The Illinois Department of Transportation will resume construction on U.S. Route 6 through La Salle and Peru starting April 1st as part of a $6.4 million improvement project scheduled for completion this summer. The construction zone extends from the Little Vermilion River bridge in La Salle west to the Dalzell Blacktop at St. Bede Academy. This year’s upgrades will include road patching, milling, resurfacing, and the installation of raised reflectors, along with reconfiguring the pavement markings between West Street and Monks Avenue in Peru from four lanes to a two-lane layout with a center turn lane. Traffic will be managed by flaggers during active work, and there may be temporary closures of side streets. Motorists should also anticipate delays, as existing traffic signals will operate on timers. Work is also set to resume next week on nearly ten miles of I-80 in Bureau County. Beginning Tuesday, crews will be resurfacing I-80 from the Bureau-Henry County line to east of the Illinois 40 interchange. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction. The nearly 37-million-dollar project is expected to wrap up in the fall.
—————————————————————–
Another snag for the Streator teachers union and their upcoming negotiations all thanks to the Trump administration’s federal cuts. The education association announced Wednesday that the Trump administration has shut down the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, leaving the ongoing Streator contract negotiations without a federal mediator. In response, the teachers’ union held an emergency meeting and is now calling on school board candidates Jan Urbance and Michael Holcomb to step in as mediators. The next bargaining session is set for Tuesday, but the district’s negotiators must first agree to the proposed co-mediators before talks can proceed.
—————————————————————–
The Diocese of Springfield and a Rockford pro-life pregnancy center are suing over a state law. A lawsuit was filed last week challenging the Illinois Human Rights Act. The plaintiffs claim the law forces religious organizations to hire employees who don’t adhere to their beliefs. Lawyers representing the plaintiffs argue that the law violates constitutional protections.
———————————————————————–
The LaSalle County Republican Party will hold its 47th Annual Lincoln Day Dinner this Saturday, March 29th at Pitstick Pavilion with a social hour at 5:30 and dinner at 6:30. This year’s keynote speaker will be current Chicago radio host and former Republican candidate for Illinois governor, Dan Proft. Other Republican officeholders who serve all or parts of LaSalle County are expected to make remarks including 38th District State Senator Sue Rezin and 37th District State Senator Li Arrelano, a Veteran and former Mayor of Dixon. $75 tickets can be purchased online at Eventbrite-dot-com.
—————————————————————–
76th District State Representative Amy “Murri” Briel of Ottawa is launching the Emerging Professional Council, a new initiative designed to empower young adults between the ages of 17 and 29 by giving them a platform to engage in policy discussions, advocate for key issues, and build leadership skills. The council will hold its first meeting on April 25th from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Briel’s District Office in Suite 408 of the Central Life Building at, 628 Columbus Street in downtown Ottawa. The mission of the new initiative is to provide students, emerging professionals, and young leaders the opportunity to connect with local officials, participate in research and advocacy efforts, and network with business and community leaders.
—————————————————————–
More than two decades have passed since 7-year-old Dalton Mesarchik was reported missing in Streator, and his murder remains unsolved. On March 27th, 2003, a fisherman discovered his body in the Vermilion River south of town, the victim of a brutal hammer attack. The Illinois State Police continue to prioritize the case, with the Dalton Mesarchik Task Force investigating thousands of leads over the years, alongside the FBI. A $50,000 reward is still available for information leading to an arrest.
—————————————————————–
The Prairie Singers are set to bring their sacred harmonies to area churches with a series of Lenten concerts, beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 3rd, at St. Michael Parish Church in Streator. Additional performances include 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 6th, at St. Bede in Peru; 7 p.m. on Friday, April 11, at St. Patricks Catholic Church in Ottawa; and 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Seneca. The program will feature Lenten Prayer, an original piece by Streator composer Steve Wimer, followed by At the Ninth Hour, a dramatic retelling of Jesus’s final week based on the Gospel of Mark. The concerts are open to the public, and a free-will offering is accepted.
—————————————————————–
A Sterling woman has been sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to mob action in connection with a December home invasion. Okita Lerma, 19, admitted to the charge on March 19 as part of a plea deal that resulted in the dismissal of three other charges, including home invasion causing injury, criminal trespass, and battery. She was sentenced to 30 months of probation and 168 days in jail, with credit for time served, and ordered to pay $1,924 in fines and fees.
—————————————————————–
Someone is sitting on a pile of cash after winning the lottery in Illinois. Officials say a lottery player in DeKalb County won 349 million dollars in Tuesday night’s Mega Millions jackpot. The winning ticket was purchased at Casey’s General Store on South Somonauk Road in Cortland, Illinois. The retailer will receive a cash bonus of 500 thousand dollars for selling the winning ticket.
—————————————————————–
The office of Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is accepting applications for its third-annual summer job program. Dozens of positions are available for college, trade school, graduate school students, or graduating high school students who are enrolled in college or trade school in the fall. Job offerings include working in one of the 25 departments in the Secretary of State’s office or at a DMV. Summer employees can begin their employment as early as May 12th.
—————————————————————–
The Iroquois County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public about a dramatic increase in a variety of scams recently. Most of them take place over the phone or via social media. Some of the scams include phone calls reporting that a loved one is in jail, that you have missed a court date, or forgot to pay a fine. Others are text messages reporting failure to pay missed tolls and E-mails or pop-ups reporting that your computer has a virus.
