Chester Weger, the man convicted in the notorious 1960 Starved Rock murders, may find out soon if he can continue his battle to overturn his conviction as a decision is expected on November 22. The 85-year-old appeared in La Salle County Circuit Court on Wednesday with his attorney, Andy Hale, for a status hearing. Judge Michael C. Jansz addressed several constitutional claims raised by Weger’s legal team but said more time was needed to consider Weger’s assertion of innocence. Earlier this year, a special prosecutor filed a 78-page pleading asserting Weger’s guilt and asking the court to dismiss his ongoing efforts to overturn his conviction. Weger’s attorneys countered with a detailed response, presenting new evidence proving Weger’s innocence. Judge Jansz reviewed various constitutional issues, including alleged violations of the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments, as well as claims of ineffective assistance of counsel. He ultimately ruled that most constitutional claims were either waived or not applicable but did not yet rule on the core issue of Weger’s innocence. Weger, who served six decades in prison for the murders, is scheduled to appear again in court on November 22, where he hopes the judge will allow him to continue his fight for exoneration.
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The Streator Plan Commission recommended approving two out of three proposed community solar projects but rejected a third in the city’s northwest section due to resident concerns. TotalEnergies presented the solar proposals, with the approved Streator 1 and Streator 2 projects planned for a site west of Route 18 and East 15th Road. The third project, Spring Lake, faced opposition from residents concerned about its impact on property values and future development. TotalEnergies stated that all three projects combined would generate about $1.9 million in tax revenue over the next 35 years. The Streator City Council is expected to vote on the recommendations on Wednesday, Sept. 18. If approved, construction on the solar projects could begin as early as the fourth quarter of 2025, taking about 36 weeks to complete each.
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A two-vehicle crash south of Morris on Illinois 47 resulted in serious injuries and a DUI arrest on Tuesday. The accident involved a car and a pickup truck pulling a flatbed trailer. The driver of the car crossed over the centerline, striking the truck. 49-year-old Tanya Kleinert, the driver of the car, was extricated from her vehicle and airlifted to Loyola Medical Center. Kleinert was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, improper lane usage, and driving under the influence of drugs.
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The University of Illinois system is setting a record for enrollment this fall. Nearly 98 thousand students enrolled across the University of Illinois System for the fall semester. That tops the previous record of just under 95-thousand established in 2022 at universities in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago, and Springfield. This year’s enrollment is up more than three percent that last year. And, Illinois State University is welcoming a record-breaking incoming class this fall. Nearly 43 hundred incoming freshmen entered ISU for the 2024-2025 academic year. That is the largest incoming class in the University’s history. Total enrollment is more than 21-thousand, marking a two-point-seven-percent increase over the previous year. Meanwhile, no one is hurt following a fire at a dorm on the Illinois State University’s campus. The blaze started yesterday in a staff workroom on the second floor of the south tower of Watterson Towers. The flames caused damage and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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A judge is calling Trump Tower in Chicago a “public nuisance.” The judge ruled this week that the downtown high rise threatens the Chicago River because its cooling water intake system has illegally sucked in and killed thousands of fish over the years. Last year, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul amended a lawsuit his office filed in 2018 against Trump Tower. The amended complaint claims the property is continuing to break environmental laws by significantly underreporting the average daily volume of water it discharges into the Chicago River.
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A Champaign teenager is accused of making a threat against a local school. A 9-1-1 call on Monday reported an active threat at Centennial High School. Officers quickly searched the school and nothing dangerous was found. A School Resource Officer learned that a 14-year-old from Champaign had made the call and provided false information to dispatchers. The teen was arrested Tuesday and transported to the Juvenile Detention Center.
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A Glendale Heights teen is accused of bringing a loaded gun to a Lombard high school. Prosecutors say a student at Glenbard East High School notified a security officer that he found a loaded handgun in a boys’ bathroom on
Monday. Lombard police officers traced the gun to the 14-year-old suspect’s Glendale Heights home. The teen was interviewed and taken into custody on gun charges.
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A former teacher at Maroa-Forsyth School District, north of Decatur, is charged with sexual abuse. Zoe Duncan-Savage is charged with one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Authorities say in April 2023, Duncan-Savage engaged in sex acts with a 16-year-old boy. The incident happened while she was still employed by the Maroa-Forsyth School District.
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Another staff member at the Federal Correctional Center at Thomson in northwest Illinois is recovering after being exposed to an unknown substance. American Federation of Government Employees Local 4070 says the prison was placed on lockdown following the incident yesterday. The officer was administered Narcan after an “exposure” while searching a cell. Two similar incidents happened at the prison on August 18th and September 2nd.
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A Streator man has pleaded guilty to charges related to child solicitation in Livingston County. On Friday, 30-year-old Drew Lenhausen appeared in court and admitted to indecent solicitation of a child and traveling to meet a child for illicit purposes. Lenhausen was sentenced to two years of probation after authorities say he made arrangements to meet a child under the age of 14 in Forrest earlier this year. In addition to his probation, Lenhausen will be required to register as a sex offender.
