Local News & Politics

If you've been following the news, one of the latest concerns involves Flock cameras. Reports of these cameras being overused or used unlawfully have become increasingly common at both the local and national levels.

Cary-Grove Free Press has created a LOCAL SCHOOLS page to help parents easily find links to important information. We'll also share any updates from state and local governments that affect students in the future.

State Senator Craig Wilcox (R) of Illinois District 32 recently chatted with constituents in a “Conversations Untapped” Q&A session in the cozy backroom of downtown’s Cary Ale House.

“Roosters will be STRICTLY prohibited,” Samantha Jelinske stressed in her presentation before the Village Board on May 19. During the public forum portion of the evening she proposed an amendment to our municipal code that would allow Cary residents to raise hens. She stressed that only hens should be allowed, as the noise complaints that target backyard chickens have been primarily caused by roosters’ typical early morning cock-a-doodle-doos. What is the Benefit of Backyard

“I just watched a kid pull out onto Montana Dr. right in front of an SUV going about 15 miles per hour over the speed limit. The kid probably could have kissed the front bumper of that car. Your kid on a fancy bike won't be one of the cool kids when they're dead.” Cary’s Mayor and Village Board passed an ordinance on April 7, 2026, but many residents remain unaware of existing restrictions and penalties. In response to the confusion, Chief of Police, Nathan Hayes, sent a let

The use of Zoom in our courtrooms has been far from smooth sailing, based on what we saw on June 18 at the McHenry County Government Center. “I wish the Supreme Court were in here to see what we’re dealing with because they said we could do Zoom court!” bemoaned the frustrated Justice Mark R. Facchini. Is Zoom Slowing Down the Courts? He’d had to cut off one Zoom plaintiff’s “I'm here…can you hear me now?...How about now?” entreaties that repeatedly interrupted another case.

Despite dozens of passionate individuals sharing their disapproval in person and online, the Cary Village Board voted unanimously on Tuesday, June 2 to change current zoning laws in downtown Cary. Since the closing of Maplewood School in 2010, the property had been offered to various government bodies including School District 26 and Cary Park District. The village eventually purchased it for $5.525 million in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) bonds. Since its acquisition, they