The number of vacant homes in Winnebago County was more than 2,000 in the third quarter of 2018, a 312-unit decrease over what it was a year ago, according to real estate numbers reported by ATTOM Data Solutions.

In-state tuition and book costs for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will continue to be among the highest for schools in the Big 10 conference, despite the UI Board of Trustees' vote on Thursday to extend an in-state tuition freeze for the fifth-straight year.

Alpine Fireside, a 99-bed skilled, intermediate and shelter care center in Rockford, was cited by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) for violations of the Nursing Home Care Act in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Rock Valley College sports programs brought in $7,398 per athlete in revenue in 2016, meaning its athletes on average generated the 62nd highest sports revenue of any school in Illinois that year, according to a Rockford Sun analysis of U.S. Department of Education data.

The Cherry Valley Sears store will close its doors in March as part of the parent company’s restructuring plans, Sears Holdings Corp. said this week.

Rockford University ranked No. 35 for student athletic participation in the state, according to a Rockford Sun analysis of college sports participation.

Winnebago County had the fourth lowest home affordability index in Illinois in the third quarter, according to an analysis of 440 counties by ATTOM Data Solutions.

In a list of the 30 most populous counties in Illinois, Winnebago County ranked No. 18 for the rate of abortions performed there in 2017, according to an Illinois Department of Public Health report issued in December, which tracks abortions performed on an annual basis.

Winnebago County accounted for 350 of the 39,329 abortions performed statewide in 2017, according to an Illinois Department of Public Health report issued in December, which tracks abortions performed on an annual basis.

Men’s head coach salaries at Rockford University outpaced women’s team coaches by 19 percent, according to a Rockford Sun analysis of recent U.S. Department of Education data.

Rockford University volleyball brought in $6,878 per athlete in revenue in 2016, making it among the highest-grossing volleyball programs in Illinois that year, according to a Rockford Sun analysis of U.S. Department of Education data.

Illinois received a score of 72 on making key financial information accessible and understandable to the public, according to a new report from Truth in Accounting (TIA), a Chicago-based policy institute.

Presence Cor Mariae Center, a 134-bed skilled and shelter care facility in Rockford, was cited by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) for violations of the Nursing Home Care Act in the third quarter of 2018.

Unlike the dynamic four years ago, a majority of the Illinois House races – 56 percent – will be competitive contests pitting major party candidates during the Nov. 6 midterm election.

An annual Illinois assessment of student, school and school district performance labels more than 77 percent of K-12 schools as exemplary or commendable, even though students' academic test results appear static and sub-par in many instances

The number of Illinois House races being contested by major-party candidates on Nov. 6 is up 13.6 percent over the last midterm election in 2014, according to a Prairie State Wire analysis.

Head coaches of Rockford University women’s teams earn an average of $35,622 annually – the 66th highest average salary in the state – according to a Rockford Sun analysis of federal education data.

Rock Valley College is among two-year universities in Illinois that reported borrowers defaulting on school loans they started repaying in 2014, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of federal data.

Rockford University football brought in $3,380 per athlete in revenue in 2016, making it the 31st highest-grossing football program in the state that year, according to a Rockford Sun analysis of U.S. Department of Education data.

Bauman Lake in Cherry Valley will be one of 57 locations that will be open for the Illinois Fall Trout Fishing Season beginning on Oct. 20.