If you grew up in Lake County, you remember the thump. That heavy, ink-smelling bundle of the News-Sun Waukegan IL hitting your driveway was basically the heartbeat of the North Shore. It told you which high school quarterback threw for three touchdowns, which alderman was arguing about property taxes again, and unfortunately, who had passed away.
But man, things have changed.
The media landscape in Illinois has been a total roller coaster over the last decade. If you're looking for the paper today, you might notice it looks a little different—or you’re seeing it pop up under the Chicago Tribune banner. Honestly, trying to track who owns what and where the actual newsroom went is enough to give anyone a headache.
The Identity Crisis of News-Sun Waukegan IL
First off, let's clear up the name. While everyone in town still calls it the Waukegan News-Sun, its official title shifted to the Lake County News-Sun years ago. It was a strategic move to show they covered more than just the 60085 zip code. They wanted to be the voice for Gurnee, Libertyville, and Zion too.
Founded way back in 1892 by Frank H. Just, the paper was a family-owned staple for nearly a century. That’s the kind of legacy you don't see anymore. But the 80s and 90s hit local journalism like a freight train. The Just family sold to Copley Press, then it went to Hollinger, then Wrapports (the Sun-Times folks), and finally, in 2014, the Chicago Tribune Media Group bought it.
Now, it's part of the Alden Global Capital portfolio after they bought Tribune in 2021. If you follow media news, you know Alden isn't exactly known for hiring more reporters. They’re a hedge fund. They cut costs.
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Where is the Newsroom?
This is the part that sucks for locals. For a long time, the News-Sun had a massive presence right in downtown Waukegan. You could walk in and talk to a human being.
These days? Not so much.
The physical office in Waukegan closed years ago, moving operations to Gurnee and then basically folding into the Tribune’s broader suburban structure. When you read a story about a Waukegan City Council meeting now, there’s a good chance the person writing it is covering three other towns at the same time.
Why the "Waukegan" Part Still Matters
Despite the corporate shuffling, the News-Sun Waukegan IL remains the primary record for a city that is constantly reinventing itself. Waukegan is a gritty, beautiful, complicated port city. It has a massive industrial history, a growing Latino community, and a downtown that’s been "just about to revitalized" for twenty years.
Without a dedicated local paper, who is watching the Port District? Who is tracking the clean-up of the lakefront superfund sites?
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Is the News-Sun Still "Real" News?
Look, people love to complain that "there’s nothing in the paper anymore." And yeah, the print edition is definitely thinner. You’ll see a lot of "wire" stories or articles shared across other Tribune suburban papers like the Aurora Beacon-News or the Elgin Courier-News.
But here is the truth: the reporters still on the ground are working their tails off.
Reporters like Steve Sadin or the various freelancers who still cover Lake County sports are often the only ones in the room when important decisions are made. In early 2026, we’ve seen some heavy local coverage regarding the College of Lake County and local immigration issues—stories that the big Chicago TV stations wouldn't touch unless there was a fire or a high-speed chase.
The Digital Shift: How to Actually Read It
If you’re still waiting for a paper boy to bike past your house, you might be waiting a while. Most people have migrated to the digital edition.
- The Paywall is Real: You’ll get a few articles for free, but then the Chicago Tribune paywall will slam shut.
- The App Experience: It’s basically a skin of the Tribune app. If you want Waukegan news, you have to specifically navigate to the "Lake County" section.
- Facebook Groups vs. The News-Sun: A lot of Waukeganites have moved to "Waukegan Word of Mouth" or other Facebook groups. While those are great for finding out why there are sirens on Washington Street, they aren't journalism. They don't fact-check. The News-Sun still does.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that the paper is "dead."
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It’s not dead; it’s just consolidated. The News-Sun Waukegan IL is now a "brand" under a larger corporate umbrella. This is happening everywhere—from California to Maine. When you subscribe to the News-Sun, you’re actually supporting a small handful of Lake County-based journalists who are trying to keep the lights on in a room that used to have fifty people in it.
Another thing? The Sunday paper. People get mad when they see Chicago news in their local Sunday edition. That’s because the News-Sun Sunday edition is essentially the Chicago Tribune with a local wrap. It’s the only way they can afford to print and deliver it.
Actions You Can Take to Support Local Reporting
If you care about knowing what’s happening in Waukegan, you can't just complain about the "dying" paper on Twitter. You have to actually engage with it.
- Digital Subscription: It’s usually the price of a couple of lattes a month. It’s the single most effective way to keep local reporters employed.
- Write Letters to the Editor: The News-Sun still publishes these. It’s one of the few ways to get a direct line to the community without the "noise" of social media comments.
- Direct Tips: If you see something happening at the Waukegan Harbor or a weird zoning sign in your neighborhood, email the staff directly. They don't have the "roving patrols" they used to, so they rely on the community to be their eyes and ears.
- Check the Legal Notices: Seriously. If you want to know what’s really going on with property or government contracts in Waukegan, the legal notices section in the back of the paper is a gold mine.
Waukegan deserves a watchdog. Whether it’s called the Waukegan News-Sun or the Lake County News-Sun, the mission is the same. The ink might be digital now, but the stories are still very much about the people who call this corner of Illinois home.
Next Steps for Lake County Residents
- Audit your subscriptions: Check if you still have access to the Chicago Tribune's suburban portal, which includes all News-Sun archives.
- Sign up for local newsletters: The News-Sun offers a "Lake County" specific email blast that curates the top headlines of the day so you don't have to go hunting for them.
- Follow specific reporters: Find the journalists covering Waukegan on X (formerly Twitter) or LinkedIn. They often share "behind the scenes" details that don't make it into the final 500-word edit.