LATEST NEWS

This week in LaSalle County, Illinois, several incidents occurred that require attention. A Peru man was sentenced to 4 years in prison after pleading guilty to residential burglary. A woman who was reported missing two months ago is now a person of interest in a fatal shooting in Streator. An Ottawa man has been found guilty of solicitation of murder for hire. Additionally, two women were arrested in separate incidents on charges of domestic battery.

A suspect in a Thursday Putnam County shooting has been released. Joshua Aalders was taken to Putnam County jail Thursday following the fatal shooting of his uncle, 64-year old Jack Carpenter of Lake Thunderbird. Investigators believe the 26-year old Aalders shot Carpenter, who was found lying at the end of his driveway. Life-saving measures were attempted, but to no avail.

AVA HEINZ, CALEB THOMECZEK, ELIZABETH WILLS, JUSTIN FEARS, LAYLA LINCOLN, ELI WATERS, AVA SANDERS, BRADEN KLINE, KATIE JOHNSON, DUARELL BLOCKER, EMMA BAGGIO, NICHOLAS CARDINALE, and ABIGAIL TAYLOR. Friday Football game - Gates open at 6:15pm. Homecoming court will parade to stadium from Johnson’s Corner at 6:50pm. Game is at 7pm....

A scare relating to LP High School overnight Thursday had law enforcement working overtime. Just before 2:00 yesterday morning, Peru police notified the La Salle P.D. of a disturbing social-media posting. La Salle officers worked with LP administrators to look into the matter immediately. In the end, a 15-year-old boy was temporarily detained and later taken to a medical facility.

In separate incidents, police have arrested women on domestic-battery charges on Wednesday. Very early Wednesday morning, Peru police were called to a disturbance in the 2300 block of Plum Street. After investigating, they took into custody 36-year-old Nicole Bruen. Wednesday night, Spring Valley officers were called to a home in...

In celebration of Saint Francis of Assisi who was known for his love of animals, OSF HealthCare will be hosting blessings just for pets in both Streator and Ottawa on Wednesday, October 4th. After the blessing, pets will receive a certificate. The blessing at OSF Center for Health in Streator...

Interested in adopting a pet — or just looking at some adorable pets near you up for adoption? There are dozens of endearing pets up for adoption at animal shelters in and around Ottawa.

There were some anxious moments at Streator High School on Thursday. Staff and students went on a soft lockdown in the morning after a rumor surfaced about a weapon in the school. Administrators worked with the school resource officer to investigate and found the rumor to be false. Streator High...

Whether its their famous murals or statues throughout town, Ottawa is a city that embraces and promotes the arts. During a meeting Tuesday night, Ottawa Mayor Robert Hasty appointed Anna Wright, Susan Burton, Annette Barr, Ryan Searl, Ryan Witherspoon, Jocelyn Campbell and Amanda Zehr to serve as an Arts Committee for the City. The purpose of the committee is to coordinate various events featuring all kinds of art mediums.

Mendota police made an arrest related to two warrants. Tuesday night, officers picked up 34-year-old Jereme Elam of Mendota. He was arrested on warrants out of La Salle and Sangamon Counties for failing to appear in court to answer to charges of driving on a suspended license. He was taken to the police station, where he posted bond and was released with court dates. He's due in La Salle County on October 5, and in Sangamon County October 17.

Officials with the Illinois Lottery say the men spent $20 on a scratch-off ticket at a Morris gas station while he was fueling his vehicle and ended up winning the game’s top prize of $2 million.

A woman last seen in Streator and first reported missing two months ago, is now labeled a person of interest in a fatal shooting. Thirty-three-year-old April Capsel was reported missing in July by the Bloomington Police Department. This week, Streator Police Chief John Franklin says his department wants to speak with Capsel about her potential role in a fatal drive-by-shooting this summer in Streator. The chief believes a car Capsel had been driving was used in the fatal shooting. Another vehicle linked to Capsel was seized in Chicago with a gun inside of it. Franklin says testing is being done to see if the gun was the murder weapon in the Streator drive-by.

One woman's personal crusade to prevent suicides continues to make a difference across the Illinois Valley. Marseilles teacher Emily Hardee recently handed a $8,000 check to the Youth Service Bureau of Illinois Valley to support its mental health services. She already had established a scholarship with Starved Rock Country Community Foundation for students studying to become mental health counselors.

Some anxious moments on the west end of Ottawa. Firefighters were called just before 10 o'clock Tuesday morning about a railcar leaking propane at the CSX rail yard just off Boyce Memorial Drive. As a precaution, the Ottawa Fire Department put out a mutual aid call for hazmat crews. Thankfully the propane leak was minimal and was actually able to be handled by crew members with CSX.

The FAA is investigating after a small plane landed on I-80 in LaSalle County. State police say the incident happened yesterday on westbound I-80 near Marseilles. The pilot was the only person onboard and no injuries were reported. The aircraft was forced to land because it ran out of fuel. The pilot refueled before returning to an airport about 30 miles away.

Does your town have a lot of eyesore, abandoned homes?. A handful of communities in the Illinois Valley have been selected to receive state grants to acquire, maintain, rehabilitate or demolish abandoned residential properties. Henry is getting a $461,000 grant to address abandoned homes while La Salle has been selected for a $100,000 grant. Oglesby is getting $210,000 to fix up or demolish abandoned properties with Streator getting $73,000 in state funds. Rutland has been picked for a $324,000 housing rehabilitation grant compared to $158,000 for Buda and $57,000 for Putnam County.

A special group is bicycling across America to raise money to support veterans. And, they're stopping Friday at Hampton Inn in Peru. The Navy “83 Ride Across America had its start in Washington State and will conclude in Annapolis, Maryland. Besides raising funds they're celebrating their 40th Reunion. The...

With St. Margaret's Health filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, a case involving a lawsuit filed by doctors who once worked for SMH is on hold. Lawyers based in St. Louis filed a suit back in June in La Salle County Circuit Court on behalf of Peru Emergency Physicians, LLP. The doctors accuse SMH of breaching a contract and owing them more than $670,000 for their emergency room work.

The La Salle County Health Department is offering walk-in flu vaccine clinics. They'll be available three upcoming Tuesdays. The first opportunity to get a shot will be next Tuesday, September 26, from 1 to 4. Future clinics will happen on October 3 and October 24. All clinics will take place...

Goold Park is waterlogged because of all the rain, so the City of Morris announced Friday afternoon that the evening’s showing of Encanto will be postponed. The City of Morris has yet to announce when the showing will be rescheduled. The rescheduled showing will be the final Movies in...