A PE teacher who turned grief into a mental health movement. A school resource officer who never says he's too busy. A Marine who's always there. Meet the Illinois Valley's reader-nominated 2026 Everyday Heroes.

Shaped by his own experience battling a heroin addiction, Tomsha has built a support system for those shaped by his own experience.

As of Jan. 1, 2028, it will be illegal to sell the invasive Bradford pear tree – also known as the Callery pear – in Illinois.

HCC released a statement Tuesday stating that its latest offer was the furthest it was willing to go with the union. When that was deemed insufficient by the union bargaining committee and the workforce, Local 904 decided to strike.

The La Salle County Home and Community Education Association named Lilliana Bernabei and Finn Rosengren as the recipients of its 2026 scholarship.

The Illinois Valley Alzheimer’s Caring Friends Support Group will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, May 18 in the Peru Public Library.

Streets Department Director Nick Stremlau said that the reasoning behind this is that grass left in the street could eventually clog storm drains.

The La Salle County 4–H will hold a Little Roots Gardening Program for children to learn about plants, pollinators and nature from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, at Hy-Vee, 1651 Midtown Road, Peru.

Should the application be accepted, the Rotary will spend $2,500 in foliage or trees for the park within one year of the grant’s acceptance.

A Mendota man was charged with multiple offenses -- with more under review -- after leading police on a Saturday pursuit.

Officers will conduct high-visibility enforcement focusing on seat belt violations. Motorists who fail to buckle up can expect to be stopped and ticketed.

Following successful improvements in 2025, the city of Mendota is continuing to work with the HW Lochner group to improve walkability near schools through the Safe Routes to School program.

A La Salle man faces up to 30 years if convicted of charges stemming from a Saturday drug raid of his residence.

Art Riewaldt won a city bid for the property at Washington Street and Illinois Route 251 with an offer of $40,000.

The Ottawa Noon Rotary Club will hold its annual BBQ Drive-Through Fundraiser from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 4, at Lincoln Place in downtown Ottawa.

The City of Peru will flush hydrants beginning Monday, May 11 through Friday, May 22. Flushing will occur on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

An Ottawa man faces up to 15 years if convicted of a charge filed after a March drug raid.

The city of Oglesby will hold its third annual “Bark in the Park” event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 23, at LeHigh Park, 900 E. Walnut St., Oglesby.

The HFH board members discussed the background, process, costs, timeline and updates on the organization’s development at 1205 Jefferson St.

The Streator Public Library recently announced its upcoming programs and events for the fourth week in May.

Flora improvements may soon be coming to the city of La Salle.

Mendota Township High School District 280 announced the recipients of the 2026 Excellence in Education Awards.

A single-family home in Ottawa that sold for $559,000 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in La Salle County during the past week.

This interview between Connor Hopkins and Jessica Brayfield of Habitat for Humanity centers on the upcoming events for Habitat in the month of May.

A Streator man pleaded guilty Friday to setting up a 2024 robbery – and to firing a gun when things went awry – and faces up 20 years in prison at sentencing.

Roughly 300 children came out to the 26th Annual Free Kids Fishing Expo on Saturday at Baker Lake in Peru.

The Friends of Lake Kakusha are inviting participants to check out some of the 223 birds that pass through the lake each year.

Triple Service announced in a press release that it will continue its partnership with Habitat for Humanity in helping build safe, affordable housing in Mendota by helping with the development on Jefferson Street.

Discussion of healthcare, federal spending priorities and education were among some of the hot topics highlighted at a town hall Wednesday, as Jim Marter, R-Oswego, sought to get to know voters better in Illinois’ 14th Congressional District ahead of the November election.

The University of Illinois Extension will hold the Canning with Confidence program sessions for community members to learn about safe home food preservation.

The University of Illinois Extension will offer a diabetes support group from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Thursday, May 14, in OSF HealthCare Saint Paul Medical Center’s conference room C, 1401 E. 12th St., Mendota.

The Mendota Memorial Day Program will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 25 at Restland Cemetery Memorial Gardens, Mendota.

A homeless man awaits a detention hearing for allegedly trying to steal an off-road motorcycle, only to be caught in the act by the owner.

From packed tour buses to rising conversion numbers, clergy across Illinois say the first American-born pope is energizing Catholics one year after his election

Camps are offered throughout the summer, and sign-ups for summer programs are available on the City of La Salle’s website. There will be a $10 fee for out-of-town residents. La Salle residents can attend all camps for free.

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

Ottawa Chiropractic recently welcomed associate chiropractor Gabrielle Peasley, D.C., to its staff effective Friday, May 1.

A La Salle man was ordered detained Wednesday after a traffic stop in Ottawa yielded 8 grams of suspected cocaine and a loaded .45-caliber handgun.

Throughout the summer, there are camp series’ and day programs for elementary, middle and high school-aged residents looking to stay busy.

La Salle police announced Monday that officers issued 20 citations for distracted driving violations and another 19 for various violations during April’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month enforcement campaign.

In its first year, the La Salle-Peru Township High School Agriculture Program was named among the top 40 in the state by the National Future Farmers of America Organization.

The La Salle County Sheriff’s Office will join the Ottawa Police Department for the annual “Cop on a Rooftop” event from 5 a.m. to noon Friday, May 15 at the Dunkin’ location in Ottawa.

The NCI ARTworks Board announced Monday the retirement of executive director Julia Mautino Messina and welcomed new leadership.

Watch for asphalt crews later this spring at Shooting Park Road and Peoria Street in Peru.

The City of Mendota is sending a letter of intent to the Illinois Valley YMCA to transfer operations of the Mendota YMCA branch to the City, following the IV YMCA’s announcement of its decision to stop funding, operating and managing the Mendota branch, starting this fall.

Graduate student Kiri Kumagawa recently visited the Hegeler Carus Mansion in La Salle to view its rare modern Japanese paintings.

A Friday drug raid in Peru yielded 3 ounces of purported cocaine plus a Class X drug charge for the occupant.

A La Salle County man was picked up on a warrant and will be remanded to Iowa to face a charge of sex abuse.

Over the weekend at Blackstone Park in Mendota, some teenagers were seen messing around on the basketball courts, with one climbing up a picnic table from the pavilion to get up and sit on the rim of the basketball hoop.

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