Northern Star

Northern Star The Northern Star is the all student-produced, independent media at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill. Follow the staff on Twitter: .

The Northern Star covers NIU campus news, DeKalb city and county news, NIU Huskie sports and Northern Illinois entertainment. The Northern Star is the student-run, independent newspaper and news site at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill. The Northern Star covers campus and city news, Huskie sports and local entertainment. Email tips and letters to the editor to [email protected].

The Northern Star is currently seeking volunteer videographers to join our video team! Whether you have a passion for pr...
08/19/2025

The Northern Star is currently seeking volunteer videographers to join our video team! Whether you have a passion for producing digital media or want to strengthen your video portfolio, becoming a Northern Star videographer allows you to hone your skills and apply them to a professional work environment. Videographers are responsible for filming and editing all of the video content that you see across our social media. Students who meet all of the desired qualifications listed are encouraged to apply on our website at northernstar.info.

If you have any questions about joining the Northern Star, do not hesitate to contact us!

Apply here: https://northernstar.info/apply-to-the-northern-star/

NIU football will face the University of Pittsburgh Panthers on Sept. 2, 2028, at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsy...
08/18/2025

NIU football will face the University of Pittsburgh Panthers on Sept. 2, 2028, at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, marking the first-ever meeting between the schools. NIU is set to receive a $1.1 million payout for adding the Power Four opponent in its future schedule.

Learn more about NIU’s other non-conference opponents lined up for future seasons in the full article.

https://northernstar.info/126230/sports/niu-adds-pittsburgh-to-2028-football-schedule-for-1-1-million-payout/

Get the latest in NIU athletics at northernstar.info

🗞️ ~ Skyler Kisellus | Senior Sports Reporter
📸 ~ Totus Tuus Keely | Assistant Photo Editor

With the fall semester fast approaching, NIU Esports has made several new changes as they get ready for the upcoming sea...
08/07/2025

With the fall semester fast approaching, NIU Esports has made several new changes as they get ready for the upcoming season. From a brand new varsity esports title being introduced to new games being fitted into NIU’s esports arena, Lifestyle Writer Alex Lockwood recaps all the important highlights coming to NIU Esports this fall.

Learn more about the new changes in the full article.

https://northernstar.info/126178/lifestyle/5-highlights-to-look-forward-to-in-niu-esports/

Get the latest in NIU and DeKalb news at northernstar.info

🗞️ ~ Alex Lockwood | Lifestyle Writer
📸 ~ Ethan Rodriguez | Photo Editor

Ozzy Osbourne, best known as the lead singer for heavy metal rock band Black Sabbath, has passed away on July 22 at the ...
08/07/2025

Ozzy Osbourne, best known as the lead singer for heavy metal rock band Black Sabbath, has passed away on July 22 at the age of 76. Lifestyle Writer Caleb Johnson recaps Osbourne’s astonishing life and how he ended up becoming a global music icon.

Learn more about Osbourne’s notable life achievements in the full article.

https://northernstar.info/126186/lifestyle/gone-but-not-forgotten-ozzy-osbournes-legacy/

Get the latest in NIU and DeKalb news at northernstar.info

🗞️ ~ Caleb Johnson | LIfestyle Writer
📸 ~ AP Newsroom

The U.S Department of Justice announced Monday that NIU Athletics Hall of Fame running back LeShon Johnson was convicted...
08/05/2025

The U.S Department of Justice announced Monday that NIU Athletics Hall of Fame running back LeShon Johnson was convicted on six felony counts of violating the Animal Welfare Act. The conviction stems from Johnson’s involvement with a large-scale dogfighting operation in Oklahoma, where 190 dogs were rescued from his residence in October.

Learn more about the penalties Johnson could face as a result of his crimes in the full article.

https://northernstar.info/126207/sports/former-niu-football-star-leshon-johnson-guilty-of-federal-dogfighting-charges/

Get the latest in NIU athletics at northernstar.info

🗞️ ~ Edison Miller | Editor in Chief
📸 ~ Northern Star Archives

In light of the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), Opinion Editor Kahlil Kambui believes allowing the public to use A...
08/05/2025

In light of the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), Opinion Editor Kahlil Kambui believes allowing the public to use AI while it is still in its early development stages is a grave mistake. He breaks down both the environmental and societal impacts to argue that the costs of AI outweigh its benefits.

