Approximately 50 Teamsters Local 916 Union members staged a picket outside the Illinois Department of Transportation office in Ottawa on Wednesday. IDOT District 3 union employees expressed concerns about the unfair terms proposed by Gov. JB Pritzker, emphasizing that the governor’s office’s offer would result in the loss of good union insurance and an average overall decrease of 24% in take-home pay. The union says the proposal from the state includes the introduction of $32,000 starting salaries for a two-year degree or equivalent, which the union deems as federal poverty-level wages. Union members emphasized the need for fair compensation, especially as union membership has declined by an estimated 24% over the past decade while the workload has increased. The Local 916 union members, who have been without a contract for nearly nine months, called for fair wages and benefits during the noon rally.
—————————————————————–
The Illinois Farm Bureau has introduced new legislation to enhance the Illinois Estate Tax. In a press conference held today at the IFB’s headquarters in Bloomington, House Republican leaders joined bipartisan lawmakers in endorsing the proposed measure. Known as the Family Farms Preservation Act, House Bill 4600 seeks to safeguard the legacy of family farmers by modernizing the Illinois Estate Tax code. Republican State Representative Jason R. Bunting of Emington says the legislation addresses what is seen as a long-standing threat posed by the state’s estate tax system to family farms. Bunting highlighted the potential necessity for families to sell their farms in the event of a death and stressed the importance of the legislation in moving towards a more favorable system that preserves generational farming.
—————————————————————–
A group of Illinois small farmers will be in Washington today to talk to Congress. The Chicago Tribune reports the farmers will be in the nation’s capital to discuss the possibility of “transformational investments” in the next farm bill. The previous farm bill expired in September. The group believes the new law could provide significant financial investment and protections that reduce economic inequality and racial injustice, build crop and human resilience to climate change, and improve access to nutritious food and sustainable, local systems.
—————————————————————–
The Streator City Council recently greenlit downtown facade grants, approving $15,000 each for improvements at 115 E. Main St. where a resale shop is planned, and 423 E. Main St., the location for a new business named 50-Yard Line. Another $30,000 grant was given to the Corvette Salvage Yard at 1109 N. Bloomington St., but its approval is delayed until July 1 due to downtown applications taking precedence. The 115 E. Main St. project aims to add second-story windows and renovate the facade at an estimated cost of $30,400, while the 423 E. Main St. upgrade involves replacing lower facade siding with brick, totaling around $21,800. The Bloomington Street project, estimated at $39,325, includes various facade enhancements, aligning with the city’s pre-1950s facade renovation guidelines. All projects garnered approval from the Streator Plan Commission before reaching the City Council.
—————————————————————–
An effort to keep former President Donald Trump off Illinois’ March primary ballot is shifting to state court. The state Board of Elections voted Tuesday to reject a challenge to Trump’s candidacy. Afterward, the group of voters who filed the objection filed a petition for judicial review in Cook County Circuit Court. The objectors asked the state court to move swiftly since they believed the case would ultimately be resolved by the Illinois Supreme Court.
—————————————————————–
An Illinois lawmaker is putting the brakes on a proposed measure that could limit police from pulling over drivers. Chicago Democratic State Representative Justin Slaughter introduced a bill Monday that would ban law enforcement officers from stopping drivers for certain traffic offenses, including speeding, improper lane usage, driving with an expired sticker, defective mirrors, bumpers, or windshield wipers, excessive window tint and failure to wear a seatbelt. However, the Chicago Democrat said that he doesn’t plan to move for a vote on the bill. Instead, he wants to start a conversation about racial disparities in traffic stops.
—————————————————————–
Chicago Tribune journalists are going on strike today for the first time in the newspaper’s history. The 24-hour walkout includes the Tribune’s editors, reporters, photographers, and designers. The staffers are protesting cuts to wages and benefits by the paper’s owner Alden Global Capital. The hedge fund purchased Tribune Publishing in 2021.
—————————————————————–
Three people were hospitalized with injuries after an accident between a pickup truck and a car Tuesday near Leland at Illinois 23 and Sanderson Road. The 16-year-old male driving the pickup and 21-year-old Austin Everett, a passenger in
the car, were both transported to Valley West Hospital. The car’s driver, 22-year-old Elizabeth Meo of Somonauk, was airlifted to Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove with injuries deemed non-life-threatening. The teenage pickup driver was charged with failure to yield and not wearing a seatbelt.
—————————————————————–
During a traffic stop, Streator police apprehended 43-year-old Nathan Price from La Salle, charging him with possession with intent to deliver, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, and armed violence. Subsequently, Price was transported to the La Salle County Jail.
—————————————————————–
59-year-old Katherine M. Blahut of Ottawa was stopped by Ottawa Police at State Street and First Avenue Tuesday and charged with driving under the influence. She was released with a court date.
