Local Headlines

LASALLE – Nearly 60 new Illinois State Police Troopers graduated last Friday morning in Springfield, with a few being assigned to the post in LaSalle.  ISP Director Leo Schmitz commissioned the 59 cadets of the Cadet Class 128 after a 27 week training program. Two of the cadets will

MORRIS – Farm bureau members in Grundy and Kendall County will vote on a merger this month. According to Kendall Farm Bureau Manager Dan Reedy, his retirement announcement sparked the idea the farm bureau once had several years ago. Reedy who supports the merge, says because over half of

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) announced the approval of more than 2.1 million in grants for 17 wildlife habitats project including Bureau and Marshall County. The grants are funded through the Illinois Habitat Fund Special Wildlife Funds Grant Program,

PERU – No injuries were reported in a devastating fire that leveled a building in Peru on Monday morning. According to Peru EMS, they were called to the 700 block of Putnam Street in Peru just before 9:00 a.m. for a blazing fire that occurred at Witczak Auto Repair. According to Fire

OTTAWA – While State unemployment rates remained fairly steady the past few months, county unemployment rates continue to increase according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Currently unemployment statewide is at 4.1 percent, just a tenth of a percent decrease compared to

OTTAWA – Free guided hikes are coming to an area preserve in 2019. Dayton Bluffs Preserves in Ottawa will have their New Year’s Day hike on Tuesday hosted by “Friends of the Dayton Bluffs”, a group that contributes to restoring areas of the preserves. Volunteer Coordinator

DALZELL – LED speed limit signs will be installed in Dalzell beginning this week. According to Dalzell Police Chief Mark Manicki after receiving complaints of speeding, he purchased LED speed signs to try and get drivers to be more aware of their driving. Oak and Luce streets will be the

SPRINGFIELD _ Illinois lawmakers completed the state’s 100th General Assembly in its bicentennial year, and will ring in 2019 with 253 new laws on the books. The youngest children in cars will be required to ride in rear-facing seats, blaze pink will be acceptable for hunters’

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois farmers are hoping tensions between the U.S. and its trade partners dissipate after record-yielding harvests in 2018. Illinois produced the most soybeans of any state in the country while ranking second in corn production, according to media outlets. But farmers have been

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Missouri landowners and environmentalists are urging a federal agency to sanction a levee district on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River, arguing that the earthen barrier has been built above its authorized height, worsening flooding for its neighbors. Great Rivers