Read more about the specific consequences AI brings in Kahlil’s full column.

https://northernstar.info/126195/opinion/ai-causes-more-harm-than-good/

Get the latest in NIU and DeKalb news at northernstar.info

🗞️ ~ Kahlil Kambui | Opinion Editor
📸 ~ AP Newsroom

On July 18, the House of Representatives approved a Trump administration plan to cut $1.1 billion in funding for the Cor...
08/05/2025

On July 18, the House of Representatives approved a Trump administration plan to cut $1.1 billion in funding for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting (CPB), which supports a vast amount of public television and radio stations across the United States. Assistant Opinion Editor Emily Beebe believes that this loss of federal funding threatens the future of news broadcasting, especially those operating in rural or local communities.

Read more of the potential consequences of this crucial budget cut in Emily’s full column.

https://northernstar.info/126193/opinion/how-federal-cuts-threaten-npr-local-news/

Get the latest in NIU and DeKalb news at northernstar.info

🗞️ ~ Emily Beebe | Assistant Opinion Editor
📸 ~ Jacquelyn Martin/AP

In June, crimes such as domestic battery and criminal sexual assault were reported during the monthly crime log.To see a...
08/04/2025

In June, crimes such as domestic battery and criminal sexual assault were reported during the monthly crime log.

To see a comprehensive list of crimes reported by NIU’s Police Department in June, read the full article.

https://northernstar.info/126200/news/niu-crime-log-june-2025/

Get the latest in NIU and DeKalb news at northernstar.info

🗞️ ~ Emily Beebe | Assistant Opinion Editor
📸 ~ Northern Star File Photo

On July 25, Republican Tasha Sims announced she will seek re-election as DeKalb County clerk and recorder. Under her lea...
08/04/2025

On July 25, Republican Tasha Sims announced she will seek re-election as DeKalb County clerk and recorder. Under her leadership, the office has launched a fully accessible website, built up a social media presence and implemented various changes to increase voter outreach within DeKalb County.

Learn more about Sims’ goals if re-elected for another term, as well as specific voting information, in the full article.
https://northernstar.info/126203/news/dekalb-county-clerk-tasha-sims-announces-bid-for-another-term/

Get the latest in NIU and DeKalb news at northernstar.info

🗞️ ~ Austin Lamb | News Editor
📸 ~ Courtesy of Tasha Sims

High school graduation marks the beginning of a new life chapter, and with that comes a plethora of career advancement o...
07/17/2025

High school graduation marks the beginning of a new life chapter, and with that comes a plethora of career advancement options. While college, trade school or the military seem like appealing options, gap years remain a competitive choice for new high school graduates. Approaching the topic from two different perspectives, Opinion Editor Kahlil Kambui argues why he believes gap years are not beneficial while Assistant Opinion Editor Emily Beebe argues that gap years are beneficial and should be considered.

Learn more about their respective supporting arguments behind gap years in the full column.

https://northernstar.info/126130/opinion/look-both-ways-gap-years/

Get the latest in NIU and DeKalb news at northernstar.info

🗞️ ~ Kahlil Kambui & Emily Beebe | Opinion Editor & Assistant Opinion Editor
📸 ~ Kahlil Kambui | Opinion Editor

“EA Sports College Football 26” was officially released for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X on Thursday, in which NIU is...
07/17/2025

“EA Sports College Football 26” was officially released for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X on Thursday, in which NIU is one of the 136 featured teams in game. While NIU is tied with five other schools for the third-lowest overall rating, Senior Sports Reporter Skyler Kisellus believes that this in-game rating could benefit NIU financially.

Learn more about NIU’s specific ranking within the game compared to other universities, as well as how this ranking could actually benefit the school financially, in the full article.
Get the latest in NIU athletics at northernstar.info

https://northernstar.info/126170/sports/niu-earns-low-marks-in-ea-sports-college-football-26-but-poor-ratings-could-pay-off/

🗞️ / 📸 ~ Skyler Kisellus | Senior Sports Reporter

In May, crimes such as aggravated mob action and battery were reported during the monthly crime log.To see a comprehensi...
07/17/2025

In May, crimes such as aggravated mob action and battery were reported during the monthly crime log.

To see a comprehensive list of crimes reported by NIU’s Police Department in May, read the full article.

https://northernstar.info/126136/news/niu-crime-log-may-2025/

Get the latest in NIU and DeKalb news at northernstar.info

🗞️ / 📸 ~ Emily Beebe | Assistant Opinion Editor

Address

545 Lucinda Avenue, Suite 175
Dekalb, IL
60115

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