The State Farm Center hummed with anticipation–under the bright lights of the IHSA 3A State Wrestling Semifinals, history waited to be written. A senior, unbeaten in 47 matches. A two-time state medalist. One final shot at a championship.  Across from him, a freshman phenom.  David versus...

They move through Yellowstone, the wind ruffling their thick fur as they stalk through the underbrush. Their paws make no sound against the damp earth. Ears pricked, eyes scanning for movement, nose twitching at the faintest scent of mule deer. They are the alpha. They are the hunter. They are…...

The surgeon’s steady hand marks the incision. The scalpel glides across the skin, parting flesh to reveal the damaged ligament beneath. A tendon—healthy, unscarred—harvested from the wrist, severed from its home. The drill whirs to life, its bit biting deep into the ulna, then the humerus,...

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen dominated the 2024 FIA Formula One season, claiming his fourth consecutive Drivers' Title with nine wins and 437 points, while McLaren earned the Constructors’ Championship. McLaren’s Lando Norris finished second in the standings with 374 points, surpassing Ferrari’s...

He can’t shine the spotlights or change the gels. He can’t pace the catwalk on a “Little Women” showday, work the boards or program any cues. Still, when the curtain closed on Community’s winter production, one name stood out on the crew list—Gus. He’s new to the crew this year—popular,...

For over a decade, elementary school girls have invaded the cafeteria for a few hours each February, dressed to the nines, twisting and twirling with their dates as Taylor Swift blares through the speakers. For those few hours on a Saturday afternoon, Mr. Matt Schweinberg isn’t a social studies...

The nursing vacancy has been filled with the hiring of Mrs. Melissa Scottberg. Although Scottberg, who started on Jan. 27, is a new hire, she’s no stranger to the school. With two daughters—a sophomore and a junior—attending Community and a role mentoring senior girls through a local church,...

Lily Mavros’ love for music began with an impromptu fourth-grade performance, but her journey didn’t stop there. From local productions to starring roles, the Community senior has worked tirelessly to hone her craft. In this episode, we explore how she balances AP classes, voice lessons and performances—while...

At 6 a.m., before Community’s hallways fill with groggy students, Bode Thompson is already outside, scanning the tree line for movement. Fall migration is in full swing, and warblers—small, colorful birds that dart through the branches—are passing through. Thompson, a senior, spends his mornings...

Whether it’s another blowout victory under the Friday night lights or a tense, final-possession battle on the basketball hardwood, whether the roar of the crowd erupts in triumph or falls to an anxious hush, one constant cuts through the noise at Normal Community High School–the familiar, booming...

When Mr. Joel Swanson steps into the broadcast booth, it’s as if he’s entering his own laboratory—a place where the unpredictable elements of live sports mix and react. Over the airwaves, the veteran science teacher’s voice becomes the nucleus around which the game orbits, holding together...

The second Sunday in May, a day circled in bright red ink on the calendar–Mother's Day: a day dedicated to honoring and celebrating mothers. While Mother’s Day is a heartwarming occasion, it can also be a source of stress for sons, daughters and partners as they hunt for the perfect gift. Roses...

Dexter Niekamp squints against the glare of the lights, a towering figure with a focused gaze. The senior’s eyes are filled with determination and anticipation as he waits to strike.  There is the snap, the jerk of the line... His movements—fluid and precise.  This is another chance...