Local Headlines

CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois third through eighth graders will be given a new, shorter standardized test called the Illinois Assessment of Readiness this month instead of the widely criticized PARCC exam. State Board of Education spokeswoman Jackie Matthews told media outlets that the new test is

PERU- The City of Peru and LaSalle County will host four one-day collection events for residential electronics, the first of which will be on March 30th at Illinois Valley Regional Airport. City Clerk David Bartley told residents at the Peru City Council Meeting Monday night that there would be a

MENDOTA – The Optimist Club is helping the city of Mendota raise funds for a new baseball scoreboard in honor of 12 year-old Karl Soliman. Soliman passed away last December after he collapsed at a basketball tournament. The club presented the city with a check for $4,000 for Strauss

UNDATED – The American Red Cross has a severe shortage of type O blood. According to the organization, type O blood in the most in-demand blood type. Type O negative blood can be transfused to patients with any blood types and is what emergency room personnel reach for when there’s

OTTAWA – The Reddick Mansion Association will begin restorations this Spring. The more than 1.2 million dollar project will include exterior upgrades to balconies and windows of the Reddick Mansion in Ottawa. The mansion will also undergo an asbestos abatement. Weather permitting, work is

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — An Illinois lawmaker has proposed legislation that aims to provide a more comprehensive definition of consent for sex education classes in the state. Media outlets reports that the bill defines consent as “a freely given agreement to sexual activity.” The

PERU – A new record cold high temperatures for March 4th, was set this morning. North central Illinois faced unseasonably cold air for the start of the month, a record breaking wind chill of -19 degrees this morning. The wind chill advisory may be through, however elevated excessive cold

  SPRING VALLEY – Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru and St. Margaret’s in Spring Valley and have signed a non-binding Letter of Intent to consolidate their operations and form a regional health network. “St. Margaret’s and IVCH have proudly served this region for more

MORRIS – One man is dead after a single vehicle crash in Grundy County on Saturday.   According to Grundy County Coroner John W. Callahan 27 year-old Virgil V. Saenz was eastbound on Marseilles Road near Walker’s Corner when for unknown reasons his vehicle left the pavement and entered

CHICAGO (AP) — The Illinois Lottery’s transition to a new central gaming system has caused trouble for some retailers, including overpayments to winners. Illinois Lottery spokesman Jason Schaumburg says the ticket validation issue was discovered Feb. 20 and resolved the same day. He has