Local Headlines

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gov. J.B. Pritzker has ordered severe restrictions on public schools’ use of isolation rooms for troubled children. The Democrat said Wednesday he directed the Illinois State Board of Education to issue emergency rules

STREATOR – Residents in Streator are concerned of children’s safety due to truck traffic near Northlawn Junior High. During public comment at Streator’s City Council meeting, a resident of North Wasson Street, who lives near four school

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (AP) — A suburban Chicago 14-year-old faces hate crime and other charges for allegedly posting on Craigslist a picture of an African American classmate with the caption, “Slave for sale.” The white Naperville Central High School freshman

JOLIET – A California man is in custody after authorities seized nearly 200 pounds of cannabis and other paraphernalia during a traffic stop in Joliet on Monday. According to the Will County Sheriff’s Office, 64-year-old Micheal Glenn

OTTAWA – The city of Ottawa and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency detected some homes with elevated lead levels in their water. According to President Chris Perra of TEST Inc., during periodic testing in Ottawa, the water

STREATOR – Streator Township High School was rated commendable in an annual report released by the Illinois State Board of Education. Illinois Report Card’s summary designation measures the progress in academic performance and student success through four categories:

STREATOR – Streator’s City Council is expected to approve an updated 5 year road plan. After discussions last month, city Engineer Jeremy Palm added Court Street as an additional road needing improvements in 2022. General Fund projects

OTTAWA – Members of the community gathered at Ottawa’s City Council meeting to discuss their opinion on selling cannabis in the city. The council has not yet voted to allow the sale of cannabis within city limits

CHICAGO (AP) — A Chicago police officer was shot in the head during a shootout on the city’s Northwest Side that left a suspect dead and a teenage bystander wounded. Police Supt. Eddie Johnson said at a

CHICAGO (AP) — A prosecutor who came under harsh criticism when her office suddenly dropped charges against actor Jussie Smollett and is now the subject of a court-ordered investigation announced Tuesday she is running for reelection. In

CHICAGO (AP) — A Chicago woman charged in the death of a mother and the child cut from her womb has given birth. The Cook County Sheriff’s Department revealed Tuesday that 25-year-old Desiree Figueroa was taken from

SAN DIEGO (AP) – The American Medical Association on Tuesday called for an immediate ban on all electronic cigarettes and vaping devices. The group adopted the sweeping stance at a policy-making meeting in San Diego. It aims

STREATOR – Streator Township High School’s district board approved their property tax levy of 6%. On Tuesday at their board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Matt Seaton reported that property value in Streator was projected at a 4% increase

  MENDOTA – Del Monte announced Tuesday that they have found a buyer for the Mendota facility.  The sale is expected to be completed in late 2020.  The news was included in a stock holding report for

LELAND, Ill. (AP) — Parents of students at Leland Elementary School are angry after an older student led an experiment that asked their children to open child-proof medicine bottles. Parents were not told in advance about Friday’s

LASALLE – LaSalle-Peru High School’s Building and Grounds committee is putting the breaks on a solar panel proposal, for now. Plans for the solar garden proposed at the high school’s sports complex included a $25,000 annual rental

LASALLE – LaSalle-Peru High School’s Building and Grounds committee is putting the brakes on a solar panel proposal, for now. Plans for the solar garden proposed at the high school’s sports complex included a $25,000 annual rental

STERLING – A Peru man is one of 57 cadets who recently graduated from the Illinois State Police Academy. Earlier this month, Trooper Tavis Fivek reported for duty at District 1 in Sterling. Fivek a former telecommunicator

LASALLE – One man is in custody after a buy/bust operation in LaSalle. According to the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Narcotics Team on Monday afternoon, a buy/bust operation conducted in the 1300 block of 5th Street in LaSalle

PERU – Children brought to the Illinois Valley Community Hospital urgent walk-in clinic are receiving “busy bags” to help them pass the time while waiting for treatment. Sue Manning of Spring Valley, has already been putting bags

DEKALB – Two Chicago men were arrested after taking a taxi ride from the city all the way to DeKalb and then allegedly not paying. According to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office they were called to Kishwaukee

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A federal disaster declaration has been issued for more than a dozen Illinois counties affected by this year’s historic flooding. The U.S. Small Business Administration is making low-interest loans available to businesses, homeowners

DETROIT (AP) — The United Auto Workers union on Monday turned its bargaining focus to Fiat Chrysler, raising the possibility of another strike against a Detroit automaker. Ford workers ratified their contract Friday night, while the union

