Severe storms with wind gusts up to 70 mph caused widespread damage across La Salle, Bureau, and Putnam counties Monday night, downing tree limbs, utility wires, and poles. In Ottawa, a large tree and power pole snapped, while a utility pole collapsed into a parking lot in Streator. The storms, following a scorching day with a heat index above 100, prompted a tornado warning for Bureau and Putnam counties due to potential embedded rotation. The region is expected to cool down with temperatures dropping into the 80s for the rest of the week.
In addition, Kane County experienced a second consecutive night of severe storms as multiple tornadoes struck northern Illinois on Monday evening. Confirmed tornadoes in Sugar Grove and Elburn caused significant damage and power outages, affecting dozens of residents across Kane County. Cleanup crews will be busy this morning after multiple tornadoes and severe storms swept through the Chicago area. The National Weather Service reported several tornadoes touched down last night, including in the far western suburbs. Tornadoes were reported at both O’Hare and Midway airports. A National Weather Service survey crew will assess the damage today. Trees reportedly knocked down power lines, which caused I-55 south of I-80 to be shut down between US 6 and River Road. Nearly 4,400 ComEd and Ameren Illinois customers were without power early Tuesday. For outage information, visit ComEd’s and Ameren’s outage maps online.
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A Rockford man is dead after a pickup truck was swept away by flood waters. The 76-year-old was riding inside a Dodge Dakota truck that entered the Schnucks parking lot Sunday night in the 26-hundred block of Charles Street in Rockford. The vehicle was attempting to drive through fast-moving flood waters in the parking lot when it was swept into Keith Creek. The driver escaped through a window, but the man was trapped inside the truck as it became fully submerged.
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Attorneys for indicted former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan believe more than a dozen charges against him should be dropped. The Chicago Tribune reports Madigan’s defense team called for the dismissal in a new court filing yesterday. The filing quoted a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last month that the federal bribery statute doesn’t ban “gratuities” to public officials.
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The head of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is stepping down. Governor Pritzker announced that John Kim has resigned as Director of the IEPA. Kim has served at the agency since 1994 and has been Director since 2019. He will be replaced on an interim basis by Deputy Director James Jennings.
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U.S. Senator Dick Durbin says it is a miracle that Donald Trump is still alive. The Illinois Democrat spoke yesterday to reporters about the failed assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump. Durbin said he has no idea how the shooter was able to get on a roof that was in firing range of the former President. The Senator added that we have to reflect on the rhetoric that is being said about one another.
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John Deere is planning more layoffs. In a letter obtained by Our Quad Cities News, the company notified salaried employees that there will be additional global salaried workforce reductions beginning July 24th. The decision is due to declining customer demand, rising costs, and prevailing economic uncertainties. The Moline-based company recently announced hundreds of layoffs of production workers, including in Dubuque, Davenport, and East Moline.
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27-year-old Kevon D. Washington of Ottawa was arrested by Ottawa Police on Wednesday, July 10th, at 407 Jim Thomas Circle on a parole warrant.
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31-year-old Lynnard F. Farley of Ottawa was charged Monday by Ottawa Police with burglary and possession of methamphetamine. Farley was arrested in the 500 block of East Norris Drive.
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An Ottawa man has charges of domestic battery and violation of pre-trial conditions. 35-year-old Adam Nelson was arrested by Ottawa Police Monday in the 400 block of Elm Street.
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22-year-old Molly M. Murphy of Marseilles was stopped by Ottawa Police on Thursday, July 11th, on West Etna Road and cited for driving on a suspended license, no insurance, and suspended registration.
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A homeless Ottawa woman is charged with criminal trespass to state-supported property. 18-year-old Jada R. Wood was arrested in the 400 block of East Washington Street on Thursday, July 11th.
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WEATHER:
Tuesday
Partly sunny, with a high near 86. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
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Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Northwest wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 10 mph.
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OBITUARIES:
Patricia “Pat” Wagner 81 of Utica passed away peacefully with family at her side on July 10th, at OSF St. Joseph Hospital in Bloomington. A funeral mass for Patricia “Pat” Wagner will be held today at 10 am at St. Mary’s Church in Utica. Burial for Patricia “Pat” Wagner will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Utica. Visitation for Patricia “Pat” Wagner will be today from 9 am until the time of services.
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Kelly Irene Sobotta Monti age 42 passed away peacefully Wednesday, July 10th at Northwestern Palos Hospital. A Memorial Visitation for Kelly Irene Sobotta Monti is scheduled today from 4 pm to 8 pm at the Zarzycki Manor Chapel, 8999 Archer Ave. in Willow Springs.
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William Ernest Graves, 92, of Seneca, passed away on Friday, July 12th, in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Visitation for William Ernest Graves will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 17th, at Seals-Campbell Funeral Home in Marseilles. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Seneca. Burial for William Ernest Graves will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Seneca with military honors.
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SPORTS:
Garrett Crochet is set to play in his first All-Star Game tonight. The White Sox starting pitcher is the only representative for the Southsiders. He was selected to the AL roster in early July. Crochet spent the first four seasons of his MLB career as a reliever before becoming a starter this year. He’s 6-and-6 with a 3.02 ERA in 20 starts, and he leads the American League with 150 strikeouts. The Midsummer Classic starts at 7:00 PM tonight.
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The Chicago White Sox made eight more picks during the second day of the MLB Draft. Chicago added an infielder, a catcher, three pitchers, and an outfielder to close out the day. The MLB Draft continues today
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The Chicago Sky aims to avoid a third straight loss when they take on the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob Ultra Arena tonight. The Sky are coming off back-to-back losses against the New York Liberty over the weekend. Chicago is in eighth place in the WNBA at 9-and-14. Tonight’s game tips off at 9:00 PM.
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The Chicago Bulls will try to get back in the win column when they take on the Detroit Pistons in a Summer League game tonight. The Bulls are coming off a 92-82 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. Chicago is 1-and-1 in Summer League action. Tonight’s game gets underway at 5:30 PM.