Local Headlines

SPRINGFIELD – On Tuesday Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a bill allowing the sale of cocktails for pickup and delivery in Illinois. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, restaurants and bars have been unable to sell mixed drinks for consumption off-site. The bipartisan legislation changes a ...Read more

CHICAGO (AP) — Three members of the Illinois Legislature want lawmakers yo return to Springfield for an “emergency legislative session” to address the effects of violent demonstrations and looting on local communities and criminal justice reform. In a letter to House Speaker Mike ...Read more

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Democratic governors say they want a bipartisan statement from all governors opposing President Donald Trump’s threatened deployment of the U.S. military to quell unrest stemming from protests over the death of George Floyd. On a National Governors Association call, ...Read more

CHICAGO (AP) — A Chicago man is in federal custody after he allegedly pointed a gun at a federal agent while a child stood by his side. Joseph Hammond was arrested early Wednesday after U.S Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive agents responded to a call of an armed man firing ...Read more

STERLING, Ill. (AP) — Smoke inhalation is being given as the preliminary cause of death of three people killed in an apartment fire in Sterling. Thirteen-year-old Celina Serrano and her cousin, 8-year-old Shayla Walker of Davenport, Iowa were killed in the fire early Monday. Also killed was ...Read more

CHICAGO (AP) — Ten state-run testing sites for the coronavirus reopened Wednesday after Illinois officials shut them down on Sunday in response to unrest following protests over the death of George Floyd. State officials say an 11th testing site at a vehicle emissions facility in Waukegan is ...Read more

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) — Illinois State Police will conduct an investigation after video posted online shows the mayor of Joliet, Illinois, forcibly grab a protester during a demonstration over the death of George Floyd. The video posted on YouTube Monday shows Mayor Bob O’Dekirk, a former ...Read more

OGLESBY – The Illinois Valley Community College President issued a statement regarding the death of a Minnesota man during an incident with police last week. “IVCC’s core values of respect, responsibility, caring, fairness and honesty have long been the lens we look through when ...Read more

MORRIS – An event to bring awareness to the “Black Lives Matter” movement in Grundy County had over 70 gather at Chapin Park in Morris Wednesday afternoon. The protest, organized by a Morris woman, was held with cooperation from the Morris Police Department and the Grundy County ...Read more

PONTIAC – Livingston County’s health department announced one more confirmed case of coronavirus on Wednesday. The new case is a male in his 30’s who is recovering at home in isolation. There have been 37 positive tests in the county since the pandemic began, and 1,269 total COVID-19 ...Read more