—————————————————————–
23-year-old Dawson Michael of Princeton faces several charges related to child sexual abuse materials after Illinois State Police agents executed a search warrant at his residence in October. The Bureau County court documents reveal that Michael is accused of three counts of disseminating child pornography and two counts of possessing child pornography. Court records indicate that he is charged with knowingly disseminating a film featuring a child under the age of 18. Additionally, Michael faces two counts of disseminating a photograph of a child he knew or reasonably should have known to be younger than 13, and two counts of possessing a film depicting a child he knew or reasonably should have known to be younger than 18, according to the records.
—————————————————————–
As the temperature rises, you might be considering a visit to Starved Rock State Park. Please be aware that the primary parking lot in front of the Visitor Center is currently unavailable due to flooding. Although the river is receding, the post-flooding cleanup is ongoing, requiring some time for completion. Nevertheless, the Visitor Center is open, and all trails within the park are accessible. The Illinois River at the Starved Rock Lock & Dam is gradually receding, and it may take up to another week for it to return to its normal levels below the flood stage.
—————————————————————–
The Epilepsy Advocacy Network hosted an open house in Ottawa to mark the inauguration of its new office and exterior signage, highlighting the expansion of its services within the community. Dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for individuals with epilepsy, the EAN is committed to fostering education, self-advocacy, empowerment, and ensuring proper access to care. The organization offers an array of services, including case management, support groups for individuals with epilepsy and their caregivers, as well as free seizure recognition and first aid training for schools and community organizations. The EAN office, situated in the Central Life Building at 628 Columbus St. in Ottawa, operates by appointment and welcomes those interested in epilepsy services to reach out at 815-846-0881 or visit www.epilepsyadvocacynetwork.org
—————————————————————–
The 2024 Women in Agriculture Conference, organized by the Women in Agriculture Conference committee, will take place on Friday, March 22nd, in Rock Island. Annie Kinwa-Muzinga, a professor of agribusiness at Morningside University, known for her research on gender assessment in the agricultural sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo, will headline the event. Illinois House Republican Leader Tony McCombie and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton will be featured speakers, with Annaliese Wegner, the Modern-day Farm Chick, concluding the conference. Sponsored by the Farm Bureau Women in Agriculture Conference Committee, pre-registration is available at http://www.womeninagricultureconference.com
—————————————————————–
WEATHER:
Thursday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north in the afternoon.
Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low of around 32. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
—————————————————————–
OBITUARIES:
Leslie Roberta Streadwick, 66, of Ottawa, passed away Monday, January 22nd, at The Pavilion of Ottawa. Private burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home and Crematory.
—————————————————————–
Brendin H. Miskell, 39, of Ottawa, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, January 21st, A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, February 3rd, from 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm at the American Legion in Ottawa. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home.
—————————————————————–
Nancy Faye (Zeber) Knoll “Oma”, 77, of Ottawa, passed away on Sunday, January 28th, at her home surrounded by her family. A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 4th, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa. Visitation will be from noon until the service at the funeral home.
—————————————————————–
William “Bill” Ganiere, 70, of Ottawa, passed away Friday, January 26th, at Pleasant View Lutheran Home in Ottawa. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm on Wednesday, February 7th, at Ottawa Funeral Home. A funeral ceremony will follow at 7:00 pm at the funeral home. Private burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park. There will be a celebration of life at Splash & Go at a date to be announced.
—————————————————————–
LOCAL SPORTS:
BOYS BASKETBALL
Kaneland 50, Ottawa 33: Kaneland got a 50-33 victory over Ottawa and improved to 18-4 overall, and 5-2 in league action.
—————————————————————–
Mendota 52, Bureau Valley 50: The Trojans outscored the Storm 12-6 in the fourth quarter to rally for a Three Rivers Conference East Division victory in Mendota.
—————————————————————–
Girls basketball
Kaneland 51, Ottawa 23: The Kaneland Knights visited Kingman Gym on Wednesday, and got a 51-39 win.
—————————————————————–
Hinckley-Big Rock 41, Earlville 23: In Little Ten Conference play, the Red Raiders took the defeat
—————————————————————–
Girls bowling
Streator 2,382, Morris 2,198: At the Streator Elks on Wednesday, the Bowlin’ Bulldogs closed their regular season in style with a victory over their former conference foes.
—————————————————————–
WRESTLING
Ottawa 47, La Salle-Peru 30: The Cavaliers dropped a dual in La Salle.
—————————————————————–
PRO & COLLEGE SPORTS:
Coby White turned it on in the fourth quarter of the Bull’s 117-110 win over the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. The Bulls are in ninth place in the Eastern Conference at 23-and-26. They host Sacramento on Saturday.
—————————————————————–
The Northwestern Wildcats gave number-two Purdue another scare but lost in overtime 105-96 at Mackey Arena. The Wildcats fell to 15-and-6 overall and 6-and-4 in the Big Ten. They visit Minnesota on Saturday.
—————————————————————–
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish struggled in the first half of their 65-53 loss to Virginia at John Paul Jones Arena. The Irish dropped to 7-and-14 overall and 2-and-8 in the ACC. Notre Dame visits Pitt on Saturday.