Democrat Jesse White has won the Secretary of State race against Republican Jason Helland.

At Merrill Elementary School, a 17.3-point achievement gap persisted between with individualized education plans and without individualized education plans students in 2017.

At Fulton Elementary School, a 22.7-point achievement gap persisted between with individualized education plans and without individualized education plans students in 2017.

At Merrill Elementary School, a 4.8-point achievement gap persisted between white and hispanic students in 2017.

The truancy rate at Merrill Elementary School fell to 0.3 percent during the 2016-17 school year, according to a NW Illinois News analysis of the latest Illinois schools report card.

More than 81.7 percent of teachers stay at Merrill Elementary School year to year, according to the 2017 three-year average in the latest Illinois schools report card.

At Merrill Elementary School, a 12.2-point achievement gap persisted between low income and non low income students in 2017.

At Fulton Elementary School, a 22.6-point achievement gap persisted between low income and non low income students in 2017.

State residents enrolled at Christian Life College face among the lowest cost of attending four-year in-state colleges and universities in the U.S., according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of federal data.

State residents enrolled at Illinois Institute of Technology face among the steepest cost of attending four-year in-state colleges and universities in the U.S., according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of federal data.

Residents in Illinois face some of the steepest cost of attending in-state colleges and universities in the U.S., according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of federal data.

Berreman, Council Hill and Reynolds employ the most government workers per capita among townships in Northwest Illinois, according to 2017 Illinois State Comptroller financial reports.

Berreman, Council Hill and Reynolds employ the most government workers per capita among townships in Illinois, according to 2017 Illinois State Comptroller financial reports.

Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner is publicly preaching party unity on the campaign trail. But behind the scenes, Rauner is quietly leading an effort to purge conservatives from the Illinois Republican State Central Committee, which governs the party and has elections this month.

Village of Cedarville is among the Illinois cities that employ the fewest government workers per capita, according to 2017 Illinois State Comptroller financial reports.

East Grove, Pleasant Valley and Viola top the list in Northwest Illinois with the highest spending per capita in 2017, Illinois State Comptroller financial reports show.

East Grove, Pleasant Valley and Viola top the list in Illinois with the highest spending per capita in 2017, Illinois State Comptroller financial reports show.

About 28 percent of Merrill Elementary School students passed annual English language arts assessments in 2017 and nearly three quarters of students failed.

Academic results data released recently reveals 23 percent of Merrill Elementary School students are considered on track for the next grade level.

About 17 percent of Merrill Elementary School students passed annual math assessments in 2017 and 83 percent of students failed.