Discussion of healthcare, federal spending priorities and education were among some of the hot topics highlighted at a town hall Wednesday, as Jim Marter, R-Oswego, sought to get to know voters better in Illinois’ 14th Congressional District ahead of the November election.

Since the Iran war began on Feb. 28, gas prices have risen by well over $1 nationwide, and in March, they jumped up by nearly 21% compared to the previous month, the Associated Press reported. Just this past week, prices rose an average of 56 cents per gallon in Illinois.

The Marshall-Putnam County Fair is taking applications for its annual beauty pageant in July.

While some movement in a school district’s teaching staff is normal, poor teacher retention hurts student achievement and hits districts financially, studies show. It can cost nearly $12,000 to recruit, hire and train a new teacher.

The projects across the 14th Congressional District, which would come under federal Community Project Funding initiative, range from protecting clean drinking water to strengthening access to quality health care in rural communities to public transit systems.

A tornado warning was issued at 7:45 p.m. Friday for Bureau and Putnam counties, though officials in both had no immediate confirmation of a touchdown. A rotating cloud may have set off the alert.

Finding the Geographical Center of the Illinois Valley. See the geographical centers of La Salle, Bureau and Putnam Counties — and pinpoint where the three counties meet in geographic balance

Democratic congressional members from Illinois are questioning President Donald Trump’s fitness for office and calling his threats to destroy Iran as a country "dangerous."

A program called One Click College Admit offers free admission – without the essays or recommendations needed – to most of the state’s public universities and all of its community colleges