Governor Pritzker is scheduled to sign the fiscal year 2025 state budget today. The 53-billion-dollar spending plan was approved by the Illinois General Assembly last week. It includes more than 500 million dollars in increases for education, eliminates the statewide grocery tax, and increases taxes on sportsbooks, retailers, and other businesses. The signing will take place in Chicago.
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The LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office says an accident Saturday night near Millington resulted in a fatality. The LaSalle County Coroner’s Office says 69-year-old Gloria Gunkelman of Sandwich died of injuries from the accident and was dead at the scene. The single-vehicle rollover was on Millington Road near 4351st Road north of the Fox River. Sheriff’s deputies say the vehicle rolled over several times before coming to rest.
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NCAT has partnered with LaSalle Public Library to offer fare-free rides for Library Card holders Now – August 3rd. Riders must show their LaSalle Public Library Card to the driver upon boarding the bus and be traveling to or from the LaSalle Public Library to be eligible for the free ride. Your rides must be scheduled in advance by calling 833-433-6228. Due to limited availability, they ask that you call at least a week in advance to reserve your seat.
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The Starved Rock Country Community Foundation recently awarded a grant to the Putnam County Public Library to support the “Audio Storytelling for Kids” program. This grant will enable the library to provide children with access to audiobooks in various formats, significantly enhancing their reading experience and educational development. The program is designed to improve vocabulary, word recognition, and overall reading accessibility for children who struggle with traditional reading. By offering audiobooks, the library aims to strengthen children’s imaginations and provide them with diverse options for engaging with books. This initiative will benefit over 1,000 children in the Putnam County area, ensuring efficient and effective access to both educational and recreational materials through advanced technologies and varied formats.
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The remains of a Whiteside County teen who was killed during the Korean War are finally home. The remains of 17-year-old Army Corporal Richard Seloover were laid to rest yesterday in Rock Falls after being accounted for in January. Seloover went missing in action in the vicinity of Yongsan, South Korea in September 1950.
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Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is charging two DuPage County women over allegations they fraudulently received Paycheck Protection Program loans while employed by the state. Candice Brumfield and Arnita Rudd face a number of charges. Raoul claims Brumfield was employed by the Illinois Department of Employment Security when she fraudulently applied for a PPP loan for more than 20 thousand dollars in 2021 for a nursing or residential care business. She also applied for and received a loan worth more than eight thousand dollars for another business named “Sassy Hands.” Rudd fraudulently received a PPP loan for more than 20-thousand in 2021 for a business while working at the Illinois Department of Veteran’s Affairs.
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Former Illinois basketball star Terrence Shannon Junior is set to go on trial next week in Douglas County Kansas. The Chicago native appeared via Zoom yesterday for a status hearing. Shannon will stand trial on rape and sexual aggravated battery charges on June 10th. The charges accuse him of sexually assaulting a woman while attending a football game last September in Lawrence, Kansas. His case was reassigned to a different judge because the original judge was tied up in another trial.
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29-year-old Austin J. Lubek of Marseilles was arrested by Ottawa Police Sunday in the 1500 block of Columbus Street on a charge of retail theft.
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A LaSalle woman has charges of driving on a suspended or revoked driver’s license, driving an uninsured vehicle, and operating a vehicle with a suspended registration. 61-year-old Katherine J. Smith was stopped by Peru Police late Tuesday morning at 38th and Peoria Streets.
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43-year-old Wendy Jamka of Streator was charged Tuesday evening by Streator Police with driving on a suspended license after a traffic stop at Park and Lincoln Streets. Jamka was also wanted on a Livingston County warrant for failure to appear in court on a charge of driving on a suspended license. She was taken to the LaSalle County Jail.
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39-year-old Eliezer Rios-Marin of Streator was stopped by Ottawa Police Monday on East Main Street at Gridley Place and cited for driving on a suspended license.
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WEATHER:
Today
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 7 am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 7 am and 10 am. Cloudy, then gradual clearing during the afternoon, with a high near 80. West northwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. The chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
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Tonight
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 10 pm and midnight. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming clear, with a low around 60. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. The chance of precipitation is 20%.
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OBITUARIES:
Annette Walters, 70, of Ottawa, passed away Saturday, June 1st, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, with her loving family by her side. Visitation for Annette Walters will be held TODAY from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A visitation for Annette Walters will also be held from 10:00 am until the time of service on Thursday, June 6th, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottawa. A funeral ceremony for Annette Walters will follow at 11:00 am at Trinity Lutheran Church, and burial will be at a later date.
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Pearl Ann (Brownfield) Scherer, 87, of Ottawa, passed away Thursday, May 30th, at Lightways Hospice in Joliet with her loving family by her side. A visitation for Pearl Ann (Brownfield) Scherer will be held on Friday, June 7th, from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial for Pearl Ann (Brownfield) Scherer will take place on Saturday, June 8th, at 10:30 am, at St. Columba Church. Burial will be in St. Columba Cemetery at a later date.
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Marion L. Kahon, 84, of Ottawa, passed away Friday, May 31st, at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center. A celebration of life for Marion L. Kahon will be held on June 15th, at Ed’s home the time will be announced on his Facebook. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home.
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Roger Pratt, 66, of Ottawa, passed away on Friday, May 31st, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. Funeral services will be at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
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SPORTS:
Cubs Fight Back To Beat White Sox In Crosstown Classic
A new chapter in the Crosstown Classic was written Tuesday night. The Cubs battled back to beat the White Sox 7-6 from Wrigley. The team trailed by a run in the bottom of the eighth until Ian Happ drove in a pair of runs to take the lead. Hector Neris slammed the door shut in the ninth to complete the comeback. Christopher Morel and Patrick Wisdom blasted two-run homers as Chicago improved to 30-and-31. The Cubbies are still second in the NL Central. Sosa clubbed a two-run homer for the White Sox. Luis Robert Jr. also went deep with a solo shot, while Jordan Leasure took the loss in relief. The Sox have lost 12 straight and are last in the AL Central at 15-and-46. The two-game set wraps up tonight.
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Bears Mandatory Minicamp Observations
The Bears kicked off a mandatory minicamp yesterday. All eyes were on first-overall pick Caleb Williams. The quarterback completed 13-of-16 passes but struggled against the first-team defense during the two-minute and blitz drills. He threw a bad pass that got picked by Kevin Byard in a 7-on-7 drill, which head coach Matt Eberflus chalked up as a “learning experience.” The session continues today.
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Bulls’ DeRozan Could Command More Than 40-Million
The Bulls will have a tough time keeping one of their best players. DeMar DeRozan is slated to become a free agent, and The Athletic reports he could command more than 40 million dollars per year. Chicago is open to signing the forward on a two-year deal, but DeRozan’s side wants more security and will have other suitors in free agency. Teams can begin negotiating with free agents on June 30th.
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Chicago Sky Blown Out By Liberty
The Sky got blown out by the Liberty 88-75 from Wintrust Arena. Chennedy Carter led the team with 16 points off the bench. Marina Mabrey paced the starters with 15 points and grabbed six rebounds. Angel Reese tallied a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds before getting ejected in the fourth quarter. Chicago is fourth in the East at 3-and-5 and will visit the Mystics tomorrow night.