Thousands of years ago, they arrived here and left an unforgettable print on our region and its history. Today, their descendants are still here, honoring a heritage that lives on. ...

They arrived as impoverished farmers, searching for new opportunities and a new place to call home. Now, almost 200 years later, they have made an indelible mark in the Fox Valley and central Wisconsin. ...

For 80-plus years, Boy Scouts (and now Girl Scouts) have spent part of their summers at outdoor camps in our area. Today, despite a pandemic, opportunities for such adventures continue. ...

We all know the story about Mrs. O’Leary’s cow and the Great Fire that leveled Chicago 100 years ago. But did you know that, on the same day, a bigger, more deadly fire ripped across Wisconsin? Join Jon McGinty as he explores these parallel disasters. ...

They were once a center of activity in rural America, until the highways came to town. Loved and then abandoned, train depots are finding new life thanks to dedicated citizens. Jon McGinty explores five places where depots have found new life. ...

Thanks to a system of locks and dams built more than 80 years ago, the upper Mississippi River has become a vital link in world trade for our region. Join Jon McGinty as he tours some of Illinois' locks and dams, and introduces some of the people who rely on this waterway for a living. ...

Bird watching, or birding, as the purists prefer to call it, is one of North America’s fastest growing and most popular hobbies. But many wild birds are in serious trouble due to climate change. Will they go the way of their ancestors, the dinosaurs, and disappear? Jon McGinty speaks to experts about the prospect. ...

The 18th Amendment was a "noble experiment" to correct the ills of substance abuse, but as a law proved to be an ultimate failure. Jon McGinty takes a look at how Prohibition affected our region. Spoiler: there was definitely mayhem and murder. ...

In celebration of Illinois’ bicentennial, explore how the Prairie State became central to the U.S. in terms of economy, culture and politics, and learn how you can join in on the celebrations happening through this year. ...

Though it pushed the United States onto the world stage, World War I also left unresolved numerous ethnic, religious and geopolitical conflicts still facing us today. A century later, Jon McGinty examines its legacy in our region. ...