun in the area, according to the website.
Princeton’s Main Street checked in at No. 98, Geneva’s Third Street at No. 100, and Galena’s Main Street was No. 121.
Main Street in Aurora, New York was No. 1 in the rankings, followed by streets in Cooperstown, New York, New Hope, Pennsylvania, Mystic, Connecticut and Carmel-by-the-Sea, California.
Madison, Indiana’s Main Street was the top-ranked street in Indiana at No. 51. Broad Street in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin was ranked No. 46, making it the top street in the state.
The ranking aimed to celebrate shopping options that are located close together, celebrating “craftsmanship and artistry” and building “community connections,” according to the website.
Illinois
Illinois high school football playoffs expanding in 2026
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (KWQC) – The IHSA football playoffs will be expanding by 50 percent in 2026.
IHSA member schools approved an amendment to expand the playoffs from 32 teams per class to 48.
There will still be 8 classifications increasing the total number of playoff teams from 256 to 384.
As a result of the change, the start of the season will be moved up by a week in August to allow the season to still finish with State Championship games the week of Thanksgiving.
Copyright 2025 KWQC. All rights reserved.
Illinois
Woman found dead near Schamburg, Illinois shopping center, man in custody
A woman was found dead near a shopping center in Schaumburg, Illinois early Tuesday, and a man was taken into police custody.
Around 5:25 a.m., Schaumburg police were called to the 100 block of South Roselle Road. They found a woman dead at the scene.
Police said a man was taken into custody at the scene.
The investigation so far indicates that the incident was domestic, and the man and woman knew each other.
Police said the incident was isolated and there was no threat to the public. But there was a large police presence at the scene, and alternate routes were advised.
Illinois
Illinois officials investigating death connected to Rock Co. homicide
PRINCETON, Ill. (WMTV) – The Illinois State Patrol is investigating a death after officials found a suspect’s vehicle wanted in connection to a Wisconsin homicide, Illinois State Police reported.
Just before 10 p.m. on December 10, ISP troopers and several other agencies attempted to pull a vehicle over in Princeton, Illinois, that was wanted in a Rock County homicide.
Officials did not specify which Rock Co. case this incident is connected to.
Princeton is about an hour and 45 minutes away from Rock County, Wisconsin.
After the driver did not pull over, police chased the vehicle into the Great Sauk Trail Rest Area on I-80 westbound.
When officers went up to the vehicle, authorities stated the driver was found dead with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Authorities did not identify the driver.
ISP is working with the Bureau County State’s Attorney’s Office in this investigation.
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Copyright 2025 WMTV. All rights reserved.
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