From Capitol News Illinois: Small volunteer groups that provide food assistance to Illinoisans in need could be eligible for a new round of grant money under a program announced this week.

From Capitol News Illinois: After months of negotiations in the spring legislative session resulted in no final action on Gov. JB Pritzker’s flagship housing proposal, housing advocates are celebrating a few legislative victories – and holding onto hopes for future negotiations.

Boy Scouts from Troop 123 and Cub Scouts from Pack 3709, both of Peru, joined members of the Peru Veterans Memorial Group during a flag retirement ceremony on Sunday, June 14, 2026 at Veterans Park in Peru. The annual ceremony coincides with Flag Day. The event provided a respectful and dignified disposal of worn American flags through a traditional burning ceremony. Over 10,000 flags were retired.

The annual “More on 34 Miles and Miles of Garage Sales” event stretches from La Salle County through Bureau County and into Henry County. Some sales begin Thursday, June 18, but most open Friday and Saturday.

University of Illinois Extension is launching a monthly “Lunch N Learn Series” in Ottawa that combines healthy eating instruction with hands-on cooking.

The Streator Fire Department announced an open burn ban in the areas impacted by the tornado until further notice due to the increased risk of fire associated with damaged utilities and debris.

The next time you're exploring Starved Rock State Park or one of other state parks, check out these delectable dining destinations in the area.

Rainfall varied significantly, ranging from 0.5 inches in Serena to 3 inches near Rutland, with some areas receiving even more.

The La Salle County Genealogy Guild will host a presentation on tracing the history of residential properties at its monthly meeting Saturday, June 20, at 1 p.m. at Guild headquarters.

Illinois Valley Community College’s Assessment Center has evolved beyond a campus testing site for placement exams. Last year, one-third of the 3,262 people who tested there came from the workforce seeking career-defining licenses and certifications.

From Capitol News Illinois: Gov. JB Pritzker announced Friday that 434 Illinois pharmacies will receive nearly $25 million in support, the first distribution of annual funding established through legislation he signed last year.

Thousands of people filled downtown Ottawa on Saturday for the Family Pride Festival's fifth annual parade and celebration. Organizers estimated attendance at roughly 22,500 people, a significant increase from previous years. The festival featured rainbow flags, vendor booths, and activities throughout the day, drawing attendees from across the Illinois Valley and beyond.

Marquette defeated Freeburg 4-1 in the IHSA Class 2A State third-place game on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the University of Illinois in Champaign.

From Capitol News Illinois: The Illinois State Board of Education formally adopted a plan Wednesday aimed at improving math instruction and boosting student math scores throughout the state.

Putnam County fell to Tremont in the IHSA Class 1A State championship on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the University of Illinois in Champaign.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs through July 19.

Rick Burchell succeeds Nate Kloster as the executive director of Voluntary Action Center of Northern Illinois. Kloster is retiring in July.

Here is the 2026 All-BCR Baseball Team representing players from Bureau Valley, Hall, Princeton and St. Bede

From Capitol News Illinois: Illinoisans now will have access to a large collection of high-quality digital information and educational resources for free by going to their local library or the Illinois State Library’s website.

Marquette fell 6-1 to St. Joseph-Ogden in the IHSA Class 2A State semifinals on Friday, June 12, 2026, at the University of Illinois in Champaign.

After promoting Bryan Park to be the next fire chief, the Streator Fire Department still had some leadership positions to fill. This week, the department officially announced internal promotions to round things out.

Candidates must be five years of age on or by the date of the contest or entering kindergarten, and must be a resident of the Mendota Elementary School district.

From Capitol News Illinois: A bill that would require the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to consider access to reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare before placing foster children out of state passed the legislature during the last week of session.

Illinois communities assess damage after 48 hours of severe storms, that including high winds, flooding and multiple tornadoes.

The annual “Road to Independence” campaign utilizes a dedicated team of community volunteers to secure donations for Horizon House

Putnam County fought off North Clay for a 4-3 victory in eight innings during the IHSA Class 1A State semifinals on Friday, June 12, 2026, at the University of Illinois in Champaign.

The University of Illinois Extension is offering free, research-based guidance to help residents safely clean up after severe storms and prepare for future weather disasters.

Tired of suspects missing court dates and tampering with ankle bracelets, La Salle County judges were handing down multiple 30-day jail sentences. The judges may have to stop. An appeals court has capped the time a defendant can fetch for pre-trial violations

Volunteers participated in Hope Week, a community service initiative led by Ax Church, on projects throughout the Illinois Valley. The annual event brings together hundreds of volunteers to complete beautification projects, assist local organizations and serve communities across La Salle, Bureau and Putnam Counties.

The 43rd Annual St. Bede Auction, The Lane to Tomorrow, held on Saturday, June 6, was one of the most successful auctions in school history, ranking among the top four auctions held during the event’s 43-year history.

The sky turned an eerie blend of orange, pink and red tones after Thursday's storms. Why was that?

The Putnam County Public Library District’s McNabb branch announced its remaining June programs.

The Tiskilwa Historical Society will recognize one of the oldest country school buildings in Illinois, and one of the few in continuous use for 150 years, at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 14.

Attendees can operate ham radios to connect with as many radio stations as possible. Ham radio exams are set for 10 a.m. Saturday, June 27.

A “Casting Memories” family fishing clinic will be at 9 a.m. Sunday, June 28, at Starved Rock State Park.

The Utica Fire Department Car Show will be 4-7 p.m. Saturday, June 27.

The Chicago Bears offense was confident about the next step it can take next year during the last month's offseason workout program. Here's why there's confidence at the end of minicamp.

Putnam County Panthers got some preparation for Friday's Class 1A state semifinal, making at stop at the Corn Crib in Normal and Yard Goats indoor facility in Champaign. The Panthers (25-11) will face North Clay (35-4) at 1 p.m. Friday at Illinois Field.

A multi-vortex tornado struck the City of Streator on Thursday, June 11, 2026. The tornado struck just before 6 p.m. The heaviest damage occurred on the east side of the city.

Funnel clouds were spotted in the Streator area and south of the La Salle County panhandle, including a confirmed tornado touchdown.

The Illinois Valley Alzheimer’s Caring Friends Support Group will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, June 15 in Peru Public Library.

Adults in La Salle have a new opportunity to end the workday at the Veterans Memorial Pool.

The Natural Land Institute’s Legacy Tree Program named its June Tree of the Month an American Elm located at Capron United Methodist Church, 250 W. North St., Capron.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams no longer felt like he was drowning at the end of mandatory minicamp Thursday. Williams and the offense looked comfortable heading into training camp next month. Plus more notes from the final day of minicamp.

More severe weather is expected Thursday across northern Illinois, with the entire region placed under a tornado watch Thursday afternoon into Thursday evening.

Thousands of Illinois Valley residents reported power outages as of Thursday afternoon following severe thunderstorms on Wednesday night.

A late Wednesday afternoon storm damaged multiple power lines in Seneca, leaving 463 residents without electricity.

The Putnam County Public Library District will host several programs and events in July.

The Streator Chamber of Commerce recently recognized Poco a Poco as its June Member of the Month as the annual music festival celebrates its 10th year in the community.

After a previous announcement in April that the target completion date was moved from the middle of May to the beginning of August, the latest announcement from the Board of Education is that the project is on track to be done by the stated Aug. 1 target date.