The Mendota Knights of Columbus John F Kennedy Council 2090 held a Pro-Life Benefit on Saturday, July 26, 2025. The Pork Chop & Sweet Corn Drive-Thru Dinner raised more than $2,500 for Abigail Women’s Center. Cash and check donations also exceeded an additional $600.

A look at the girls golf teams in the NewsTribune area for the 2025 season.

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

Three leaders in the Illinois Valley Community College’s theater program have created a scholarship to support students who perform onstage or behind the scenes.

A new art gallery in downtown Seneca will open Friday, Aug. 15, with an exhibition featuring paintings by acclaimed visual artist J. Douglas Dalrymple.

Illinois Valley Community College Agriculture, in partnership with the University of Illinois Extension, will host its annual Fall Field Day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 5 at the Agricultural Center, 815 N. Orlando Smith Rd., Oglesby.

Mendota senior quarterback Aden Tillman's improvement was "off the charts" during the summer under new coach Jim Eustice.

Illinois Valley Community College Board of Trustees will meet at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 19, in the Board Room.

Thursday, the Utica Village Board voted 5-0 (Trustee John Schweickert was absent) to re-implement a 1% grocery sales tax rate on items purchased at village establishments.

The L-P boys golf team open the season with a win and more golf results in Thursday's NewsTribune roundup.

Trinity United Church of Christ in La Salle will host its annual worship services at 10:15 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 31, at the south shelter in Hegeler Park, 1300 St. Vincent’s Ave, La Salle.

Heroin use is waning in La Salle County and is responsible for fewer deaths, but La Salle County Coroner Rich Ploch said overdoses are ticking up again.

Baked & Brewed is now open at 723 S. Clark St., Utica.

Northern IL Home Search - Whether you’re buying your first home or selling a long-time residence, choosing the right real estate agent can make all the difference.

In their final high school season, twins Braden and Jack Curran hope to help Hall turn things around and lay a foundation for the future.

Spring Valley will host a free electronic recycling event from 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16, in the parking lot of JFK School, located at 999 N. Strong Ave

The University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalists will host a nocturnal hike from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, at Nell’s Woodland, 200 Alexis Ave, Ottawa.

Utica Public Library, 224 Mill St., announced several upcoming free events.

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

Jim Spelich announced his re-election campaign for La Salle County treasurer.

Kettman Heating & Plumbing - High humidity forces your HVAC system to work harder, which can increase energy costs, reduce cooling efficiency, promote mold, and trap indoor pollutants.

A La Salle man was ordered detained Tuesday after police seized two guns in Naplate. One of the firearms was stolen and another’s serial number was removed, police said.

After a rough season, Donnie Appleseed Orchard in La Salle has closed up shop early.

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

After running for 742 yards and six touchdowns last year as a sophomore, St. Bede's Landon Marquez is again expected to be a key piece of the Bruins offense as Jack Brady takes over as head coach.

La Salle police said a Peru juvenile is responsible for damaging the men’s bathroom at Hegeler Park in La Salle last week.

Iniga Pizzeria Napoletana was set to open a second location in Dekalb, but is instead moving to Dekalb and closing its Ottawa location, 215 W. Jefferson St.

Uncle Chuck’s offers four styles of crust and four sauces, including vodka, pesto, fresh tomato and a signature sauce.

The application period for programs happening between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2026, ends Sept. 15. Grant announcements will be made in early October.

After 75 years, WJ Stone Ace Hardware in Streator has received a new name and owners.

Norberg Memorial Home - When someone we love dies, words often fail. In those moments, what matters most isn’t finding the perfect thing to say—it’s simply showing up.

Five Below is a chain of specialty discount stores that prices most of its products at $5 or less, with a smaller assortment of products priced up to $25

Twins Jaron and Mason Morscheiser, who are each 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, are expected to be impact players for La Salle-Peru this fall.

Another summer has flown by, and all of a sudden, it’s back to school for the younger residents of La Salle and Bureau counties. And as many veteran parents and teachers know, this time of year calls for more than just packing backpacks.

Auditions for Stage 212’s Fall 2025 production, “Puffs” will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 15 and at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16.

From Aug. 18-22, Skydive Chicago will host hundreds of the nation’s top skydivers as they attempt two monumental skydiving records: the vertical world record and the 250-way Illinois state record.

Pam Helfers Riss of Streator has created the Frank C. Oathoudt Memorial Scholarship through the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation (SRCCF) to honor her late brother-in-law’s legacy as a Vietnam War veteran and journalist.

Here is the list of couples granted La Salle County marriage licenses from July 16 through July 31, 2025.

The event is a family-friendly live presentation that blends the characters and story arcs of Shakespeare’s greatest works with the gameplay elements and monsters of Dungeons & Dragons, according to a La Salle Public Library news release.

Illinois Valley Community College campuses will be closed on the morning of Thursday, Aug. 14.

Crystal Garcia was crowned the 2025 Mendota Sweet Corn Queen on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, during the annual pageant.

With football teams around the state opening official practices for the 2025 season Monday, here are five storylines to watch in the NewsTribune/BCR area this fall.

Anthony Brito fired shots outside La Salle County’s downtown Ottawa courthouse, a jury ruled Friday, and ruled he was trying to kill Larry Burns.

A Mendota man was supposed to stand for a detention hearing Friday for allegedly setting fire to his apartment complex (damage was not significant) but he simplified matters by refusing to come out of his cell.

Logan Petre will have to wait another month to find out whether he goes free for killing his father in self-defense or whether he’s going to prison for a long time.

A California drug hauler who cut off his ankle bracelet and absconded pleaded guilty Friday and was sentenced to 6 years in prison.

Carol Bauer has retired after more than three decades coaching cross country, track and field and volleyball at the high school and junior high levels at Fieldcrest.

The “Bonnie & Clyde” case in Streator is over. Nicholas Huber pleaded guilty to felonies and took four years in prison.

The Voluntary Action Center of Northern Illinois will host an open house from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, at the new facility located at 1702 Fourth St. in Peru.

A Sheffield man pleaded guilty Thursday, and accepted a four-year sentence, for threatening to conduct a shooting at the Ottawa office of the Department of Children and Family Services.