La Salle County Clerk Jennifer Ebner announced she will seek re-election in 2026, aiming to build on improvements made during her first term.

A Streator man who set fire to the New Brite Spot in Ottawa in 2023 admitted Friday to violating his probation. John F. Smith could go to prison this time.

The Streator Public Library, 130 S. Park St., recently announced its upcoming programs and events for November.

The Mendota Historical Society has extended its exhibition, “Where Our Paths Meet: Journeys to Mendota”, through Dec. 14, at the Hume-Carnegie Museum.

He was facing up to 30 years for holding up a credit union in Streator – and then got caught with a gun – but Charles Spencer’s testimony helped put away a murderer and won him a break.

She is alleged to have hidden in an attic crawl space while drug agents raided her Streator home. That, a judge ruled Thursday, made Tiffany Daniels a bad risk for pre-trial release.

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.

The Ottawa Center for the Arts will hold a free sneak preview open house for its new downtown campus from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 26, at the campus, located in The Abbey and The Great Hall buildings, 910 Columbus St.

Police and prosecutors would like to see the SAFE-T Act repealed, which Springfield is unlikely to do. But can the act be fixed? Local law enforcement had a few suggestions.

A Streator woman was charged with multiple felonies after a Wednesday drug raid yielded purported crack and powder cocaine plus methamphetamine.

Police and drug agents seized nearly 2 ounces of purported heroin during a Tuesday traffic stop in rural La Salle.

A La Salle County grand jury convened Tuesday and returned the following indictments.

The La Salle County Clerk’s Office is switching to a new voter registration system and will be unable to make updates for several weeks.

OSF HealthCare’s recent offer to keep a limited ICU in Ottawa hinged on the city endorsing its broader consolidation plan, a condition city officials rejected as unfair and unacceptable

Three Marseilles residents have sued the city of Marseilles in federal court in Chicago, alleging that city officials “retaliated” against them for exercising their rights to free speech

The Illinois Valley Parkinson’s Support Group will hold its monthly meeting from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10, at the Utica fire station on Route 178 just south of Casey’s.

The Rotary Club of Ottawa Sunrise will serve a German dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at the Trinity Lutheran Church fellowship hall, 717 Chambers Street, Ottawa.

A Pennsylvania teen who donated money to Illinois Valley Animal Rescue (among thousands of other pet shelters) has succumbed to cancer.

Got a question or concern about Mendota acquiring the old Phalen Steel building? There will be an opportunityto chime in right before the next city council meeting.

Over the past three years, fatal overdoses have been down by about two-thirds in La Salle County, according to County Coroner Rich Ploch. And while they can’t take full responsibility, the Perfectly Flawed Foundation is certainly making a difference

The faculty and students of St. Bede Academy have selected seniors Emma Slingsby and Weston Heersink as the 2025-2026 winners of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) and SAR (Sons of the American Revolution) Good Citizenship awards.

Many Illinois communities are adding back a 1% grocery tax that will otherwise expire on Jan. 1. Is your town among them?

Circuit Court Judge Michelle A. Vescogni announced Monday her Republican candidacy to continue her service to the citizens of La Salle, Bureau, and Grundy Counties in the position to which she was appointed in the spring.

Here is the list of couples to apply for La Salle County marriage licenses from Oct. 1 through Oct. 15, 2025.

The Reddick Public Library District, 1010 Canal St., Ottawa, will host several programs and events in November.

The Rotary Club of Ottawa Sunrise welcomed the October Students of the Month.

The La Salle-Peru Township High School Renaissance Students of the Month were recognized during a breakfast ceremony on Wednesday.

The Marseilles Church of the Nazarene will host an open house to celebrate Reverend Bill Clark’s retirement from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, in the church’s fellowship hall.

The city of Ottawa recently announced its Halloween trick-or-treating hours will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31.

La Salle County election judges might not be getting a pay raise, after all.

The University of Illinois Extension will hold an “Eating for Bone Health” class from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, at the Walnut Public Library, 101 Heaton St.

Stage 212 will hold auditions for its upcoming holiday production of “Joy to the World: A Holiday Revue” at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at the theater, 700 First St., La Salle.

Local author Dana S. Diaz will speak at the Chicago Women’s Expo at noon Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont.

Six people were accused of seeking government aid through false claims made during the novel coronavirus pandemic. One of them has pleaded guilty.

A La Salle man pleaded guilty Thursday to two firearm charges. Evan Boswell will go to prison for 18 months and then serve 48 months’ felony probation.

An Oglesby man pleaded guilty Thursday to felony drug charges and awaits a prison sentence to be revealed later. First, Leeonta Patton still plans to fight two charges stemming from a La Salle shooting.

A former La Salle man serving a life sentence for murder has died in prison, the Illinois Department of Corrections confirmed Wednesday.

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

Mendota High School recently had 65 students visit the Hume-Carnegie Museum to view a screening of the documentary “Where Our Paths Meet.”

The Mendota program’s 4-H BB Club is accepting enrollment for its fall club season.

Patients in OSF HealthCare’s hospital-at-home program were discharged earlier this month after the federal government shutdown caused a key telehealth waiver to expire

The Ottawa Center for the Arts recently announced it added a second building to its downtown Ottawa campus.

River Valley Players, based in Henry, is celebrating its 49th season with "Shrek, the Musical" a stage adaptation of the 2001 hit film starring Mike Myers as the curmudgeonly but ultimately kind-hearted ogre.

The Peru Police Department has received a $40,000 federal grant to boost traffic safety enforcement through September 2026, Lt. Doug Bernabei announced in a Tuesday news release.

The Streator Public Library, 130 S. Park St., recently announced its upcoming programs and events for October and November.

The Epilepsy Advocacy Network will hold a community give-back night from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, at B.A.S.H. Burger and Sushi House, 1012 La Salle St., Ottawa.

Items on sale include various books, puzzles, comic books, and DVDs. The sale proceeds will support the library’s operations. Accepted methods of payment include cash.

Retired U.S. Administrative Law Judge Melissa Oilvero is running for circuit Judge in the 13th Judicial Circuit, which includes La Salle, Bureau, and Grundy counties.

The former La Salle Office Supply is becoming a restaurant.

The La Salle Public Library, 305 Marquette St., will host several programs and events in October.