Anthony Daniel Rodriguez made an appearance in the Bureau County Courthous on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 in Princeton. Rodriguez, a 42-year-old man has been charged in connection with a shooting near DePue that killed a 3-year-old child during a domestic disturbance Sunday.

Local teams Amboy, Erie-Prophetstown, Fulton, Bureau Valley, Morrison, St. Bede and Newman compete with others in the Erie Girls Class 1A Sectional track and field meet Wednesday, May 13, 2026.

State Sen. Sue Rezin R-Morris and local agencies gathered for a roundtable meeting on Monday, May 11, 2026 at the Utica Fire Station. The meeting served as an opportunity to discuss safety, visitor experience, and general updates related to Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Parks.

WALLS 102 held their first Listener Appreciation Party sponsored by Leone's Polaris on Friday, May 8, 2026 at the Auditorium Ballroom in La Salle. Over 250 guests and sponsors attended the event. The band Wreckin' Dixie performed while guests danced, listened to music, and won huge local prizes. Free food was given to all who attended. WALLS 102 is a Shaw Local radio station.

The Wallace Warrior Games were held on Friday, May 8, 2026 at Wallace Grade School. The unified event promoted inclusiveness, friendships and fun. 25 schools and over 400 kids from La Salle, Bureau and Putnam Counties participated in the event.

Recipients of the 40 Under Forty awards and the Cornerstone awards were honored during the Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce Champions of Change Awards banquet on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at the Westclox Event Center in Peru.

Firefighters were called to the 500 block of West Erie Street for a structure fire on Monday, May 4, 2026 in Spring Valley. The fire happened shortly before 10:45p.m. A Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) call was dispatched for additional fire departments from Eastern Bureau County, Peru, Utica, Oglesby and La Salle.

The Starved Rock Foundation, along with local photographers, businesses, and community members, presented a check representing the total funds raised to support preservation efforts at Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Parks on Sunday, May 3, 2026 at the Starved Rock Visitors Center. A total of 533 caldndars were sold, and $16,228 was raised. The Miller Group Charitable Trust was this year’s presenting sponsor, which price-matched every calendar sold. Launched in 2020, this grassroots fundraiser has become a powerful way for the community to give back to two of Illinois' most treasured parks. We’d be honored to have your coverage of this meaningful moment.

Fire departments from Ottawa, Utica, Tonica, and Oglesby gathered for a rope rescue training on Saturday, May 2, 2026 in Wildcat Canyon at Starved Rock State Park. Firefighters train at the park each spring for real-life rescues. Wildcat Canyon has cliffs that are over 100 feet high, and it creates a real-life scenario environment for rescuers to practice.