The City of Rochelle has four tax increment financing (TIF) districts that it uses to create funds that can be used to incentivize new development and improvement by current business owners.

A March 14 wind storm that hit the area caused $516,236 worth of damage and expense to the Rochelle Municipal Utilities electric department through infrastructure and personnel costs, RMU Superintendent of Electric Operations Blake Toliver said April 22.

The Franklin Creek Conservation Association (FCCA) will present A Day at the Mill on Saturday, May 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Franklin Creek Grist Mill at 1893 Twist Road in Franklin Grove. The entry cost is a $5 suggested family donation.

At its monthly meeting Tuesday, the Rochelle Township High School Board of Education recognized two departing board members for their years of service at their last meeting. 

Dr. Tim Koritz of Rochelle served active duty in the United States Air Force from 1988-1991 as a flight surgeon. He also served in the Air Force Reserves from 1983-1988.

The Rochelle Police Department recently wrapped up a locker room renovation project and will soon upgrade its camera system at its building and City Hall, RPD Chief Pete Pavia said April 16. 

At its monthly meeting Monday, the Flagg-Rochelle Community Park District Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a number of special use permits for upcoming events in the area at its facilities.

The City of Rochelle has begun work on its downtown project that will include the reconstruction of seven parking lots, the addition of two new parking lots, the construction of a pavilion structure with bathrooms, a stage and storage; and undergrounding of overhead utilities.

A shooting early Monday evening in Mt. Morris took the life of a 25-year-old Oregon High School graduate and a 44-year-old man has been charged with his murder, an Ogle County Sheriff’s Office press release said. 

On Tuesday, April 15, From the Heart presented checks for $10,000 each to nine area nonprofits at a special event at Flight Deck Bar & Grill in Rochelle.

At its monthly meeting Tuesday, the Ogle County Board unanimously approved a resolution opposing House Bill 1176, a potential state law that would increase county publishing responsibilities when it sends out tax bills.

Rochelle-based creative company Do Art Productions has seen recent growth in its workshop offerings in recent years and has added a new performer.

April is Occupational Therapy Month. That service is offered by the Rochelle Community Hospital Rehabilitation Services Department. RCH has two occupational therapists on staff that can create a personalized rehabilitation program for patients recovering from surgery, an injury or an illness.

At its meeting Monday, the Rochelle City Council unanimously approved a special use permit for Well 13, which will be Rochelle Municipal Utilities' newest water well. The 2.04 acres of land for the well is located directly east of 915 Technology Parkway. The land is currently owned by the city and the location was chosen to mitigate pressure issues on the northeast side of Rochelle and allow for development.

In the 20 years since its establishment, RACF has granted over $1.3 million back to the local community. It has established 33 endowed funds with one acorn fund. Major projects have included the RACF Disaster Preparedness Fund to help those impacted by the 2015 EF4 tornado that hit the rural Rochelle area, and a COVID-19 Relief Fund to help locals impacted by the 2020 pandemic.

At its monthly meeting Wednesday, the Hillcrest Village Board of Trustees heard an update from Village Engineer Kaitlin Wright on ongoing state-mandated water service line inventory work.

Amid bills the state is considering that would see townships consolidated into county government, Flagg Township officials spoke with the Rochelle News-Leader and Ogle County Life on April 4.

At its monthly meeting Monday, the Rochelle Elementary School District Board of Education heard an update from Assistant Superintendent Tony Doyle on a Stepping Stones Preschool fiscal year 2026 transition plan that will see it expand the district's preschool offerings and utilize the currently-vacant May Elementary School building for that purpose.

Major Thomas F. Koritz of the United States Air Force was born and raised in Rochelle.  Koritz always had a desire to fly jets. He decided at the age of 26 to apply for and attend Air Force officer candidate school in San Antonio, Texas before starting undergraduate pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi.

A female patient was transported to Rochelle Community Hospital for treatment after driving her car into Lake Sule early Sunday morning, Rochelle Fire Department Chief Dave Sawlsville said Monday. 

April 9 is the 10-year anniversary of the tornado that brought 200 mile per hour winds that damaged 179 structures and demolished 30 homes near Rochelle.

After hearing a report that a tornado had hit northwest of Rochelle on April 9, 2015, then-Rochelle Fire Department Lt. Dave Sawlsville left the RFD fire station with a crew heading towards that area. While on Illinois Route 251, they saw it for themselves. 

Following an April 9, 2015 EF4 tornado that damaged 179 structures in Ogle County and destroyed 20-30 homes in rural Rochelle after winds reached over 200 miles per hour, then-Rochelle Area Community Foundation Executive Director Kim Montgomery knew someone had to step up to assist with the fundraising work that was going to take place.

On Thursday, April 3, the owners of Liquor N Wine in Rochelle presented a $2,500 donation to the Rochelle Area Community Foundation (RACF). The donation is part of a 10-year pledge Liquor N Wine made three years ago to donate a total of $25,000 to RACF’s endowment fund, which is unrestricted funding that supports various causes.

At its monthly meeting Wednesday, the Creston Village Board of Trustees heard a presentation from Tim Hayden of Hayden Real Estate on progress regarding the building of new homes that has been taking place in the Creston Commons subdivision.