Modell, who started a long career as a trumpeter at age 15, founded Northern Illinois University's world-renowned jazz program and led it for decades.

Tracy Noel is a northern Illinois farmer, teacher and artist. She has worked across the country in the environment and agriculture fields for decades. WNIJ reporter Yvonne Boose featured her poetry in November. Now, environment reporter Jess Savage learns more about her journey.

La Preferida de Beloit plays top hits of Mexican regional music and Latino pop.

Oscar Rocha furnished the outside of his house with several shapes, including a cloud star, a teddy bear outline, and a “Hello DeKalb” greeting, and plans on adding more figures.

An Ottawa teen combines his love of technology and poetry to help other writers. His main outreach is to those who are well beyond his years.

An annual northern Illinois art grant cycle is now open.

A Boston musician is asking performers across the country to give voters a soothing experience at election polls.

As this year’s season winds down, some unhappy White Sox fans turn to another era for their baseball fix. The Under Rocks team heads to Creston, IL for a vintage baseball match.

Over the weekend, celebrations throughout the country celebrated Mexican Independence Day and commemorated other independence commemorations for Central American countries as part of the launch of Hispanic Heritage Month. Hispanic Heritage Month ends on October 15.

Sara Franco, a Chihuahua, Mexico, native and Sandwich local, will perform traditional mariachi songs at Plano’s Hispanic Heritage Street Market on Saturday and at DeKalb’s St. Mary’s Church for a fundraising event on Sunday.