
Legislators hope to reopen OB unit at St. Margaret’s Health, urges hospital to create plan for mothers
PERU – Elected officials are set out to reopen the obstetrics unit at St. Margaret’s Health. State Senator Sue Rezin hosted a press conference with other local officials, SMH nurses, and an expectant mother on

Officials urge evacuation near Ohio derailment, fearing explosion
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (AP) — Officials monitoring the smoldering, tangled wreckage of a train derailment in northeastern Ohio urgently warned hundreds of nearby residents who had declined to evacuate to do so Sunday night, saying a rail

Northwestern sweeps Wisconsin for first time since ’95-96
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Boo Buie scored 13 points, Brooks Barnhizer had a clutch blocked shot in the final minute, and Northwestern defeated Wisconsin 54-52 on Sunday night. The Wildcats swept the season series with Wisconsin

Couple dies after apparent ice fishing accident in LaHarpe
DURHAM, Ill. (AP) — A western Illinois couple died in an apparent ice fishing accident after being pulled from a farm pond by a sheriff’s deputy, police said. Despite several hours of lifesaving efforts, Sean D.

Diplomatic tensions rise between U.S. and China after downed spy balloon
Diplomatic tensions continued to rise on Sunday as officials in Beijing blasted the U.S. for shooting a Chinese spy balloon out of the sky. Tan Kefei, a spokesperson for China’s Defense Ministry, described the move as “a clear overreaction,”

Evacuation orders remain in place after 50-car train accident causes massive fire in Ohio
Home evacuations remain in place for dozens in northeastern Ohio following a train derailment which ignited a massive fire. Luckily, no one was killed or injured in the accident in East Palestine, Ohio. Mayor Trent Conaway told reporters

Kyrie Irving traded to Dallas Mavericks from Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving was traded to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. The Athletic’s Shams Charania tweeted: “The Brooklyn Nets are trading Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a first-round and

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry out indefinitely with leg injury
The Golden State Warriors announced on Sunday that Stephen Curry has been ruled out indefinitely after suffering partial tears to his superior tibiofibular ligaments and interosseous membrane, as well as a lower leg contusion. An official timeline

Lady Cav’s Bowling Team continue to break records
Photo provided by LP High SchoolLASALLE – PERU — The LP Lady Cav’s bowling team traveled to Dixon to participate in the Dixon Regional tournament Saturday. They are continuing to write history for LP as the first

OHS Pirate Poms Dance Team takes top two scores at tournament
Photo provided by Ottawa High School OTTAWA — The OHS Pirate Poms competed at Hononegah this weekend in the Regional IDTA (Illinois Dance Team Association) taking first place in both Jazz, which was the highest scoring routine

Illinois Department of Insurance announces 6% increase in ACA Marketplace open enrollment
SPRINGFIELD – The 10th year for the Affordable Care Act Marketplace enrollment period brought an increase of 6% of new plans selected by Illinois residents according to the Illinois Department of Insurance. Nationwide, more than 16.3

US downs Chinese balloon, drawing a threat from China
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military on Saturday shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the Carolina coast after it traversed sensitive military sites across North America. China insisted the flyover was an accident involving a

US states take control of abortion debate with funding focus
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Though the Insight Women’s Center sits at the epicenter of a reinvigorated battle in the nation’s culture wars, the only hint of its faith-based mission to dissuade people from getting abortions is the

Board Game Night coming to the LaSalle Public Library
LASALLE – A night of board games and fun will be coming to the LaSalle Public Library on Wednesday. From 4 PM to 7 PM, the library will host community residents, Martina Cingle and Cayla Massengill,

Illinois Fire Departments warn residents about Carbon Monoxide
SPRINGFIELD – The Office of the State Fire Marshal of Illinois wants to remind those to have their furnaces checked and to make sure carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are working. According to the National Fire Protection

US downs Chinese balloon over ocean, moves to recover debris
By ZEKE MILLER, MICHAEL BALSAMO, COLLEEN LONG and AAMER MADHANI Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States on Saturday downed a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the Carolina coast after it traversed sensitive military sites across

Morris Hospital’s chief nurse named to National Nursing Board
MORRIS– Kimberly Landers, MS, RN, Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nurse Executive at Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers, was appointed to the American Organization for Nursing Leadership Board of Directors. As the

