Local Headlines

PERU – North Peoria Street from Plank Road to Sunset Drive will be closed for utility work beginning at 7:30 a.m. until approximately 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, January 7th.

MENDOTA – A new member of the Mendota fire department was added Monday night to help with a staffing shortage. New firefighter Dalton Huftel was sworn in as a full time firefighter/paramedic. Following the oath, his grandfather received the honor of pinning on his badge.

PERU – Peru City Council approved two authorizations to hire at Monday night’s meeting. As well as filling a Utility Billing position, the council approved to hire the candidate for the newly created Director of Parks, Recreation, and Special Events position. The person to fill the latter

JANESVILLE, Wis. (AP) — Police say an argument ended with gunfire that left one man dead on a street in Janesville. Officers responded to a report of shots fired about 5 a.m. Sunday and found a 40-year-old man with a gunshot wound. The victim, identified Monday as James Chestnut III, of

HAZEL CREST, Ill. (AP) — A U.S. solider from the Chicago area was among three people killed in an attack on a military base in Kenya. The family of Henry Mayfield Jr. of Hazel Crest confirmed his death Monday. The 23-year-old held the rank of Army Specialist.  Mayfield’s mother says she

CHICAGO (AP) — The Illinois comptroller says her office will stop collecting fines against drivers who are ticketed after cameras catch them violating red lights. Susana Mendoza says poor and minority motorists appear to be most affected by the $100 tickets, which can double if not timely paid.

CHICAGO (AP) — A report highlighting persistent problems within Illinois’ child welfare agency shows 123 children died in the past fiscal year despite having contact with the Department of Children and Family Services. That’s the highest number in roughly 15 years. Of the 123

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — More Illinois seniors will qualify for state benefits such as discounted license plates in 2020. The Illinois Department of Aging says it’s using new, higher income limits to determine eligibility for the state’s Benefit Access Program as of Jan. 1. The

AURORA, Ill. (AP) — One of five police officers wounded last year in a workplace shooting that left five dead has retired from the Aurora Police Department. Officer James Zegar was among a group of officers that entered the Henry Pratt Co. warehouse on Feb. 15 during the incident. He was shot

ST. CHARLES, Ill. (AP) — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for firing a gun at three police officers in 2017. Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said Thursday  24-year-old Jorge L. Guzman of Aurora pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated discharge