Local Headlines

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. (AP) — A public visitation is planned for a 5-year-old Illinois boy whose parents are charged with murder in his death. Andrew “AJ” Freund is to be remembered at Davenport Funeral Home on Friday afternoon during a public walk-through visitation. The boy’s

PERU – Businesses along Water Street in Peru have had to prepare for many floods over the last dozen years, and they knew what to expect as the Illinois River crested early Friday morning. The city of Peru was also keeping a watchful eye on utilities as well. Peru Fire Chief Jeff King said

UTICA – A voluntary evacuation yesterday in parts of the village of Utica ahead of the crest of the Illinois River had few seeking higher ground, this as the river rose to what may end up being the fourth major flood in a dozen years. The river rose to 14 foot above flood stage, coming

OTTAWA – The Illinois River has crested in most areas across North Central Illinois, and damage has been kept to a minimum in part due to recent floods in 2018 and the all time record flooding in 2013, where waters were nearly three foot higher than today. Health departments are warning

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois Department of Agriculture received nearly 400 applications to grow or process industrial hemp in the first 24 hours after they became available. Agriculture officials said Wednesday they received 295 applications to grow the plant on 7,100 acres.  Another

PONTIAC – The Vermillion River has continued to rise over the past several days. At 2:45 p.m. this afternoon the level was 17.14 feet. According to Pontiac’s Police Department, even though at the present time the date suggests that a crest is near, residents of flood plain areas are

  UTICA – Businesses in the Village of North Utica began evacuating, Thursday. The village council declared a state of emergency due to rising waters on the Illinois River, Wednesday. While there has been no official evacuation, Mayor David Stewart left it up to businesses to decide.

  Flooding Closures at Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Parks -May 2nd, 2019 until further notice. The lower parking lot and boat ramp at the west entrance to the park along Route 178-CLOSED  The Red River trail leading from the Visitor Center out to French

OTTAWA – The Ottawa Police Department on Wednesday received information that a Maroon Jeep Grand Cherokee with Illinois plate “BB25803″ was allegedly in the area attempting to recruit members of the homeless community to pass counterfeit bills at local establishments.  They ask if

CHICAGO (AP) — Jussie Smollett’s publicist says the actor doesn’t intend to be at a hearing on whether a special prosecutor will be appointed to investigate prosecutors’ dismissal of charges against him. Smollett was charged with felony disorderly conduct over allegations he