Local Headlines

ZION, Ill. (AP) — An elementary school principal in the northern Illinois community of Zion has been charged with sexually assaulting a Wisconsin teenager a decade earlier at a high school where he was working as a dean. Curtiss Tolefree Jr., principal at Beulah Park Elementary School, was

PRINCETON – Bureau County will decide on the sales tax on cannabis in the upcoming months. Taxing for both municipalities as well as unincorporated areas will need to be decided on before April 1st, 2020 in order to comply with the state’s deadline for adopting municipal tax ordinances.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois State Board of Education submitted its proposed rules Tuesday for how schools can restrain students who exhibit dangerous behavior, aiming to protect children and faculty from outbursts but banning the use of prone restraints except as a last resort and

  URBANA, Ill. (AP) — A former assistant pastor of an Illinois church was charged Monday with sexually assaulting a teenager in the congregation. Roger VanRaden, 48, was arraigned on sexual assault and abuse charges in a Champaign County courtroom, The (Champaign) News-Gazette reported.

OTTAWA – The family of a former Ottawa fireman accused of drowning his wife in a toilet took the stand to testify on behalf of him. LaSalle County State’s Attorneys claim 52-year-old Kenneth Cusick is guilty of first degree murder in the drowning death of Tracy Cusick in 2006. On

MENDOTA – A rural Mendota home was severely damaged after a Monday night house fire that may have started around the kitchen. Around 10 PM Mendota and Troy Grove Fire were called to the scene in the 3900 block of East 3rd Road for a fire that the occupants said they had escaped from. 

PERU – The city of Peru announced a feasibility study will begin regarding a public pool. Representatives from Counsilman-Hunsaker & Associates spoke to the council on Monday night about the study that will look at what a public pool will cost the city. The feasibility study, which will

OTTAWA – LaSalle County Board will wait to act on approving or rejecting the sale of cannabis on unincorporated areas until January. The Zoning Board of Appeals had previously recommended that the County Board prohibit any sale of cannabis in unincorporated areas, and the Board discussed

OTTAWA – Prosecution rested their case against a former Ottawa fireman accused of drowning his wife. The LaSalle County State’s Attorneys claim 52-year-old Kenneth Cusick is guilty of first degree murder for allegedly drowning his wife Tracy, in a toilet in 2006. On Monday, jurors

OTTAWA – A Forensic Toxicologist says Tracy Cusick’s death was not an overdose. 52-year-old Kenneth Cusick a former Ottawa fireman is accused of killing his wife Tracy by drowning her in a toilet in 2006. According to Dr. Christopher Long, toxicology reports show A blood alcohol content