Spring is almost here, and that means the return of some of the area's most popular beer and wine festivals of the year.

The Princeton-Illinois chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution held its annual luncheon on Friday, March 6, to honor area high school Good Citizens and American History Essay contest winners.

As many of us grew up, we heard from the world around us that whatever we were doing, it wasn’t enough. We could always do more.

Illinois Valley Community College will sponsor a blood drive on April 2 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the gym.

A 1,412-square-foot single-family residence, built in 1952, has changed hands.

Shaw Local has compiled mock drafts from across the NFL media landscape. Here’s who experts think the Chicago Bears will select in the first round.

Illinois Valley Cursillo will hold an evening of food and fellowship Saturday, April 11 in St. Patrick Catholic Church, Ottawa.

Two teens have been charged with felonies after a stolen vehicle investigation, Mendota police said Friday.

From Capitol News Illinois: As large data centers burn electricity as fast as some small cities, utilities and advocates are looking for ways to ensure they’re not passing the buck for related infrastructure costs to everyday ratepayers

There was no double shooting Sunday north of Marseilles, the La Salle County Sheriff’s Office said.

Some candidates seeking seats in the Illinois House of Representatives in Districts 70 and 76 raised more campaign dollars than others, according to new spending records recently released by the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for March 15-21. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Northern Illinois offers a vibrant international food scene ready to tantalize your taste buds.

Sandwich resident Brighid Reid, 14, a member of the National Society of the Children of the American Revolution, will participate in the National Spelling Bee inside Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., in two months.

“Immigration is a huge part of the American story,” history teacher Troy Woods said. “We want our students to know where they fit in the history of this country.”

The Leland Town and Country Association will host “Hop into Easter,” an Easter bunny and vendor event on Saturday, March 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Leland School, 370 N Main Street.

A single-family home in Somonauk that sold for $780,000 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in La Salle County during the past week

A single-family home in Princeton that sold for $325,000 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Bureau County over the past week

The IVCC baseball team earned two walkoff wins, plus high school results in Saturday's NewsTribune roundup.

The single-family residence located at 205 West Wilson Street in Streator was sold on Feb. 27, for $170,000, or $68 per square foot.

About 97% of Illinois schools show a proficiency gap where students overall outperform English learners, 2025 Illinois State Report Card data shows.

Woodland Elementary and Junior High schools south of Streator have announced their 3rd quarter honor rolls, recognizing students for academic achievement.

Serena, Streator, Ottawa and Marquette baseball as well as Ottawa, Newark, Seneca and Marquette softball were winners on an unseasonably beautiful Saturday. That and more in The Times Saturday Roundup.

Illinois Valley Community College will host a spring open house on Tuesday, March 31 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

A former La Salle woman avoided prison Friday for leaving the scene of a 2023 crash that injured an elderly motorist.

A single-family home in La Salle that sold for $123,000 is leading the list of the best real estate deals in La Salle County in the past week.

A look at the top boys bowlers in the NewsTribune area for the 2025-26 season.

Todd Volker of Ottawa was recently appointed to TeamIllinois by the Illinois Economic Development Corp.

The HumanKIND initiative will be holding a fundraiser from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Friday, April 24 at the intersection of Norris Dr and Columbus St in order to raise money for the 5th Annual Ottawa Family Pride Fest.

Bureau Valley preschool programs will hold screenings for the 2026-2027 school year on May 13-14 at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Manlius

English learners across northern Illinois schools are facing growing uncertainty as federal funding cuts and policy changes threaten the programs they rely on to learn in the classroom

The Mendota baseball team beat Amboy, Putnam County softball topped Bureau Valley and more in Friday's NewsTribune roundup.

The Marquette baseball team opened the season on Friday with a big win in Jacksonville, while Seneca and Sandwich also picked up victories. Plus, more results from around the Times area.

Avah Oertel and Keely Lawson, the "Dynamic Duo," combined for four hits and six RBIs to lead Princeton to a 9-4 win over Chillicothe IVC in Friday’s home opener at Little Siberia Field. Each homered.

L-P defeated Morton 11-4 on Friday, March 20, 2026 at the L-P Athletic Complex in La Salle. L-P's Anna Riva hit three home runs during the game to help the Lady Cavs get a victory.

From Capitol News Illinois: Illinois food producers and businesses can apply for a share of $3.6 million through the Illinois Department of Agriculture as part of a grant program to support local food infrastructure systems

A 1,015-square-foot single-family residence, built in 1970, has changed hands.

Did you know a GPS monitor will clock your driving speed? A man who sped from Ottawa police learned that the hard way.

The Rotary Club of Princeton awarded $10,000 in grants to 10 local nonprofits through its “Love Our Community” program.

Shows begin at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night, followed by a Sunday matinee performance at 2 p.m. All performances will be in the Mendota High School auditorium.

The last two weeks Friday Night Drive has highlighted notable quarterbacks and running backs returning to Illinois prep gridirons next fall. This week is all about the receivers, with 10 pass-catchers to keep an eye on this coming fall.

Streator businesses are kicking off spring with a weekend shopping event.

The Streator Public Library recently announced its upcoming programs and events for the fourth week in March.

From Capitol News Illinois: Illinois law does not specifically shield companies from having to pay employees for time spent completing required pre- and post-work activities, the state Supreme Court unanimously ruled.

For prospective homebuyers eyeing the real estate market in the area of La Salle County, here's what sold for $200,000 or under in the past week.

From Capitol News Illinois: Margaret Croke will advance to the November election and face Republican Bryan Drew of Marion in the first open election for the comptroller’s office since 2016

The Illinois Housing Development Authority Access Home program provides eligible homebuyers with up to $15,000 for assistance on a 30-year, fixed rate mortgage on existing homes and new construction.

The Chicago Bears addressed some areas of need in free agency, but there are still some obvious upgrades that need to be made. Here are the Bears’ top areas of need following free agency.

The L-P girls soccer team won its opener, plus baseball and softball results in Thursday's NewsTribune roundup.

Ottawa's Addie Russell pitched the Pirates softball team to a 5-1 win over Oswego on Thursday, while the Newark and Earlville/Leland baseball squads picked up wins. Plus, more results from around the Times area.