The L-P softball team and St. Bede baseball team ended their spring break trips Thursday.

A Henry County man is headed to prison for four years after pleading guilty Thursday to hauling fentanyl-laced heroin on Interstate 80 near Ottawa.

Along the tour, a guide will explain the stories behind the home’s architecture and history, the region, and the family and their legacy.

ImpactLife will host a blood drive from noon to 5 p.m. Friday, April 3, at OSF Saint Paul Medical Center in Mendota, according to a news release.

The book explores the life of Dr. Westgate who was the first female physician to build and manage a hospital in the United States, according to the release.

A Streator man is going to prison for seven years for possessing a loaded ghost gun while wearing body armor.

“The Play That Goes Wrong” will be presented April 17-19 and 24-26 at Stage 212 in La Salle.

The Illinois Valley Community College Ottawa Center will be closed until noon on Thursday, April 2, due to a facilities issue.

Local fans of the Fightin' Illini didn't necessarily see it coming, but all are excited about Illinois making its sixth appearance in the Final Four.

The Easter egg hunt was originally scheduled for Saturday, April 4, but has been rescheduled for Monday, April 6 due to possible inclement weather.

The Starved Rock Country Community Foundation is highlighting the impact of its Arts Grant program as it opens a new application cycle with a deadline of April 15.

The St. Bede, Hall, Princeton, Bureau Valley and Amboy co-op girls track teams competed at the Rosenberry Invite, plus more results in Wednesday's NewsTribune roundup.

A look at the best boys basketball players in the NewsTribune area for the 2025-26 season.

La Salle-Peru sophomore Marion Persich is the NewsTribune Boys Basketball Player of the Year after leading the area in scoring and helping L-P to its third straight regional title.

Illinois Valley Community College student Danica Scoma recently was recognized for academic accomplishment, leadership and campus and community service by the Phi Theta Kappa honor society.

When Walmart opened its first store in Peru on Tuesday, April 1, 1986, it marked a major retail milestone for the Illinois Valley.

A youth program “Nature Sleuths: Spring Break Youth Workshops” will be from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, April 8 to Friday, April 10 at the Starved Rock State Park Visitor Center.

“My mindset is that these kids are going to be the leaders of our town, our community, our state, our country and our world,” Hochstatter said. “I want to help make them the best humans that they could possibly be.”

Zion United Church of Christ in Peru donated $2,500 to the Illinois Valley Food Pantry.

A program on the settlement of La Salle County, “Early Pioneers of La Salle,“ will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 11 at the Starved Rock State Park Visitor Center.

Parkside Middle School in Peru has announced its high honor roll students for the second trimester of the 2025-2026 school year.

The winners of the contest were Bailey Miller from Earlville, Kiley Mason from Leland, Clair Boudreau from La Salle-Peru, and Aden Tillman from Mendota, whose essay was sent on to the next level of the contest.

The “Chasing Spring Hike” will be at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 25 at Starved Rock State Park.

The IVCC softball and baseball teams earned conference wins, plus more results in Tuesday's NewsTribune roundup.

The Oglesby Knights of Columbus, 307 E. Florence St., will host a fish and shrimp fry from 4 to 7 p.m. Good Friday, April 3.

In order to receive a permit, these vehicles must be evaluated by an Automotive Service Excellence-certified mechanic that has been registered by the city, and the city of La Salle itself before they can be legally operated on city streets.

Baker Lake could be re-opened in mid to late April, though Mother Nature could have some say in when the barricades comes down.

A look at the top girls basketball players in the NewsTribune area for the 2025-26 season.

The Perfectly Flawed Foundation will host its 10th annual Earth Day Community Cleanup event, “A Decade of Difference,” from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 18.

“Explore the World of Reptiles: Live Animal Program” will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 26 at Starved Rock State Park Visitor Center.

Northern IL Home Search - Today’s home buyers approach the process in a different way than they did even a decade ago.

Illinois Valley Community College will hold a free “Pages and Passports: Adventures of an Author and Foreign Service Officer” book talk and career discussion featuring college alumnus, author and former U.S. diplomat Gordon Duguid.

The Oglesby American Legion will hold its monthly taco night from 4:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, April 8.

La Salle residents looking to get rid of old, unused electronics now can register for the city’s electronic waste drop-off event from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 4, at Rotary Park.

Two rural Illinois counties now largely depend on OSF HealthCare for reproductive services, but its policies limit the care it can provide.

The L-P softball team and St. Bede baseball team opened their spring break trips with wins, plus more results in Monday's NewsTribune roundup.

St. Bede Academy raised $286,000 from alumni, parents, students and friends during its annual day of giving on March 20.

Graves-Hume Public Library will host an illustrated lecture on the Founding Mothers on Saturday, April 18 at 11 a.m.

Graves-Hume Public Library in Mendota is offering a variety of programs throughout April for children, teens, and adults. Registration is encouraged for all events.

OSF HealthCare recently announced that its gift shops are cashless.

La Salle-Peru Township High School inducted 63 members of the class of 2026 into the L-P Honor Society this week.

B Dominique Boutique announced it will close its doors in mid-to-late April after five years in business. 

The La Salle-Peru Township High School Renaissance Students of the Month were recognized during a breakfast ceremony on Wednesday, March 18.

Holy Cross School in Mendota released its third-quarter honor roll for the 2025-26 school year.

Participants gathered around a flame to hear from speakers, interact with seeds and crystals, sing with musical accompaniment and meditate in hopes of marking their personal seasonal transition from winter to spring.

While many proposals were on the table and many were not acted on, the board settled on charging a $50 fee for driver’s education and raising the cost of the all-season athletic ticket package by $5 starting next school year.

Mendota Project Director Annie Short said that the celebration will include mural painting and dedication at 907 Washington Street and 728 Main Street, a full array of art activities for all ages and a nature-themed mixed media exhibition.

The University of Illinois Extension will offer a free pruning basics educational program from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 9, at the Utica Public Library, 224 Mill St., Utica.

The University of Illinois Extension will hold a migratory birdwatching hike for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, April 18, at Lake Kakusha, 1506 Lakeview Drive, Mendota.

The Academy of St. Carlo Acutis Middle School released its third quarter honor roll for the 2025-26 school year.