For more than five decades, Mike Brown, best known as "Brownie," has been a fixture on the sidelines of area sporting events in the radio booth and press boxes for WLPO Radio. St. Bede’s last football game this season was also the last of Brownie’s long run.

Chicago Bears right tackle Darnell Wright has made headlines this season with some highlight blocks. Here's how Ben Johnson and his coaching staff have helped the former top-10 pick reach his full potential.

The app’s beta rollout invitations were sent out via email at support@busright.com with “You’re Invited to BusRight” in the subject line. The email included a link to create a BusRight account.

Region 3 will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at the Bureau Putnam Area Transit, 535 Elm Place, Princeton.

Putnam County High School announced its honor roll for the first quarter of the 2025-26 school year.

OSF HealthCare will host a “Get the Facts: Health Care Navigation and More” informative session for community members from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, at the Graves-Hume Public Library, 1401 W. Main St., Mendota.

The IVCC men's and women's basketball teams beat Blackhawk Technical and more in Thursday's NewsTribune roundup.

The Chicago Bears will be without starting linebacker T.J. Edwards against the New York Giants on Sunday after he had surgery this week on his hand

The Chicago Bears are heading back home Sunday to start the second half of their season when they host the New York Giants. Here are the top five storylines to watch

An Ottawa man faces up to 30 years in prison if firing shots that struck and injured another Ottawa man, police said in a Friday press release.

The Chicago Bears are back home at Soldier Field on Sunday when they host the New York Giants. Shaw Local's Michal Dwojak and Joe Aguilar give the latest news from Halas Hall and preview what could be a must-win for the Bears

Fajitas Mexican restaurant is moving to the former John’s North Star in La Salle.

Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, Nov. 27 in 2025. Make your dinner reservations now and leave the cooking and clean up to someone else!

Payton Frueh has run herself into the Princeton school record books as just the 10th individual girl to qualify in 46 years of the IHSA State Cross Country Meet. She has moved into Princeton’s top 12 all-time for 3.0 mile times.

Stubbz Galley closed for the season at the South Shore Boat Club in Peru.

Eighteen band and eight choir students from Ottawa High School have been selected to participate in the 2025 Illinois Music Education Association District 2 Band, Orchestra, Chorus and Jazz Festivals.

Washington defeated L-P 13-25, 25-18, 25-17 on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025 in Sellett Gymnasium at L-P High School.

Barring successful petition objections, the roster is complete for governor and U.S. Senate candidates in the 2026 primary.

Unique Boutique has reopened at the Peru Mall for Christmas shopping.

OSF HealthCarepatients’ in Peru recently welcomed advanced practice registered nurse Krystal Hanson to its staff as a behavioral health provider.

State Rep. Amy “Murri” Briel, D-Ottawa, is working to connect residents with food resources following the halt of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits caused by the federal government shutdown.

Chicago Bears coordinators and assistant coaches met with reporters Thursday at Halas Hall as they prepared for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants. Here are three of the most interesting things they said.

The Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra will perform its first regular-season concert in Streator in recent history at 3 p.m. Nov. 9 at Streator High School.

The Chicago Bears got some players back on the practice field Thursday as the prepared for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.

Andy Puck’s career as the head volleyball coach at Princeton High School was a good read from cover to cover. He won a regional championship in his very first season in 2002 and he won another one this season, which proved to be his last.

La Salle's Frosty on First festival kicks off Friday, Nov. 7 and continues Saturday, Nov. 8. Ottawa's Shop, Sip & Sparkle also runs Nov. 7-8.

Frosty on First will run from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, immediately following the Run Run Rudolph 5K

The Treehouses of Starved Rock are steps away from Starved Rock State Park’s system of picturesque hiking trails, canyons, waterfalls and bluffs.

Check out this list of the best bakeries and donut shops in DeKalb, Kane, Kendall and McHenry counties, the Sauk Valley and the Illinois Valley.

Three Wolfpack Athletics youth football teams based in Ottawa captured Pop Warner Football state championships at their age level last weekend in Plainfield.

The Grundy County Health Department issued a news release Thursday asking residents to check their freezers after a listeria outbreak was linked to precooked pasta meals.

A look at the Mendota, Coal City, Columbia and Chicago Academy boys soccer teams ahead of the Class 1A state tournament.

Congratulations to The Times Athlete of the Week, Ottawa boys cross country's Connor Medina!

Are the Bears good? The best answer I can give is, I don’t know, Marc Silverman writes

Seniors Angel Orozco, Alex Beetz and Luis Ramirez along with sophomore Abel Nanez, playing in front of veteran keeper Mateo Goy, have been strong for the Mendota boys soccer team this season. The Trojans play at state Thursday.

The Tri-County Conference released its Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and all-conference teams for the 2025 season.

The Mendota boys soccer team is playing at state for the second year in a row. The Trojans will play a Coal City program making its first state appearance in the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Illinois Valley Community College recently received a donation from W.H. Maze Company to fund a campus soil lab.

The Chicago Bears had a mixed bag when it came to injury news Wednesday as they started to prepare for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson met with reporters at Halas Hall on Wednesday a day after the NFL’s trade deadline. Here are three of the most interesting things the Bears said Wednesday.

Mendota senior Johan Cortez was voted Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association All-State, while several other Trojans also claimed awards.

Mark D. Hansen of Walnut recently was elected president-elect of the International Association of Defense Counsel for 2025-26.

Greg Vaccaro, La Salle County Circuit Clerk, was honored by the Illinois Supreme Court for his service as chairman of the Committee on Circuit Clerk Education Judicial College.

Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge H. Chris Ryan, Jr. has announced that the newly-created website for the circuit launched on Oct. 14: www.13thjudicialil.gov

Chicago Bears rookie tight end Colston Loveland was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week in Week 9 on Wednesday.

Here is the 2025 All-Kishwaukee River Conference boys soccer team, as selected by KRC coaches. Richmond-Burton's Nick Kyes was named Field Player of the Year and Woodstock North's Alex Carbajal earned Goalkeeper of the Year honors.

Check out this list of national chains and locally-owned restaurants offering specials to service members on Veterans Day, Tuesday, Nov. 11.

Morris Hospital is welcoming board-certified interventional cardiologist Dr. Jibran Rana to its group of cardiovascular specialists.

Mueller Funeral Home is inviting community members to pick up free Christmas stockings to decorate for veterans and soldiers as part of its annual Christmas Stockings for Soldiers and Veterans program.

The St. Bede Academy prom committee is accepting orders for its poinsettia sale to raise funds for its 2026 prom expenses.