Local Headlines

PERU – An early morning fire Tuesday filled the Peru Dairy Queen with smoke. Authorities were called around 4:20 AM to the restaurant on the north side of Peru and multiple agencies responded to battle the fire. The fire took 40 minutes to bring under control. Area fire departments, ...Read more

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Voters will decide next year whether to ditch Illinois’ flat-rate income tax in favor of one that hits the wealthy hardest following House action Monday that gave Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker his top campaign pledge and biggest victory since taking office. On a ...Read more

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has awarded $1.8 million in grants to increase Prairie State tourism, including over $130,000 for bike rentals at I&M Canal Visitor Center in LaSalle. The Illinois & Michigan Canal, opened in 1848, ...Read more

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) — The remains of a 15-year-old boy who was struck and killed by a Chicago area commuter train last week have been recovered from a creek. Firefighters with the East Joliet Fire Department located and recovered the remains of Charles Cooper on Saturday afternoon. Authorities ...Read more

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The long-pursued goal of expanding casino gambling in Illinois is scheduled for a new look by the General Assembly. The House Executive Committee has scheduled a hearing Monday on legislation sponsored by Rep. Robert Rita. The Blue Island Democrat has not spelled out ...Read more

CHICAGO (AP) — An 84-year-old woman has died after being injured in a Chicago crash that involved multiple vehicles and also hurt 10 police officers. The Chicago Tribune reports that two Chicago police vehicles were in a crash with several other vehicles around 10 p.m. Saturday in the Austin ...Read more

CHICAGO – A State Trooper was injured and a man is facing attempted murder charges after an incident on I-290 on Wednesday. According to the Illinois State Police, around 10:30 AM a trooper was on a traffic stop near Damen Avenue, when he was allegedly almost struck by a vehicle that was ...Read more

MENDOTA- A Sunday morning fire in downtown Mendota has been determined to be suspicious in nature.   Around 6:30 AM the Mendota Fire Department was called to the 700 block of Illinois Ave for smoke coming from a building.   After an investigation, a press release went out Sunday afternoon from ...Read more

STICKNEY, Ill. (AP) — Hundreds of mourners, some carrying flowers and balloons, have gathered for the funeral of a Chicago woman who authorities say was strangled and her baby cut from her womb. Nineteen-year-old Marlen Ochoa-Lopez was remembered as a tireless, loving mother at the funeral ...Read more