An accident Monday morning just after 7 a.m. east of Cedar Point resulted in one fatality. The LaSalle County Coroner’s Office and the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Department says the accident involved a semi and a car on Illinois 71 near E 275th Rd. No other information has been released from the Coroner or the Sheriff.
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The LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office released enforcement numbers after their Independence Day “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” “Drive High Get a DUI” and “Click It or Ticket” safety campaigns. Officers made zero impaired driving arrests and issued 20 seat belt citations. Other violations included 29 speeding citations, three driving with suspended license citations/arrests, five expired registration citations, three distracted driving (cell phone) citations, four no insurance citations and seven other traffic violation citations. The LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office joined over 200 other state and local law enforcement agencies for these safety campaigns.
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Illinois State Police say a fatality late Monday morning in Bureau County on Interstate 80 between Spring Valley and Plank Rd. exits was the result of a car-pedestrian accident. The pedestrian was reportedly dead at the scene. Westbound traffic on 80 was detoured for several hours beginning at Exit 75. No other details have been released.
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LaSalle County Sheriff Adam Diss says his department is partnering with the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police, and other law enforcement agencies to step up enforcement efforts across the state to reduce speeding. Throughout July, motorists can expect increased patrols looking for speeding, as well as other traffic violations. During the speeding enforcement blitz, officers will intensify enforcement of posted speed limits. The sheriff says offenders will be stopped and ticketed – especially near the intersections of Illinois 251 & North 36th, U. S. 34 and East 1950th and Illinois 71 & North 3653rd where most of LaSalle County’s speed-related crashes occur. Sheriff Diss stresses the goal of the enhanced enforcement is to save lives. The speed enforcement effort is made possible by federal traffic safety funds administered by IDOT.
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The body found in the Illinois River in Peoria County is being identified as a 14-year-old boy. The Peoria County Coroner’s Office says Leron Griffin’s body was located Saturday in the river behind Liberty Steel in Bartonville. An autopsy shows the teen died from drowning. His death remains under investigation.
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A teen is charged in a deadly shooting in Decatur. Police say a 63-year-old man was found shot to death early yesterday in the 13-hundred block of North Monroe Street. Following an investigation, officers arrested a 14-year-old boy. He has been charged with murder and is being held at the Peoria County Juvenile Detective Center.
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Attorneys involved in the case of indicted former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan are still pushing for an October trial date despite a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Prosecutors and defense attorneys filed a status report jointly, telling a judge to keep Madigan’s trial on track for October. The request comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last month that a federal bribery statute doesn’t ban “gratuities” to public officials. The decision has raised questions about whether Madigan’s trial will proceed as scheduled.
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A Chicago-born actor accused of taking part in the January 6th U.S. Capitol riot in 2021 is pleading guilty in federal court. Jay Johnston entered the guilty plea yesterday to civil disorder. Prosecutors say Johnston pushed against police and helped rioters who attacked officers guarding an entrance to the Capitol in a tunnel. The 54-year-old is known for his roles on the comedy television shows “Bob’s Burgers” and “Mr. Show with Bob and David.”
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WEATHER:
Tuesday
Scattered showers before 1 pm, then scattered showers and thunderstorms between 1 pm and 4 pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4 pm. Cloudy, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. The chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
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Tuesday Night
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 66. East-northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. The chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between three-quarters and one inch possible.
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OBITUARIES:
Ronald J. Winnicki, 64, of Ottawa, passed away suddenly on Monday, July 1st, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. A celebration of life for Ronald J. Winnicki will be held on July 20th at The Lone Buffalo in Ottawa, IL, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home.
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Barbara Ann Gehler, 92, of Ottawa, passed away on July 2nd, at Pleasant View Lutheran Life Communities. A Celebration of Life will be held for Barbara Ann Gehler at the Mueller Funeral Home, Ottawa, on Friday, July 12th at 11 AM. Visitation for Barbara Ann Gehler will begin one hour prior to services. Private Family Internment at Oakwood Memorial Park.
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LaVerne “Pete” Kreiser, 86, of Tonica passed away Friday, July 5th, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. Funeral services for LaVerne “Pete” Kreiser will be at 11:00 AM on Thursday, July 11th, at the Hurst Funeral Home in Tonica. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery east of Tonica with full military services conducted by the Tonica American Legion. Visitation for LaVerne “Pete” Kreiser will be from 4-7:00 PM Wednesday, July 10th, at the Hurst Funeral Home and additional visitation will be from 9:00 AM until the time of services on Thursday at the Hurst Funeral Home.
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SPORTS:
White Sox Fall To Twins In Extras
The White Sox surrendered two runs in the top of the 11th inning during an 8-6 loss to the Minnesota Twins at Guaranteed Rate Field. The Sox scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 5-2 lead, but they immediately surrendered four runs in the next half-inning. Nicky Lopez tied the game with an RBI double in the bottom of the eighth before Jared Shuster gave up two runs in the 11th to get charged with the loss in relief. Martin Maldonado added a home run in the losing effort. The Southsiders have dropped their last three games and remain in last place in the AL Central at 26-and-67. Erick Fedde takes the mound for Chicago against Minnesota tonight, pre-game is at 6:30 pm
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Cubs Visit Orioles
The Cubs begin a seven-game road trip when they take on the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards tonight. The Cubs are coming off a series win over the Los Angeles Angels this past weekend, but they remain in last place in the NL Central at 42-and-49. Jameson Taillon starts for the Northsiders tonight. The first pitch is at 5:35 PM.
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Notre Dame Loses Top Recruit
Four-star cornerback Ivan Taylor is turning his back on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The son of Steelers legend Ike Taylor committed to Notre Dame last December, but he flipped to Michigan yesterday. Taylor had visits to Alabama, Notre Dame, and Michigan last month before making the decision to head to Ann Arbor. He had been Notre Dame’s highest-ranked recruit from the class of 2025.