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A 45-year-old homeless man from Ottawa has been formally indicted on multiple charges, including aggravated battery, threatening a public official, and criminal property damage. Christopher Leone remains in custody at the La Salle County Jail following his arrest by Ottawa police on August 24. Leone was already on probation after pleading guilty to separate aggravated battery charges last month, also in La Salle County. His latest arrest adds to his legal troubles as he awaits further court proceedings.
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41-year-old Joshua Davis of Marseilles has been indicted on charges of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, along with two counts of possession of a controlled substance and driving on a revoked license.
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WEATHER:
Today
Sunny, with a high near 87. Light east-northeast wind becoming east at 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.
Tonight
Mostly cloudy, with a low of around 61. East wind around 5 mph.
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OBITUARIES:
Gloria Antoinette Sigler, 98, of Ottawa, passed away Saturday, September 7th, at LaSalle County Nursing Home. Visitation will be Friday, September, 13th, from 9:00 am until 10:00 am at Ottawa Funeral Home. Mass of Christian burial for Gloria Antoinette Sigler will be at 10:30 am on Friday, at St. Francis of Assisi Church. The burial for Gloria Antoinette Sigler will be in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum at Oakwood Memorial Park.
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Phyllis Joan Williams 78 of Ottawa passed away peacefully on September 6th. A visitation will be held at Ottawa Funeral Home on September 14th from 10-12 PM. The funeral ceremony for Phyllis Joan Williams will follow at noon at the funeral home. The burial will immediately follow at St. Columba Cemetery.
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Dustin Lee Brewer passed away unexpectedly on September 8th, at the age of 45. A visitation for Dustin Lee Brewer will be held on Sunday, September 15th, from 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A memorial service for Dustin Lee Brewer will take place at 3:00 pm at the funeral home.
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Jean Kember, 88, of Lombard, formerly of Serena, lost her nine-month battle with colon cancer on Saturday, September 7th, at Beacon Hill in Lombard. Funeral Services for Jean Kember will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, September 16th, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa. Burial will follow at West Serena Cemetery. Visitation for Jean Kember will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 15th, at the funeral home.
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HS SPORTS:
Marquette Football
Seneca (2-0) at Marquette (1-1) When: 7 p.m. Friday at Gould Stadium, Andrew Evola and Hunter O’Dell on the call from the game.
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Boys golf
Ottawa 140, Sycamore 155: At Deer Park Golf Course,
Streator 160, Mantneo 186: At Eastwood Golf Course
Mendota 172, Newman 175: at Mendota Golf Club in Mendota.
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Girls golf
Coal City 207, Ottawa 211: At Cinder Creek Golf Course
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Girls volleyball
Woodland 2, Leland 0: At Leland
Earlville 2, DePue 0: At Earlville
La Salle-Peru 2, Annawan 0: in Annawan.
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BOYS SOCCER
Kaneland 4, Ottawa 3:
Mendota 7, Kewanee 0:
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GIRLS TENNIS
Newman 4, Mendota 1: The Trojans dropped a match Tuesday in Mendota.
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PRO SPORTS:
The Chicago White Sox nearly overcame a five-run deficit during a 6-4 loss to the Cleveland Guardians at Guaranteed Rate Field. The White Sox cut into Cleveland’s 5-0 lead with four runs in the bottom of the third before going silent the rest of the way. Lenyn Sosa had two hits and an RBI in the losing effort, while Davis Martin was charged with his fourth loss after surrendering five runs on six hits in three innings. The Southsiders remain in last place in the AL Central at 33-and-114. They host the A’s tomorrow night.
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The Chicago Cubs gave up five home runs during a 10-8 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. The Northsiders scored four runs in the top of the fifth to tie the game at seven before giving up a run in the seventh and two more in the eighth. Seiya Suzuki and Cody Bellinger both homered in the losing effort, while Shawn Armstrong was charged with his third loss in relief. Chicago is five games back of the Mets for the final NL Wild Card spot with a 75-and-71 record. The Cubs visit the Rockies tomorrow night.
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Caleb Williams is down a couple of wide receivers. Both Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze missed Bears practice with injuries yesterday. Defensive lineman DeMarcus Walker also missed yesterday’s session, while four other players were limited participants. The Bears take on the Texans on Sunday.
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The Chicago Sky were humiliated on their home court during an 89-58 loss to the Washington Mystics at Wintrust Arena. Chicago trailed 29-13 after the first quarter and never got back into the game. Chennedy Carter had 16 points in the losing effort, while Kamilla Cardoso finished with 13. The Sky remain in eighth place in the WNBA at 13-and-23. Chicago visits Minnesota tomorrow night.
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COLLEGE SPORTS:
MEN’S SOCCER
IVCC 1, Black Hawk 1: in an Arrowhead Conference game in Moline.