Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for Sept. 28-Oct. 4. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

The annual La Salle-Peru High School homecoming parade took place on Thursday. The Cavaliers host Ottawa on Friday for the homecoming football game.

The fully immersive experience, including the macabre aspects of death in the Victorian Era, will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. from Oct. 23 to Oct. 25, according to a Hegeler Carus news release.

New seats and carpeting were installed this past week in the auditorium and lobby area on Monday at Stage 212 in La Salle. Other renovation work at the theater includes a new stage curtain, acoustic panels for the walls, ceiling repairs, HVAC improvements, sound enhancements and lighting upgrades and painting.

To celebrate the milestone, the company is offering customers up to 35% off labor on projects booked from Oct. 1 through February 2026.

La Salle Police Chief Mike Smudzinski was honored for his 28 years of service to the police department as he prepares to retire during La Salle City Council‘s meeting on Monday night.

Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for Sept. 21-27. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Sam Nauman and Finley Jobst each won two individual events and swam on two winning relays to lead the La Salle-Peru co-op to dual victories over Geneseo and Bloomington on Wednesday.

Crews replaced the roof on the Illinois Veterans Home on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025 in La Salle.

Linda Mae Hiltabrand, who passed away in February 2024, was a member of the L-P class of 1971 and a former member of the L-P Foundation board.

The Class of 1975 remains the largest to enter and graduate from L-P. At the time, it was also the largest graduating class in the area.

The La Salle-Peru volleyball team improved to 19-1 with a 25-18, 23-25, 25-23 victory over Sycamore in an Interstate 8 Conference match Tuesday in La Salle.

Hicks could face up to 15 years for eavesdropping

Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for Sept. 14-20. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

All Democrats are welcome and encouraged to attend. Food can be purchased through the La Salle VFW.

Grace United Methodist Church turns 175 this year. Members of the La Salle congregation will cap off the event on “Celebration Sunday,” Sept. 21.

La Salle-Peru sophomore quarterback Marion Persich took a game-day visit to the University of Illinois on Saturday and has one planned to Northwestern on Oct. 4.

Zeller started as a paid on-call firefighter in May of 1997 and then transitioned to a full-time firefighter in July of 1999.

The boat is for sale. The mule is for sale. The cafe and visitor center? The Canal Corridor Association will try to keep that in operation.

Stubler retired recently from the Naperville Police Department after 21 years’ service and replaces Chief Mike Smudzinski.

Henry-Senachwine junior Sam Nauman was voted NewsTribune Athlete of the Week after being named Swimmer of the Meet and helping the La Salle-Peru co-op to the title at the Sterling Invitational.

Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for Sept. 7-13. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

The City of La Salle held their annual BBQ and Blues and Jazz'n The Street festival on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025 downtown La Salle. Check out photos from Scott Anderson and MaKade Rios.

Princeton's Payton Frueh, Ruby Acker and Alexandra Waca placed top 10 to lead the Tigresses to the team title at their own Gary Coates Invitational on Saturday.

Shaw Local Radio's Connor Hopkins interviews Steve Westerman of the La Salle Business Association, talking about BBQ & Blues/Jazz in the Streets in La Salle this weekend.

Shaw Media hosted the Best of the Illinois Valley event to honor businesses voted the best in their categories by readers throughout the region.

The pair of celebrations Sept. 12 & 13 will bring food vendors and musical acts to downtown La Salle.

Illinois Valley families can gear up for a weekend of live music, barbecue and fun as La Salle BBQ-n-Blues and Jazz’n the Street festivals return Friday and Saturday.

At a Tuesday forum hosted by state Rep. Amy “Murri” Briel, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, a Cook County Democrat, said lawmakers will tackle regulating data centers during the upcoming fall veto session.

The track, which first opened to the public in March 2014, will reopen for public use once the project is complete.

The Walk to End Alzheimer’s drew about 150 to Ottawa and left organizers hopeful of meeting a fundraising goal of $43,000.

The Mendota boys soccer team beat Yorkville, Princeton edged L-P in boys golf and more results in Monday's NewsTribune roundup.

L-P honored graduate and former NFL Pro Bowler Joe Rutgens on Friday, area teams have stumbled out of the block and more in the NewsTribune football notebook.

Led by a strong junior class, the La Salle-Peru co-op girls swim team hopes to improve on its sectional finish, qualify swimmers for state and win as many meets as possible.

The annual festival now doubles as an Oktoberfest and has grown since its origin in 2016.

Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for Aug. 31 - Sept. 6. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Junior Sam Nauman led the L-P co-op to the title at the Sterling Invite, the L-P volleyball team won the Rock Falls Invite and more in Saturday's NewsTribune roundup.

Preston, 25, of Mendota, said he has always had a passion for helping others, originally centering his interest on becoming a teacher. But life had other plans.

The L-P football team fell to 0-2 with a 32-20 loss to Metamora on Friday.

The L-P volleyball team won a nonconference match, Henry-Senachwine topped Seneca and more volleyball, soccer, golf and cross country results in Thursday's NewsTribune roundup.

Isaac Diaz had a hat trick in Mendota's win over Rochelle and more soccer, volleyball, golf and tennis results in Wednesday's NewsTribune roundup.

L-P fell behind early in the first set but bounced back to beat Rock Falls 25-18, 25-18 in a nonconference match.

A look at the La Salle-Peru, St. Bede, Hall, Putnam County, Mendota, Princeton, Bureau Valley, Amboy co-op and Henry-Midland boys cross country teams entering the 2025 season.

A look at the La Salle-Peru, St. Bede, Mendota, Princeton, Bureau Valley, Amboy-LaMoille-Ohio, Henry-Midland and Fieldcrest girls cross country teams.

The La Salle-Peru boys soccer team won the Earlville War on 34 Tournament, the Mendota girls tennis team won the Newman Invite and more results in Saturday's NewsTribune roundup.

La Salle-Peru scored a touchdown with 2:09 left but couldn't convert the two-point conversion in a 23-21 loss to United Township on Saturday.

A look at the La Salle-Peru, St. Bede, Mendota and Princeton girls tennis teams for the 2025 season.

The La Salle-Peru at United Township football game was postponed Friday due to inclement weather and will be resumed at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Cavaliers trail 16-15 with 9:44 left in the second quarter

Joseph Perez shot a 74 to help Hall place fifth at the La Salle-Peru Invite and more golf, volleyball, soccer, cross country and tennis results in Thursday's NewsTribune roundup.

The Henry-Senachwine boys golf team won the Stark County Rebel Invite and more golf, soccer, volleyball and cross country results in Wednesday's NewsTribune roundup.