—————————————————————–
Activists are protesting the possibility of President Trump imposing a new travel ban. A rally was held yesterday at Federal Plaza against the potential ban. Reports say there’s a list of counties that could be involved. The proposed ban would prevent people from entering the US from countries such as Afghanistan, Cuba, and Venezuela.
—————————————————————–
The Trump administration is making cuts to funding for the State of Illinois. State officials say the White House is slashing 153 million dollars in federal grant funding to Illinois programs for mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and infectious disease prevention. That includes 125 million dollars in CARES Act funding for the Illinois Department of Public Health and 28-million-for the state Department of Human Services. The Trump administration is also blocking 324 million dollars for future work to prevent and treat infectious diseases in Illinois.
—————————————————————–
Several employees of Chicago’s U.S. EPA Department are protesting regulatory rollbacks as well as funding and job cuts sparked by the Trump White House. They held a rally at Federal Plaza in downtown Chicago. A judge ordered in mid-March that all fired probationary workers be reinstated, but many of them remain in limbo after having been put on paid administrative leave.
—————————————————————–
A 30-year-old woman has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to methamphetamine distribution. Hannah Reed admitted to selling meth to undercover agents in December 2023, according to court records. As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors dropped a second charge of meth delivery. Following her release, Reed will serve a year on probation.
—————————————————————–
A vending machine worker is accused of taking pictures of juvenile boys at a southwest suburban Joliet pool. Farrell Theis was arrested yesterday during a traffic stop on a warrant for child pornography by a sex offender. Police allege that the 61-year-old defendant took photos with his phone of high school boys in February at the Inwood Athletic Club. Authorities say Theis is a convicted sex offender.
—————————————————————–
Streator police arrested 54-year-old David J. Smith on Tuesday evening in connection with a domestic battery incident. Officers took Smith into custody at 16 Liz Mar Place around 7:12 p.m. on March 26, 2025. Following his arrest, he was transported to the LaSalle County Jail, where he remains in custody pending further legal proceedings.
—————————————————————–
WEATHER:
Thursday
A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly before 3 pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night
A chance of showers then showers likely, and possibly a thunderstorm after 1 am. Cloudy, with a low of around 48. Southeast wind around 10 mph. The chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
—————————————————————–
OBITUARIES:
Jerry Thomas Kiley, 67, of Spring Valley, formerly of Ottawa, passed away Thursday, March 20th, at his home after a courageous battle with cancer. Funeral ceremonies will be held at a later date. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home.
—————————————————————–
Lisa Jean Fuchs, 62, of Ottawa, passed away on Tuesday, March 18th, at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, surrounded by the love of her family. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 29th, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa, with a private burial to follow. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, at the funeral home.
—————————————————————–
Margaret “Peggy” Maierhofer, 81, of rural Seneca, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 24th, at the Ottawa Pavilion. A visitation will take place from 2:00 – 5:00 PM at St. Patrick’s Church in Seneca on Sunday, March 30th. Funeral services are to be held at the same location on Monday, March 31st at 9:30 AM. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Seneca. Seals-Campbell Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.
—————————————————————–
LOCAL SPORTS:
Softball
Marquette 13, Serena 3: At Serena in 5 inn
Seneca 5, Kankakee Bishop McNamara 3: At Seneca
—————————————————————–
Baseball
Illinois Valley Central 13, Streator 3: At Streator
Sandwich 3, Seneca 1: At Sandwich
Aurora Christian 7, Newark 3: At Newark
—————————————————————–
PRO SPORTS:
The White Sox opens the 2025 season today at Rate Field. The South Siders take on the Los Angeles Angels. Sean Burke takes the mound For Chicago against LA’s Yusei Kikuchi. Pre-Game is at 2:30 pn and the first pitch is at 3:10 pm.
—————————————————————–
The Chicago Cubs return to regular season action with a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field tonight. The Cubs are 0-and-2 after getting swept by the Dodgers in the Tokyo Series earlier this month. Justin Steele starts for the Northsiders in tonight’s game. The first pitch is at 9:10 PM.
—————————————————————–
The Chicago Bulls go for their fourth win in a row with a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at United Center tonight. The Bulls are coming off a 129-119 win over the Denver Nuggets on the road on Monday. Chicago is in ninth place in the Eastern Conference at 32-and-40. Tonight’s game tips off at 7:00 PM.
—————————————————————–
The Chicago Blackhawks have dropped eight of their last nine games following a 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils at United Center. Chicago is in last place in the Central Division with 51 points. The Hawks host the Golden Knights tomorrow night.
—————————————————————–
The Big 3 basketball league is welcoming a Chicago franchise. The organization formed by legendary rapper Ice Cube is transitioning to a city-based model for the 2025 season. The league announced that there will be a Chicago franchise named the Triplets added to the season. The regular season begins on June 14.
—————————————————————–
COLLEGIATE SPORTS:
Baseball
IVCC at Prairie State College doubleheader starting at 2 pm.
—————————————————————–
Softball
IVCC at Carl Sandburg College doubleheader starting at 3 pm.
—————————————————————–
In college basketball action yesterday, Illinois State beat Cleveland State 79-68 in the College Basketball Invitational Championship, while Loyola earned a 72-62 win over Kent State in the NIT.