Firefighters responded to the scene of a house fire in the 800 block of North Mercer Street on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in Princeton.

Uptown Grill hosted their 27th Annual Spaghetti Supper to support the Lighted Way Children’s Development Center in La Salle.

Emergency crews responded to Coogee Chemical Facility for a magnesium industrial fire on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Ottawa. Two victims with burns were transported to OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa. One of those victims is in critical condition.

The iconic spring-flowering bluebell is back at Starved Rock State Park. These beautiful blooms can be spotted along the trailhead to Illinois Canyon on the far east end of the park. Native to Illinois, bluebells are an important pollinator, attracting bees and other insects each spring. Peak bloom is expected over the next 2–3 weeks, making now the perfect time to get out and see them.

L-P defeated Morris 8-4 on Friday, April 17, 2026 at Huby Sarver Field in the L-P Athletic Complex in La Salle.

The new walking path at Baker Lake has been completed, and the park officially reopened to the public. Construction on the project began last October and included the repaving of a 10-foot-wide concrete path, along with additional secondary paths. The improvements connect the new parking lot near Lighted Way to existing parking areas, the playground and the shelter on the west side of the lake. The new main path is also two feet wider than the previous trail, providing more space for walkers and visitors. With the project now finished, the park is once again fully open for public use.

Serena/Newark/Earlville played Streator on Thursday, April 16, 2026 at the James Street Recreation Complex in Streator.

L-P defeated Rochelle 1-0 on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at the L-P Athletic Complex in La Salle.

More than 1,000 tulips bloom beneath flowering redbud trees on Monday, April 21, 2026, outside a home at the corner of Greenwood and Fourth streets in Spring Valley. The tulips return each year at this location, creating a vibrant display that serves as a sure sign of spring.