Veterans marched in a parade on Main Street to Soldiers and Sailors Park for the Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 25, 2026 in Princeton.

The Norsk Museum opens its 2026 season Saturday, June 6, with the Taste of Norway Breakfast and a full day of cultural celebration rooted in the community’s founding two centuries ago.

A 2,688-square-foot single-family residence, built in 1990, has changed hands.

From Capitol News Illinois: For Illinois farmers, the math is tough: Food-grade soybeans require older genetics that yield 10-15 fewer bushels per acre, and commodity soybeans are more lucrative

Just who are these namesakes on the walls? This is the second in a two-part series telling the story and history behind the namesakes of area gymnasiums, tracks and track meets.

Streator Township High School has named 10 students as May Students of the Month.

Putnam County High School has recognized its top 10 students of the 2025-2026 school year based on academic achievement.

Central Bank Illinois is bringing back its summer concert series at the Central Bank Pavilion, 218 North State Street, with 13 free shows running May 30 through September 26.

Drowning remains one of the leading causes of death for young children and people under 30, according to the American Red Cross. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources reported 81 boating accidents in 2025.

Real estate news: A Princeton house built in 1891 was sold for $203,000. The lot of the property covers an area of 10,280 square feet.

The River Bend Food Bank Mobile Food Pantry will distribute food on Saturday, May 30, at the Bureau County Fairgrounds.

McKinley Elementary School in Ottawa announced its May Champions of the Charter students.

The University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalists will offer a beginner yoga class outdoors on June 20 at Matthiessen State Park.

The University of Illinois Extension will explore Illinois’s prehistoric past through Mazon Creek fossils on June 25.

From Capitol News Illinois: Illinois abortion advocates are urging lawmakers to do more to protect reproductive healthcare as the legislative session moves into its final days and the federal landscape keeps shifting

Emersyn Ledergerber and Emily Wright are the 2026 recipients of the Edith I. Boyd scholarships at Bureau Valley High School.

Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for May 17-23. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Illinois Department of Public Health warns residents to be mindful of what fish they eat when angling in state's waters

Stage 212 in La Salle will offer “Theater Basics” and “Audition Boot Camp” children’s theater summer camps from Monday, June 8, through Friday, June 12.

The Streator library is hosting a week of activities for kids and families June 1–6.

The Illinois Valley Parkinson’s Support Group will meet Monday, June 1, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the North Utica Fire Station.

The University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalists are inviting the community to listen to bats.

A single-family home in Somonauk that sold for $775,000 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in La Salle County over the past week.

The state now offers a brewery, brew pub, distillery & winery directory on the ILCC website

Chicago Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent held his Offensive Skills Camp on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at St Bede Academy in Peru. The camp was limited to 100 kids and open to boys and girls in grades 6-12. The camp teaches quarterback play, passing, receiving, footwork, agility, and game awareness.

Sandwich's Sunny Weber and Somonauk's Alexis Punslan earned repeat titles on Saturday at the IHSA girls track and field state championships. Plus, more results from around the Times area.

The Princeton girls soccer team saw its best season in years end with a 4-0 loss to Alleman in Saturday’s 1A regional finals at Bryant Field. Their 17 wins this season has put the Tigresses back on the map as a team to be reckoned with and created excitement in the community.

Here's an update of the area IHSA softball postseason on May 23

Following these simple food safety practices, you can protect your family and friends from food borne illness and make the most of your summer cookouts.

Illinois Valley Community College recently announced the establishment of the Starved Rock Historical and Educational Foundation’s first scholarship.

Stage 212 will hold auditions for its 2026 off-season production of the musical comedy “Firebringer” at 6 p.m. Friday, May 29, and at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 30.

Nature Quest for Young Explorers will be from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7 at Starved Rock State Park Visitor Center

A few more volunteers are needed for Oglesby Summer Fun Fest, to be held June 18-21.

Summer Solstice Hike will be at 9 a.m. Sunday, June 21 at Starved Rock State Park Visitor Center.

Piper Lewis hit a three-run home run, Addie Russell threw a one-hit shutout and the Ottawa softball team made several key defensive plays to beat Geneseo 3-0 for the Pirates' fourth consecutive regional championship.

A single-family home in Ottawa that sold for $130,000 is leading the list of the best real estate deals in La Salle County in the past week.

A look at all the baseball regionals involving NewsTribune-area teams.

Among the trays of sparkling gemstones and rugged mineral specimens lining the shelves, there are rocks from every continent in the world.

The baseball postseason starts up Monday in Illinois. Here's a look at IHSA regionals for Bureau Valley, Hall, Princeton, Putnam County and St. Bede

Don’t let high food and gas prices this Memorial Day weekend dampen your plans. Here are ways you can celebrate and stay within a tight household budget

Overcast and high 60s made for ideal conditions for IHSA's girls state track and field championships on Saturday in Charleston.

LNT Mendota-ACC girls soccer

Brynna Anderson hit a first-inning homer, and Rachel Eckert pitched a complete game to lead the Henry-Senachwine softball team to a 3-1 win over Midland in the Class 1A Henry Regional title game. It's Henry's third straight regional crown.

The Seneca Fighting Irish softball team defeated the Bishop McNamara Fightin’ Irish 9-2 in the IHSA Class 2A Seneca Regional championship game Friday to win its third straight regional title and sixth in the last 10 years.

Mendota's Mariyah Elam and L-P's Aubrey Duttlinger advanced to the 2A state track and field finals, the Mendota and Bureau Valley softball teams lost in regional finals and more in Friday's NewsTribune roundup.

Ottawa's Gwen Jimenez in the shot put and Sandwich senior Sunny Weber in the 1,600-meter run each advanced to Saturday's finals at the IHSA Class 2A State Finals held Friday in Charleston. Plus more results from around the Times area.

The Princeton Tigresses softball team saw its season end over nine highly intense innings Friday, falling to Pontiac 5-3 in the Class 2A Lexington Regional championship game.

Taylor Vescogni struck out 12 in a one-hit shutout, Addie Piecha drove in three runs and the La Salle-Peru softball team beat Sycamore 3-0 to win the Class 3A Sterling Regional for the Cavaliers' first regional title since 2013.

Ottawa Township High School held its annual commencement ceremony in Kingman Gymnasium on Friday, May 22, 202 at Ottawa High School.

From Capitol News Illinois: The Illinois Senate voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to advance a bill that would regulate how large artificial intelligence model developers handle transparency and catastrophic risk