Putnam County fell to Tremont in the IHSA Class 1A State championship on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the University of Illinois in Champaign.

Putnam County fought off North Clay for a 4-3 victory in eight innings during the IHSA Class 1A State semifinals on Friday, June 12, 2026, at the University of Illinois in Champaign.

Volunteers participated in Hope Week, a community service initiative led by Ax Church, on projects throughout the Illinois Valley. The annual event brings together hundreds of volunteers to complete beautification projects, assist local organizations and serve communities across La Salle, Bureau and Putnam Counties.

Extreme damage from the tornado was located in the areas of Sunbury Drive, Saragota Lane, Airport Road, and Aquaduct Road on Friday, June 12, 2026 in Streator.

A multi-vortex tornado struck the City of Streator on Thursday, June 11, 2026. The tornado struck just before 6 p.m. The heaviest damage occurred on the east side of the city.

Audrey Carver of Minneapolis is painting a large 56x25-foot Audubon Mural Project on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 on the side of Jens Jungle store located at 707 Jefferson Street in Mendota. The drawing depicts threatened bird species and illustrates the ecology of Lake Kakusha’s habitats, capturing the diversity and interconnectedness of Illinois ecosystems. The city of Mendota will hold Painted Wings and Wild Things: A Celebration of Art, Nature & Place on Sunday, June 14 to unveil the mural. A second mural will begin this week on Illinois Avenue.

Marquette defeated Brimfield 9-6 on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at Schweickert Stadium in Peru. The Crusaders advance to the State tournament for the third consecutive season.

The Putnam County Baseball team took on Galena in a Class 1A supersectional Tuesday at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. The winner advances to the state semifinal at the University of Illinois in Champaign.

Seventeen awards were handed out to teams and individuals during the 2026 Shaw Media Illinois Valley Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday, June 4, 2026 at the Auditorium Ballroom in La Salle.

The 2026 planting season is wrapping up across the Illinois Valley.

Putnam County defeated Newark 11-1 on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at Putnam County High School. The Panthers will take on Fulton on Saturday at 11a.m. for the Sectional title.

The Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp hosted their Little League Night on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 in Schweickert Stadium at Veterans Park in Peru. Check out photos from the event by MaKade Rios.

Seneca defeated Brimfield 3-0 in the Class 2A Supersectional on Monday, June 1, 2026 at Eastside Centre in East Peoria. The Lady Irish will play IC Catholic in the Class 2A semifinals on Thursday at 2:30p.m at the Louisville Slugger Complex in Peoria.

Buffalo Bill's Best of the Wild West Show on Sunday, May 31, 2026 downtown Uitca. The entertainment was in honor of Wild Bill Hickok, a folk hero of the American West who was born in Troy Grove. Hickok is known as La Salle County's native son. This year marks the 150th anniversary of his death.

Here are Scott Anderson's photos from the IHSA boys track and field state championships from Saturday, May 30, 2026 at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

Emergency crews responded Friday, May 29, 2026, for two patients who were drowning in the Cascade Falls area of Matthiessen State Park. Two helicopters landed at the Deer Park Model Airplane Field to airlift the patients to OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. Fire and EMS crews from Utica, Tonica and Oglesby, along with Conservation Police personnel, responded to the incident shortly after 12:45 p.m.

L-P fell to Dunlap 10-0 in the Class 3A Sectional final on Friday, May 29, 2026 at the L-P Athletic Complex in La Salle.

Hall fell to Monmouth Roseville 5-4 in the Class 2A Regional semifinal game on Thursday, May 28, 2026 at Princeton High School.