Through a plea agreement, Gary Freeman, 29, was sentenced Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, to 35 years in prison.

Mendota police and Illinois State Police are investigating the theft of two sports cars reported early Friday from Schimmer in Mendota. One of the cars was recovered.

Rodney Swan has been held in the Whiteside County Jail since mid-January, when he was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is accused of shooting himself in the thigh when a loaded gun tucked into his waistband discharged as he was pulling up his pants.

A Rock Falls man wanted on an arrest warrant in connection with a Dec. 8 home invasion in Sterling has been taken into custody and is facing more charges.

Kyle M. Cooper, 36, is charged with murder in connection with the Feb. 14 death of Daniel J. Gordon, 27, who prosecutors say was stabbed after trying to break up an altercation between Cooper and Cooper's ex-girlfriend, who was dating Gordon.

U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston on Monday sentenced Julian Breal to nine years in prison.

An Ashton teen pleaded guilty Monday to first-degree murder, admitting he used a belt to strangle his girlfriend to death four months ago in the apartment they shared.

Andrew Gornick appeared Wednesday for a preliminary hearing on charges of stalking, cyberstalking and harassment through electronic communication – all felony offenses.

A California solar company sued the county last fall after the Whiteside County Board twice rejected a special-use permit application for solar farm development on Prairie Center Road near Morrison.