With football teams around the state opening official practices for the 2025 season Monday, here are five storylines to watch in the NewsTribune/BCR area this fall.

U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Naperville, will host a series of town halls in every county in Illinois’ 14th District this month, her office announced Friday.

A look at the top games to watch in the NewsTribune/BCR area for the 2025 football season.

Gateway Services is holding an open house at the soon-to-open site of their 24-hour residential program in Granville.

Health officials are urging residents to take extra precautions against mosquito bites after mosquitoes from Granville tested positive for West Nile virus last week.

A look at the top boys track and field athletes in the NewsTribune area for the 2025 season.

Alex Rodriguez competed in the recent USATF Illinois Association Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships held at Proviso East High School in Maywood, placing first in the hammer throw (41.91m), second in discus (45.71m), and third in shot (15.52m).

The Putnam County Public Library District will host Independence Day Windsock Craft, a hands-on activity that honors the spirit of the Fourth of July.

Crews with the Culpepper & Merriweather Circus set up their 110-by-70-foot "big top" tent on Monday, June 23, 2025, at Boggio's Orchard & Produce in Granville. Shows are 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The event is sponsored by the village of Granville and Boggio's Orchard & Produce. For 32 weeks of the year, Culpepper & Merriweather Circus brings two action-packed 90-minute shows to more than 200 towns in 17 different states.

A look at the best baseball players in the NewsTribune area for the 2025 season.

A look at the NewsTribune area's baseball stat leaders for the 2025 season.

The Tri-County and Heart of Illinois released their baseball and softball all-conference teams.

Putnam County junior Alex Rodriguez was voted NewsTribune Athlete of the Week after winning two medals at the Class 1A state track and field meet.

Princeton's Ian Morris and Bureau Valley's Landon Hulsing won discus state titles, five area throwers brought home six medals and St. Bede's Greyson Marincic was runner-up in the 110 hurdles at the IHSA boys track and field state meet.

The Putnam County Public Library District will screen a documentary, “Soul of the Ocean,” documentary at 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 10 at the Granville Branch, 214 S. McCoy St.

Putnam County Public Library District announced the return of its partnership with the Ravinia Festival for the 2025 Words & Music Program.

Putnam County junior Alex Rodriguez qualified for the state finals in discus and shot put, along with more state track and field and boys tennis state tournament results in Thursday's NewsTribune roundup.

The Putnam County Public Library District will host “Soul of the Ocean,” documentary on Tuesday, June 10, at 1 p.m. at the Granville Branch, located at 214 S. McCoy Street, Granville.

The Putnam County Public Library District announce its summer youth programming at the Granville Branch running throughout June and July.

Illinois Master Gardeners will present, “Vegetable Gardening in Raised Beds and Containers,” at 1 p.m. Friday, June 6 at the Granville Branch of the Putnam County Library District.

The Putnam County Public Library District announced the continuation of its Tales with Tails – Reading Dogs program in June at the Granville branch.

St. Bede's Lily Bosnich and Henry-Midland's Daniella Bumber advanced to the finals in the Class 1A state track meet and more track, baseball and softball results in Thursday's NewsTribune roundup.

The Putnam County Public Library District will screen the documentary, “Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George’s Creators,” at 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 3, at the Granville Branch.

The Putnam County Public Library District will host an educational art workshop, “Faux Stained Glass Masterpieces,” at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 5, at the Granville Branch.

The Henry-Senachwine and Earlville softball teams advanced in regional play, area boys track and field athletes qualified for state out of the El Paso-Gridley Sectional and more in Wednesday's NewsTribune roundup.

Fieldcrest's Pru Mangan and Macy Gochanour qualified for state track along with baseball and softball results in Thursday's NewsTribune roundup.

The Henry-Senachwine softball team improved to 20-3, the Hall baseball team scored late to win and more baseball, softball, tennis and soccer results in Tuesday's NewsTribune roundup.

The Putnam County baseball team is using technology to communicate, L-P's Taylor Vescogni and Henry's Lauren Harbison reached strikeout milestones and more in the NewsTribune baseball/softball notebook.

The L-P softball team clinched the outright Interstate 8 Conference title and more softball, baseball, soccer, tennis and track and field results in Monday's NewsTribune roundup.

Henry senior Lauren Harbison broke the school record for career strikeouts in a nonconference win and more softball and baseball results in Saturday's NewsTribune roundup.

The Mendota and St. Bede baseball teams won in their last at-bat and more baseball, softball and track and field results in Friday's NewsTribune roundup.

Mendota's Mariyah Elam won three conference titles in track, St. Bede softball won and more baseball, softball, track and field and soccer results in Thursday's NewsTribune roundup.

Gino Ferrari threw a two-hit shutout as St. Bede edged Putnam County 1-0 on Thursday.

St. Bede's Lily Bosnich broke the 20-year-old Illinois Valley area record in the 100-meter hurdles in the Tri-County Conference Meet and more track and field, baseball and softball results in Tuesday's NewsTribune roundup.

L-P will find out out more this week about senior Jacob Gross's possible return, Bureau Valley has tied the school record for wins and more in the NewsTribune baseball notebook.

A look at the top baseball players in the NewsTribune area.

Lauren Harbison hit a grand slam and threw a shutout to lead the Henry-Senachwine softball team to a win, the La Salle-Peru boys and girls track and field teams won at home and more baseball, softball, track and field, tennis and soccer results in Monday's NewsTribune roundup.

After leading the Putnam County girls basketball program for 10 years, Jared Sale is taking over the PC boys program.

The Bureau Valley softball team beat Henry and Abingdon-Avon and more baseball and softball results in Saturday's NewsTribune/BCR roundup.

The Putnam County Public Library will host a free screening of the documentary “Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer’s” at 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 at the Granville Library, located at 214 S. McCoy Street.

The L-P softball team routed Alleman, the L-P boys and girls track teams won in Mendota and more baseball, softball and track and field results in Friday's NewsTribune roundup.

Alec Novotney threw a one-hitter to lead Marquette to a 2-0 win over Putnam County on Friday.

The Hennepin Park District is having three sessions of Red Cross Swimming Lessons this summer.

Audrey Scherer hit a grand slam and a two-run home run to lead Earlville to a win and more softball, baseball, track and field, tennis and golf results in Tuesday's NewsTribune roundup.

Lauren Harbison hit for the cycle in Henry's win over Stark County and more softball, baseball, soccer, tennis and track and field results in Monday's NewsTribune roundup.

The L-P baseball team blanked Sycamore again, Earlville beat Putnam County in softball and more baseball, softball, tennis, soccer and track and field results in Thursday's NewsTribune roundup.

The L-P tennis team won two of three doubles matches before its dual with Ottawa was postponed, Mendota soccer won by shutout, and more baseball, softball, track and field and golf results in Tuesday's NewsTribune Roundup.

The Henry-Senachwine softball team shut out Marquette, the St. Bede baseball team won and more softball, baseball, soccer and track and field results in Monday's NewsTribune roundup.

Putnam County Library District is participating in the Illinois Valley road trip through May 10, along with several other activities throughout May.

The Sacred Heart and St. Patrick Parish Hall Altar and Rosary Society is hosting a Cinco de Mayo Taco Dinner on Sunday, May 4, at the Sacred Heart Parish Hall, Granville.