IVCC to offer ground training class to pilots
OGLESBY – Illinois Valley Community College will be offering a 10-session “Private Pilot Ground Training” course for those wanting to start a career in aviation. The course prepares students for the Private Pilot Knowledge Exam and

OEHS Music Fest this weekend at Ottawa High School
OTTAWA – Ottawa School Districts 140 and 141 are inviting the community to the 33rd annual OEHS Music Festival on Sunday. The concert will feature performing groups from the public elementary and high schools like, Friendly

Prepare for icy trails this weekend at Starved Rock & Matthiessen State Parks
UTICA – If you’re planning a trip out to Starved Rock or Matthiessen State Parks this weekend experts say be prepared for icy trails. Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Parks Natural Resource Coordinator and Park Naturalist

Chinese balloon soars across US; Blinken scraps Beijing trip
WASHINGTON (AP) — A huge, high-altitude Chinese balloon is sailing across the U.S. The spectacle was drawing severe Pentagon accusations of spying on Friday — while sending excited or alarmed Americans outside with binoculars. Secretary of

Knights of Columbus holds benefit for IV Food Pantry
LASALLE — The Knights of Columbus in LaSalle will host a pork tenderloin fry beginning at 5:00 PM Saturday the fourth to benefit the Illinois Valley Food Pantry. Meals will include a pork tenderloin, hand cut fries,

Grand Ridge reminds residents to pick up dog tags
GRAND RIDGE – The village of Grand Ridge is reminding residents that dog tags will be available beginning on Monday evening. The current price is $5, but that will increase to $30 if you purchase after

Rural roads begin spring posting for weight limits
LAMOILLE – The frigid air today will soon move on, and with warmer temperatures forecast, many area rural roads will start to see weight limit signs go into effect to prevent damage. LaMoille Township announced that roads

Eye drops recalled after US drug-resistant bacteria outbreak
By MIKE STOBBE AP Medical Writer NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials said Thursday a company is recalling its over-the-counter eye drops that have been linked to an outbreak of drug-resistant infections. The Centers for Disease

Dosunmu, White lead way as Bulls beat Hornets 114-98
By ANDREW SELIGMAN AP Sports Writer CHICAGO (AP) — Ayo Dosunmu matched a season high with 22 points, Coby White scored 20 points and the Chicago Bulls overcame shaky outings by DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine to

Health club controller gets 4 years in fed prison for fraud
CHICAGO (AP) — A judge sentenced a former health club controller to four years in federal prison for embezzling more than $4 million from the facility. U.S. District Judge Ronald Guzman sentenced 58-year-old Peter Craig Savely

3 charged with clashing with cops in separate Jan. 6 cases
By WILSON RING Associated Press WASHINGTON D.C. (AP) – Three men have been arrested on accusations that they clashed with police officers during separate incidents at the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot, according to the U.S.

Chicago suburb settles lawsuit over boy’s shooting for $12M
CHICAGO (AP) — The family of a suburban Chicago boy who was 12 when an officer shot him in the knee during a 2019 police raid will receive $12 million under a settlement of the family’s

Iowa voids Illini students’ tickets when it discovers prank
By ERIC OLSON AP Sports Writer It would have been a great college prank, but the Iowa athletic department crushed it. The Illinois student spirit group “Orange Krush” had its order for 200 tickets to the men’s

House votes to oust Rep. Ilhan Omar from Foreign Affairs Committee assignment
U.S. House of Representatives voted to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., from the Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday. The resolution to remove Omar passed 218 to 211. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said that Omar’s removal is in

Memphis library shooting leaves one dead, one officer in critical condition
The Memphis Tennessee police department said on Thursday that one officer is in “extremely critical condition” and a second individual is dead following a midday shootout at a local library. The incident happened around 12:30 p.m. when

North Carolina and head coach Mack Brown agree to 1-year contract extension
North Carolina announced Thursday afternoon that head coach Mack Brown has agreed to a one-year contract extension with the team, keeping Brown under contract through the 2027-28 season. Brown said in a statement: “I appreciate the Board of Ttrustees,