MENDOTA – Mendota Aldermen discussed the police and fire pension at Monday night’s city council meeting. Alderman Bill Hunt announced that the police pension fund would be increased by 4.47%, up to just over $611,000, with the

LASALLE – LaSalle’s City Council approved a number of rules for food trucks that wish to vend in the city. At Monday night’s council meeting, city Attorney presented several ordinances previously discussed to be approved for food

  OTTAWA – This Thursday, smokers will be challenged to quit for the day as part of the Great American Smoke Out. The LaSalle County Health Department is in on the movement sponsored by the American Cancer

LASALLE CO. – Harvest season is continuing to pose challenges for farmers across LaSalle County. Illinois Farmers are weeks behind in harvesting mainly due to the various weather extremes that began in the Spring. Now they’re faced

VANDALIA, Ill. (AP) — A small Illinois school is grieving the deaths of two students in a weekend crash that also killed the grandparents of one of the girls. Fourteen-year-old Vandalia High School freshman Jenna Protz died

LASALLE – LaSalle-Peru High School’s class of 1967 is adding their touch to the school’s beautification project.  Superintendent Dr. Steven Wroblewski says classmates of 67′ are working together to create a granite marquee sign and commission an

PERU – The annual truckload sale for Cops 4 Cancer from Advantage Logistics brought hundreds into the Peru Mall to get great deals and raise money for a good cause. Over both days they raised $54,000 to

STREATOR – The holiday lights in the city park were reportedly damaged in the last few days, and Streator Police say they have arrested one person in connection with the vandalism. Authorities took a 42-year-old Streator woman

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — A Peoria County judge watched Jose Ramirez say that he stabbed his parents in a videotaped confession played on the first day of the Princeville man’s murder trial. The (Peoria) Journal-Star reports that

KANKAKEE, Ill. (AP) — Officials hope a commission with representatives from Indiana and Illinois will help address problems with the Kankakee River, including flooding and sedimentation. The Kankakee River runs from near South Bend, Indiana, to near

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — A judge has dismissed an excessive force lawsuit brought by the family of a central Illinois homeless man who died in 2016 after police restrained him. The (Champaign) News-Gazette reports U.S. Magistrate Judge

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gov. J.B. Pritzker has named recipients of the 2020 Order of Lincoln. It is the state’s highest honor for professional achievement and public service. Pritzker on Friday announced honorees Scott Altman, originally from

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A statewide program helping female high school students learn about cybersecurity and potential jobs in the field begins accepting registration next month. The Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology says students between grades

LELAND – The administration of the Leland school district sent a letter home to parents informing them of an unfortunate situation where younger students were shown how to open prescription pill bottles. In a letter addressing the

PERU – Illinois Valley Pads Shelter opened house to present their major expansion on Saturday afternoon. The extended shelter now accommodates families with four designated rooms, additional office space for employees and a play room for kids.

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago teachers on Friday approved the contract deal that ended an 11-day strike and includes pay raises, $35 million to enforce limits on class sizes and a pledge to supply each school with a

CHICAGO (AP) — Murder charges have been filed against a Chicago man already serving time in a federal prison on a gun charge. Harvey Pitts was extradited from Kentucky after been identified in the alleged shooting of

CHICAGO (AP) — A purported street-gang leader from suburban Chicago who became radicalized in prison faces federal charges accusing him of seeking to provide money to Islamic State militants in Syria, according to a complaint unsealed Friday

OGLESBY – Illinois Valley Community College’s board approved construction contract’s for a new storage facility. The 6,000-square-foot metal building will be located just south of campus on the site of the dairy barn that was demolished last December.

OGLESBY – Illinois Valley Community College is increasing student worker wages to comply with state mandate for incremental minimum wage boost in January. Payroll for IVCC would increase $1,350 per week to cover a total of 68

  STREATOR – The city of Streator is preparing their Northpoint Tax Increment Financing District for a hotel in the future. The proposed 82-room Hilton Tru hotel at Northpoint Plaza is expected to move forward according to

STREATOR – A resident in Streator reported a scam phone call where the caller claimed to be the Social Security Administration and the Streator Police Department. According to authorities, the scammer claimed to be from the Social

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Democratic state Senate President John Cullerton announced Thursday that he’s stepping down from the Illinois Legislature. His retirement will be effective sometime in January and he’s fulfilling a promise to his wife, Pam,

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A fourth Illinois resident has died after being hospitalized with a vaping-related lung injury. The Illinois Department of Public Health spokeswoman Melaney Arnold on Thursday declined to give the age of the victim