Local Headlines

CHICAGO (AP) — A convicted murderer who is suspected of belonging to the notorious “Ripper Crew” that killed as many as 20 Chicago-area women in the 1980s is scheduled for release from prison. Media outlets report that 58-year-old Thomas Kokoraleis was sentenced to life in prison

SPRING VALLEY –  Republic Services Waste Collection announced operational changes for Spring Valley. Waste service manager Jim Pozzi says garbage collection will run Monday through Thursday instead of through Friday. Pozzi says although drivers will be on the streets a day less, he’s

FREEPORT – An Illinois State Police Trooper has died Thursday afternoon in a crash near Freeport. Acting Director Brendan F. Kelly confirmed that Trooper Brooke Jones-Story of District 16, was killed in a crash while on a traffic stop in Stephenson County. Authorities say that just before

CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois’ secretary of state is issuing driver’s licenses and state identification cards in compliance with federal mandates aimed at making such cards more secure. Although the office in January began issuing cards that comply with the federal Real ID Act, the cards

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday ordered an independent review of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and nominated a new director after the recent deaths of toddlers who were under the child welfare agency’s care. Pritzker nominated

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — An audit released Wednesday found that a plan to save $500 million a year on state employee health insurance was so ill-conceived and poorly executed that it’s costing taxpayers $10 million extra annually without delivering the service promised. Auditor General

OTTAWA- A LaSalle man is facing three murder charges after allegedly suffocating his infant son with a pillow on Sunday.   LaSalle Police say 23 year-old Kenneth N. Herbst has first degree murder charges stemming from an incident in the 900 block of Grant Street in LaSalle.   Court documents

ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) — An Illinois man facing federal murder charges in the killing of a sheriff’s deputy now faces state charges, as well. Winnebago County State’s Attorney Marilyn Hite Ross said Wednesday that a grand jury indicted 39-year-old Floyd E. Brown, of Springfield, on 75

DIXON, Ill. (AP) — A 20-year-old man accused of opening fire at Dixon High School has been found unfit to stand trial. Matthew A. Milby Jr. of Dixon was re-evaluated Tuesday after he was hospitalized for an eating disorder. The order was filed Friday following months of Milby refusing to eat or

SPRING VALLEY -North Central Illinois Council of Governments will assist residents of Spring Valley in filling out a housing rehabilitation survey next week. The survey was issued to residents of the project neighborhood area on West Dakota Street, west of North Power Street, north of East