Local Headlines

LASALLE – The city of LaSalle’s Development Director is encouraging local business owners that have exterior renovation projects in mind this year, to apply for financial assistance. Katherine Koyak says the city’s redevelopement incentive program is a grant that helps finance ...Read more

GRAND RIDGE – A LaSalle County Sheriff’s Deputy has been found dead in his vehicle, but no foul play is suspected. That’s according to a release Saturday from the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office. They say that a deputy had not responded to radio calls Saturday and other ...Read more

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois State Police say troopers are stepping up traffic enforcement for Super Bowl weekend. Acting Director Brendan Kelly says driving under the influence is the number one cause of traffic crashes and fatalities during the holidays, and he says “Super Bowl ...Read more

LINCOLN, Ill. (AP) — A transgender inmate who received rare approval from Illinois prison authorities to move from a men’s to a women’s prison says she feels safe in the new accommodations.Strawberry Hampton said she no longer worries about being attacked for being a woman, media ...Read more

CHICAGO (AP) — The dangerous cold and heavy snow that hobbled the northern U.S. this week has retreated, but not before exacting a human toll: more than two dozen weather-related deaths in eight states and hundreds of injuries, including frostbite, broken bones, heart attacks and carbon ...Read more

PERU – The city of Peru’s public works department reported 2,000 tons of salt used during this winter season. Public Works Service Manager and Fire Chief Jeff King says the amount of salt used so far is equivalent to the total amount used for the entire winter season last year. King ...Read more

OTTAWA – Widespread flu activity has taken over 45 states including Illinois, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Illinois, the department of public health reported over 30 ICU admissions for the last week of January and two pediatric deaths for the season total. ...Read more

CHICAGO (AP) — The Illinois Department of Public Health says at least 144 people made hospital emergency-room visits and one person has died due to cold-related injuries since Tuesday. Department spokesman Melaney Arnold said Thursday that there were at least 65 visits in Chicago and at least ...Read more

OTTAWA – Local unemployment rates rank amongst the highest in the state, according to the Illinois Department of Unemployment. Bureau, Putnam, LaSalle and Marshall county range in the highest unemployment rates locally. Currently, LaSalle’s unemployment rate is at 7.2 percent, a ...Read more

EARLVILLE – A Tuesday afternoon collision between a car and a train in Northern LaSalle County damaged a car, but no injuries were reported. According to the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office, 22-year-old Kristina M. Morsovillo of Earlville was driving north on East 10th Road when she ...Read more