The Ottawa City Council has approved two agreements with the North Central Illinois Council of Governments to manage grants received. One agreement focuses on a $650,000 Community Development Block Grant for rehabilitating housing for qualifying low-income residents, targeting at least 10 homes. Additionally, the city received $1,247,792 from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development in June to help cover the costs of separating storm and wastewater channels, a project expected to total around $1.5 million.
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At approximately 1 p.m. yesterday, LaSalle-Peru Township High School had to evacuate its main building once again due to a false alarm triggered by dust from ongoing renovation work on the second floor. LPHS superintendent Dr. Steven Wrobleski stated that “following safety protocols, the building was fully evacuated. Local firefighters quickly cleared the situation, confirming there was no fire and no danger to anyone. The school emphasized that the safety and well-being of students, staff, and guests remain their top priority, and they thanked everyone for their prompt and safe response”. This is the second time in the last few weeks that construction at LPHS has caused a false alarm and an evacuation of the main building.
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The Village of North Utica has announced the temporary closure of Church Street from Route 178 to Mill Street due to the commencement of the Market on Mill project. Residents will notice construction pylons throughout the summer as work progresses. The village aims to complete the project in time for the Burgoo Festival, scheduled for October 12-13.
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OSF HealthCare is expanding its OSF Medical Group—Orthopedic Services to Peru, Illinois, bringing advanced orthopedic care closer to Illinois Valley residents. The new office at 920 West Street, Medical Office Building A, Suite 221, opens on Monday, July 29th, and features adjacent X-ray services. Staffed by orthopedic surgeons, the team will be joined this fall by an OrthoMidwest sports medicine surgeon. Dawn Trompeter, president of OSF HealthCare Saint Elizabeth and Saint Paul Medical Centers, emphasizes the commitment to providing high-quality care locally. For more information or to schedule an appointment in Peru, Ottawa, Mendota, or Streator, visit osfhealthcare.org/orthopedics
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Chicago Police and the Secret Service are releasing details about the security perimeter around the United Center for next month’s Democratic National Convention. There will be an outer perimeter where vehicles will be allowed and an inner perimeter where only credentialed delegates and media will be allowed on foot. Officials say pedestrian closures and vehicle screening perimeter will start at 7 p.m. on August 17th around the United Center. The same will begin around McCormick Place at 10 p.m. on August 16th. The Chicago Transit Authority has not released details about bus detours, but buses are expected to be rerouted around the vehicle screening perimeters.
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Former presidential candidate and First Lady Hillary Clinton is scheduling a stop in Chicago for a book tour. She is promoting her new memoir titled “Something Lost, Something Gained: Reflections on Life, Love, and Liberty.” Clinton has scheduled a stop in Chicago on Sunday, October 13th at the Auditorium Theatre. Tickets are on sale now.
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Chicago officials are getting ready for a possible surge of migrants that may arrive around the time of the Democratic National Convention next month. Deputy Mayor for Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights Beatriz Ponce de Leon says the city is ready. She adds that the city has a cushion in the thousands, with just over half the city’s eleven thousand shelter beds currently open. If regular shelter beds run out, the city plans to set up just-in-time beds, which would be available for up to 30 days.
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WEATHER:
Friday
Sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming east-southeast around 5 mph in the morning.
Friday Night
Clear, with a low of around 59. East-southeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 86. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the morning.
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low of around 67. Southeast wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 10 mph.
Sunday
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 85.
Sunday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1 am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69
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OBITUARIES:
Linda Kay (Larimer) Lindeman, 81, of Ottawa, passed away on Thursday, July 18th, at OSF St. Elizabeth in Ottawa. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:40 a.m. on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at the First Presbyterian Church in Ottawa, with Rev. John, Walker, Pastor, officiating. Visitation will be before the service starting at 10:10 a.m. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
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SPORTS:
The Chicago White Sox are on an 11-game losing streak following a 2-1 loss to the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. The Sox took an early lead when Korey Lee hit an RBI double in the top of the third, but Texas tied the game in the next half-inning and took the lead for good in the fourth. Jonathan Cannon was charged with his fifth loss after giving up two runs on eight hits in six frames. The Southsiders are in last place in the AL Central at 27-and-78. Drew Thorpe starts for the Sox against Seattle tonight.
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San Diego Padres pitcher Dylan Cease has thrown a no-hitter. He struck out nine and walked three batters in San Diego’s three-nothing win over the Nationals today in Washington, DC. He is just the second pitcher to toss a no-hitter this season. The Padres acquired Cease in a trade with the Chicago White Sox in March.
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The Chicago Cubs begin a weekend series against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium tonight. The Cubs are coming off a series loss to the Brewers at home earlier this week. Chicago is in last place in the NL Central at 49-and-55. Kyle Hendricks starts for the Northsiders tonight. First pitch is at 7:10PM.
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The Chicago Sky will break ground on a new practice facility this fall in suburban Bedford Park. The 38 million-dollar facility will be built next to the Wintrust Sports Complex just south of Midway Airport. The Sky expects construction to be completed by December 2025 and the facility should be fully available for the 2026 WNBA season.