WNBA point guard Courtney Vandersloot announces she’s signing with NY Liberty
WNBA point guard Courtney Vandersloot announced on social media she is signing with the New York Liberty for the upcoming WNBA season. The veteran point guard is joining a star-studded roster that recently added two-time WNBA champion

Area communities awarded Illinois EPA Lead Service Line Grants
SPRINGFIELD —The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has announced grants to area communities to assist in taking a complete lead water service line inventory. The Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act requires cities in Illinois to

Injured bald eagle rescued from Starved Rock finds new home with the Illinois Raptor Center
DECATUR – An eagle rescued from Starved Rock State Park is now in possession of the Illinois Raptor Center, and officials there say the bird is adapting very well. Last week, conservation police along with

NJ councilwoman found shot to death outside of her home
SAYREVILLE, N.J. (AP) — Authorities say a New Jersey borough councilwoman was found shot to death in an SUV outside of her home. The Middlesex County prosecutor’s office says 30-year-old Sayreville Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour was found

Biden’s handwritten notes part of classified docs probe
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is a man who writes down his thoughts. And some of those handwritten musings over his decades of public service are now a part of a special counsel’s investigation into

Oregon man accused of torturing victim killed two others before taking his own life
Police confirmed on Wednesday that the suspect accused of torturing a woman he held captive in southern Oregon last week died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after an hours-long standoff. Police also said that the suspect, Benjamin

Gunman kills one employee, injures 3 at DC Metro station
An employee of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority was killed, and three other people were injured after a lone gunman opened fire at the Potomac Avenue Metro station in Washington on Wednesday morning. According to Ashan

Philadelphia Eagles OL Josh Sills indicted on rape and kidnapping charges
Just 10 days before his team is set to compete in the Super Bowl, Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Josh Sills has been indicted on rape and kidnapping charges in Ohio. According to the indictment issued in Guernsey County Common

Quarterback Tom Brady announces his retirement from the NFL “for good”
Legendary quarterback Tom Brady has announced his retirement after 23 seasons in the NFL. The 45-year-old Brady shared the news in a video posted on social media on Wednesday, saying: “I’ll get to the point right away. I’m retiring

Henry scores 13, Bradley defeats Southern Illinois 62-52
PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — Ja’Shon Henry scored 13 points off the bench to help Bradley to a 62-52 victory over Southern Illinois on Wednesday night. Henry shot 5 of 7 from the field and 3 for

Illinois State wins 68-62 in OT against UIC
NORMAL, Ill. (AP) — Darius Burford scored 18 points and Kendall Lewis added four points in overtime as Illinois State took down UIC 68-62 on Wednesday night. Burford went 9 of 14 from the field for

Judge cuts soccer equal pay legal fees from $6.6M to $5.5M
By ANNE M. PETERSON and RONALD BLUM AP Sports Writers A federal judge granted final approval to the equal pay lawsuit settlement between female players and the U.S. Soccer Federation, cutting legal fees from $6.6 million to

Lawsuit can proceed against Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse
By SCOTT BAUER Associated Press MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A federal judge in Wisconsin ruled Wednesday that a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the father of a man shot and killed by Kyle Rittenhouse during a protest

Freight car derailment in Detroit disrupts Amtrak service
DETROIT (AP) — Some Amtrak commuter service between Detroit and Chicago has been disrupted after freight cars derailed along tracks on Detroit’s southwest side. An Amtrak spokesman said several routes were canceled through Friday, the Detroit

Illinois EPA invests in LaSalle water infrastructure project
LASALLE – The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is announcing the issuance of water infrastructure loans to communities across the state, including an over $2 million dollar investment for the City of LaSalle. The city will use the

Funds not available to replace ambulance in Mendota, but department gains new equipment
MENDOTA – The LaSalle County Board voted to approve more American Rescue Plan Applications on Tuesday, but one agency didn’t get awarded the funds to replace an aging ambulance. According to a report last year commissioned by

Governor reminds taxpayers to take advantage of Earned Income Tax Credit
CHICAGO- With thousands of residents failing to take advantage of savings offered by the federal Earned Income Tax Credit and state Earned Income Credit each tax season, Governor Pritzker is reminding qualifying taxpayers to claim these valuable