Local Headlines

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Two bills are pending in the Illinois General Assembly that would pause or permanently eliminate a basic skills test for new teachers that some officials say has contributed to a statewide shortage of educators Starting June 30, the Illinois State Board of Education

CHICAGO (AP) — A man is dead after he was struck by an SUV as he lay in the middle of the Chicago’s Dan Ryan Expressway. The Illinois State Police say 25-year-old Jovan Towers Jr. was lying on the pavement for an unknown reason at about 4:30 a.m. Sunday on Chicago’s South Side when

WAUKEGAN, Ill. (AP) — Search and recovery personnel found the body of another worker Sunday in the rubble of a northern Illinois silicone factory that exploded and burst into flames two days earlier, bringing the death toll to three employees with one more body believed to be in the debris, a

PERU – An occupational therapist praised by co-workers for having exceptional dedication to patient care is the winner of the 2019 Buckman Family Employee of the Year Award at Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru. Ottawa resident Jenna Manigold received multiple nominations for the

THOMSON, Ill. (AP) — An Illinois prison is offering sign-on bonuses to help fill more than 100 openings for correctional officers.  Thomson federal prison is offering bonuses of more than $4,000 to new officers who start work by Sept. 30 and serve satisfactorily for a year. Illinois finished

WHEATON, Ill. (AP) — A suburban Chicago high school teacher has decided not to enter into a plea agreement and will go on trial for allegedly pouring liquid nitrogen on a student. DuPage County Judge James Konetski set a July 22 jury trial date for 64-year-old Garry Brodersen, a Bartlett High

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Attorneys sued Wisconsin and Illinois Wednesday over laws that forbid transgender individuals from changing their names if they have certain criminal convictions. Both federal lawsuits argue that the states are violating free speech rights and are preventing people from

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago police say a former youth soccer coach who was charged last month with sexually abusing female players is now charged with sex crimes involving two other girls. Police say 49-year-old Fernando Calderon is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday on felony charges of sex

SHERIDAN – A body was found Saturday afternoon near Sheridan, however, the identity has not yet been confirmed. The LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office said that around 3 PM they were called in reference to a deceased person. The incident is under investigation by the LaSalle County

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — A military-chartered jet carrying 143 people landed hard, then bounced and swerved as the pilot struggled to control it amid thunder and lightning, ultimately skidding off the runway and coming to a crashing halt in a river at Naval Air Station Jacksonville. It meant