The Ottawa City Council voted to change power companies in yesterday’s meeting. The city is entering into a two-year agreement with Illinois Power Marketing which provides a lower rate than the city’s current provider, Ameren.
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The LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office plans to step up traffic enforcement for the Fourth of July celebrations. From June 21 until the morning of July 8, officers will be working to keep impaired drivers off the road and ticketing unbuckled motorists. LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office is collaborating with the Illinois State Police and over 200 local police and sheriffs’ departments in this unified effort to enhance statewide enforcement during this period. The traffic safety enforcement effort, including the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” “Drive High Get a DUI,” and “Click It or Ticket” programs, is made possible through federal highway safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation. These efforts are part of IDOT’s “It’s Not a Game” media campaign, which emphasizes the serious consequences of impaired driving and other unsafe driving behaviors.
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Mosquitos and birds with West Nile Virus have been found in 13 counties in Illinois. While no human cases of West Nile virus have been reported in Illinois this year, there were 119 human cases reported in 2023, up from 34 human cases in 2022. There were six human deaths attributed to West Nile virus in 2023, compared to seven in 2022. A county is considered positive for West Nile virus if a bird, mosquito, horse or human from that county tests positive for the virus. West Nile has been found in Champaign, Cook, Douglas, Fulton, Kane, Hancock, LaSalle, Morgan, Washington, Whiteside, Williamson, Winnebago and Woodford counties. West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of a Culex mosquito, commonly called a house mosquito, that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Common symptoms include fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches. Symptoms may last from a few days to a few weeks. Most people infected with West Nile virus will not show any symptoms; however, in rare cases, it can lead to severe illness including meningitis or encephalitis, or even death. People older than 60 and those with weakened immune systems are at the highest risk for severe illness.
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Ottawa police charged 37-year-old James J. Cochara of Ottawa with violating his pre-trial release yesterday.
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The Illinois Department of Public Health is warning Illinoisans to take preventive actions to avoid heat-related illnesses. Officials say exposure to extreme heat can cause serious health complications, including heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Residents should stay in an air-conditioned area during the hottest hours of the day, wear light, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing, stay hydrated, and avoid unnecessary hard work or activities outside. Temps are expected to remain in the 90s much of this week.
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A top Illinois Republican is being dethroned. The Illinois Republican State Central Committee voted this week to remove Mark Shaw as state party vice chair. His removal follows allegations that he voted as a delegate at last month’s state Republican convention despite not being one. Shaw is the former chairman of the GOP in Lake County. State Republicans are making the change less than a month before its delegation heads to Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention to nominate former President Donald Trump.
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Illinois is celebrating a record-breaking year of export sales in 2023. The state saw nearly $79 billion in export sales last year. Illinois is the top exporting state in the Midwest and fifth in the nation.
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A 35-second shot clock will be required for usage in varsity girls’ and boys’ basketball games beginning with the 2026-27 school year, according to an announcement by IHSA. Use of the shot clock for lower-level (freshman, sophomore, junior varsity) contests will be determined by conferences and via mutual agreement by competing teams in non-conference games. According to the IHSA director, “The IHSA has allowed the shot clock to be used in tournaments and shootouts the past two seasons, and the overwhelming feedback we have received from coaches is that it is time to embrace the shot clock in all varsity contest.”
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The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is looking for volunteer citizen scientists to assist with wild turkey brood surveys to aid biologists in monitoring turkey population trends and reproductive success. Participants are asked to report young turkeys, adult females, and adult males with every observation, as well as the county and date of the observation during the months of June, July, and August. The best way to submit turkey sightings is through the department’s electronic wild turkey survey online. The survey can be accessed on both personal computers and mobile devices through any internet browser or the Survey123 app.
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A McLean County jury is convicting a man of a deadly 2022 shooting in Bloomington. The jury found Jaylin Bones guilty of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and aggravated battery with a firearm. Police say officers found Timothy Manns shot to death inside an apartment on West Jefferson on January 24, 2022. Bones is scheduled to be sentenced on July 30.
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The Illinois Department of Transportation is being awarded nearly $2 million from the Federal Transit Administration to launch a pilot program in Southern Illinois. The goal of the program is to improve access to public transportation for people with disabilities, older adults and those with low incomes. The grant will support efforts to integrate trip scheduling and fare collection across 20 counties served by Shawnee Mass Transit District, Rides Mass Transit District, South Central Mass Transit and Monroe Randolph Transit District.
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The state of Illinois is set to hold hearings on reparations. The state’s African Descent-Citizens Reparations Commission announced the first hearing will take place in Chicago on July 13. The series of public hearings will discuss reparatory actions for Black Americans in Illinois who are descendants of American Chattel Slavery. The ADCRC is committed to gathering diverse perspectives from the public to shape recommendations for tangible actions toward justice and restitution.
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WEATHER
Today
Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 97. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m.
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Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 71. South southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
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OBITUARIES
James E. Wheeler, 82, of Marseilles, passed away on Friday, June 14. A visitation for James E. Wheeler will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Friday, June 21 at Seals-Campbell Funeral Home in Marseilles. Funeral services for James E. Wheeler will follow at 6 p.m. at the funeral home with Reverend Duane Kaufman officiating.
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Leo Alan Petre, 54, of Marseilles, passed away suddenly on Saturday, June 15. Visitation services for Leo Alan Petre will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 20 at Seals-Campbell Funeral Home in Marseilles. Funeral services for Leo Alan Petre will follow at 7 p.m. at the funeral home with Deacon Ron Wackerlin officiating.
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Sports
White Sox Blank Astros
Jonathan Cannon twirled a gem as the Chicago White Sox beat the Houston Astros 2-0 at Guaranteed Rate Field. Cannon earned his first win after scattering seven hits over eight-and-two-thirds innings. Andrew Vaughn had a pair of RBI in the victory. The Southsiders have won two of three but are still in last place in the AL Central at 20-and-54. Garrett Crochet mans the rubber for Chicago against Houston this evening.
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Cubs Break Late Deadlock To Beat Giants
The Cubs broke a late deadlock to beat the Giants 5-2 from Wrigley Field. The game was tied at two in the eighth inning when Cody Bellinger singled home the go-ahead run. Ian Happ and Christopher Morel also hit RBI singles as part of a three-run inning. Tyson Miller earned the win in relief and Keegan Thompson notched his first save of the season after striking out the side in the ninth. Chicago is still last in the NL Central at 35-and-39. Kyle Hendricks starts for the Northsiders against San Francisco this afternoon.
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Tauchman To Miss A Month
The Chicago Cubs won’t have one of their outfielders for the foreseeable future. Craig Counsell announced yesterday that Mike Tauchman will be out for at least a month after straining his groin in Chicago’s game against the Giants on Monday night. Tauchman is hitting .259 with five home runs and 19 RBI in 66 games. Infielder Miles Mastrobuoni was recalled from Iowa yesterday to take Tauchman’s place on the roster.