Northernstar.info surpassed 1 million views for the 2025 year, the highest view count in a single year. Here are the top four stories with original photos from each section that helped this record.
News
5 NIU international student visas revoked, university officials confirm. April 10, 2025
An NIU sign is pictured in the MLK Commons. Five international students had their visas revoked, according to NIU officials. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)
KEEP OUT sign posted on Halal Pros restaurant. February 2, 2025
A photo shows a sign from the city of the DeKalb posted on the Halal Pros restaurant at 817 W. Lincoln Highway. According to the city, the restaurant was deemed uninhabitable due to a water leak. (Devin Oommen | Northern Star)
How NIU decides its salaries. February 23, 2025
A graphic shows the three highest paid employees at NIU. The Northern Star’s Salary Issue included the salaries of all full-time employees. (Anthony Becker | Northern Star)
Northern Star Treasure Hunt reveals final clue. March 30, 2025
The Northern Star paperweight sits in front of the NIU sign. The Northern Star treasure hunt began April 7, with five clues released each day after. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)
Sports
NIU football transfer portal tracker: Who’s coming, who’s going? December 1, 2025
NIU football players rush onto the field before the Huskies’ 2025 season finale against Kent State University on Friday at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. With NIU’s season finished, players officially began entering the NCAA transfer portal on Jan. 2. (Edison Miller & Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)
Projecting NIU football’s offensive starters after spring ball. May 5, 2025
NIU redshirt sophomore running back Jaylen Poe (28) celebrates with redshirt junior offensive lineman Abiathur Curry (55) after scoring a rushing touchdown during 11-on-11 drills in the team’s Spring Showcase on Saturday at Huskie Stadium. Curry and Poe are projected to have large roles on the Huskies’ offense this season. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)
Looking inside NIU’s membership agreement with Mountain West. January 17, 2025
NIU President Lisa Freeman (left), NIU Vice President and Director of Athletics Sean Frazier and NIU head football coach Thomas Hammock pose for a photo after a press conference held in the McCareins Auditorium inside the Yordon Center in DeKalb. NIU’s membership agreement with the Mountain West Conference, which the school will join as a football-only affiliate in 2026, was obtained by the Northern Star on Jan 16, 2025. (Edison Miller | Northern Star)
KISELLUS: ‘The Hard Way’ is hard to watch. October 24, 2025
NIU redshirt senior running back Chavon Wright (10) looks on as redshirt sophomore quarterback Josh Holst is sacked by San Diego State University sophomore linebacker Owen Chambliss during a football game on Sept. 27 at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. NIU’s 6-3 loss to San Diego State was the third among the Huskies’ six-game losing streak, longest of the 3-9 season. (Alexia Beck | Northern Star)
Lifestyle
‘Pokémon Legends: Z-A,’ the good, the bad and the glitchy. October 21, 2025
The Pokémon Froakie sits atop a tower with the Prism Tower in the background in “Pokémon Legends: Z-A.” “Pokémon Legends: Z-A” released last Oct. 16 with positives and negatives. (IGN under Fair Use)
Valentine’s Day drinks to share. February 12, 2025
A hand holds the chocolate-covered strawberry crème frappuccino from Starbucks. Several coffee shops welcomed Valentine’s Day with love-themed drinks (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)
Elvis, DeKalb’s latest legend. April 28, 2025
Steve Silverstein sings karaoke at Fatty’s Pub and Grille. Silverstein is known in DeKalb for his Elvis act. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)
Just Be Simple: The heartbreaking memory of Jason Molina. February 12, 2025
Four players try to knock each other out of the ring in “MultiVersus” using the characters Steven Universe, Batman, Velma and Bugs Bunny. “MultiVersus” announced their live service will end on May 30 at the end of Season Five. (Warner Bros. Games under Fair Use)
Opinion
Find purpose in your hobbies. February 9, 2025
A graphic depicts a ball of yarn with a crochet hook, a woman playing guitar, a sewing machine and a hand drawing. Opinion Columnist Nia Jackson argues that people should think about what their favorite hobby means to them and to find purpose in their hobbies. (Emily Beebe | Northern Star)
AEW is no longer elite. April 18, 2025
Then-sophomore Sean Carroll reaches out of bounds to reset at the center of the mat at the match against Purdue University on January 12, 2025. Opinion Columnist Colton Peterson argues that AEW is no longer elite. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)
SAG-AFTRA is shadier than it looks. April 14, 2025
A photo depicts a shelf full of PlayStation games. Opinion Columnist Ethan Ernst argues that SAG-AFTRA is shady, especially when it comes to video game companies. (Marco Alvarez | Northern Star)
Opinion: More students should go to NIU games. August 28, 2025
Fans pack the stands to watch NIU, then-ranked No. 23 in the nation and then-No. 2 in the Mid-American Conference, compete against the University of Buffalo on Sept. 21, 2024. Opinion Columnist Santiago Montañez Bertoletti believes that students should attend more NIU sports. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)