A child is safe after he and his mother went missing in Grundy County. The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office says deputies attempted to serve orders Wednesday to Emily Johnson on West Southmor Road in unincorporated Morris that state her three-month-old infant, Silas Iennarella, was to be turned over to the custody of his father in Yorkville. Deputies responded to the address on West Southmor Road but learned that Emily and Silas no longer lived there. The child’s father later reported that he was receiving text messages from Emily that were suicidal in nature. A search was conducted on Emily’s cell phone that showed her in the city of Aurora. Later, authorities reported that Grundy County Detectives had located Silas and that he would be turned over to the father. There is no word on the location of the mother.
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Emergency crews responded to a two-vehicle crash near Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby on Thursday afternoon that left three people injured. The collision occurred around 12:20 p.m. at the intersection of Route 351 and Orlando Smith Road, just below the hill from IVCC. While no one was trapped in the vehicles, dispatchers reported three injuries, prompting the deployment of two ambulances from Oglesby to the scene. Emergency personnel worked quickly to provide aid and clear the area. We are waiting on a press release from the Oglesby Police Department.
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The Streator City Council closed out a $550,000 Community Development Block Grant on Wednesday, funding the rehabilitation of 11 homes. The project, supported by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity with $20,000 in local funds, improved living conditions and brought homes up to code, benefiting low- and moderate-income families. Ten homes have been completed, with one nearing completion. No residents were displaced during the work, and the $30,000 administrative cost was covered by the grant. City records are available for review at Streator City Hall and the North Central Illinois Council of Government office in Ottawa.
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The Ottawa Historical and Scouting Heritage Museum will host its first history lecture of the year this Sunday, January 26, at 2 p.m. The event will take place at the museum, located at 1100 Canal Street in Ottawa. Local historian Mollie Perrot will lead the presentation, exploring the fascinating history of the La Salle County Fairgrounds and Driving Park, once located where Ottawa’s Riordan Pool stands today. Tickets are $10 and available at the door. Seating is limited, so early arrival is recommended. The event is open to the public, and light refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact the Ottawa Historical and Scouting Heritage Museum.
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Since the Illinois State Police (ISP) began inspecting Federal Firearms License (FFL) dealers, firearm thefts from dealers in Illinois have plummeted—down nearly 80% in 2024 compared to 2023 and 92% compared to 2022. Governor JB Pritzker praised the impact of the Firearm Dealer License Certification Act, stating, “State oversight works. These measures are keeping guns out of the wrong hands and reducing gun violence.” Enforced in 2019, the Act required FFL dealers to implement video security systems, with ISP inspections beginning in 2022. ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly noted that these efforts are effectively curbing gun thefts and preventing crime. This progress aligns with a 31% statewide drop in shootings from 2023 to 2024, reflecting ISP’s dedication to community safety.
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Closing arguments continue in Michael Madigan’s landmark corruption trial. Prosecutors laid out two bribery schemes believed to have involved ComEd and AT&T Illinois. They also discussed two schemes involving the former Illinois House Speaker’s private law firm and former Chicago Alderman Danny Solis. It isn’t known when Madigan’s attorneys will begin their closing argument. Jury deliberations are expected to begin next week. In related news, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has called for the forfeiture of former House Speaker Mike Madigan’s Chief of Staff Tim Mapes’ state pension following his conviction. Raoul stated, “Anyone convicted of violating the public trust should lose their taxpayer-funded pension.” Mapes’ last payment, over $154,000 annually, was issued in February 2024 before being halted after his sentencing. The State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) Executive Board will decide whether to revoke the pension. “If the recommendation reaches the SERS board, I will absolutely vote to end it,” Raoul affirmed.
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A federal judge is temporarily blocking President Trump’s executive order that aims to limit birthright citizenship. A Seattle U.S. District Judge heard arguments today in a lawsuit filed by Arizona, Illinois, Oregon, and Washington. Trump signed the executive order Monday after being sworn back into office. The order would limit birthright citizenship to children born to at least one parent who is either a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. At least five different lawsuits have been filed over the executive order.
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President Donald Trump’s administration is now putting pressure on sanctuary cities like Chicago to cooperate with ICE agents tasked with making mass deportations. The Department of Justice released a memo yesterday requiring state and local leaders to comply with enforcement or face potential prosecution. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul says the Constitution forbids such action. Meanwhile, pushback is growing in Chicago’s immigration community with the news that churches and schools are no longer off limits to ICE agents.
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Illinois is offering disaster tax relief for individuals and businesses in southern California affected by the wildfires this month. Affected taxpayers now have until October 15th, 2025, to file various state individual and business tax returns and make tax payments. Currently, individuals and households that reside or have a business in Los Angeles County qualify for tax relief. The same relief will be available to any other counties added later to the disaster area by FEMA.
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Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is clarifying the role of law enforcement agencies in the state and the enforcement of federal immigration laws. Raoul says civil immigration enforcement is the responsibility of the federal government, adding that state law doesn’t grant local law enforcement the authority to enforce federal civil immigration laws. That includes participating, supporting, or assisting in any capacity with federal immigration enforcement operations unless federal agents have a criminal warrant or federal law specifically requires it.
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Tuition is going up for certain incoming freshmen at University of Illinois schools. The Board of Trustees voted yesterday to increase the base tuition rate for Illinois-resident undergraduates enrolling in the fall of this year by two-point-two-percent at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and University of Illinois Chicago, and two percent at the University of Illinois Springfield. Officials say the tuition hikes will help the universities meet rising costs driven by inflation. The increases follow tuition freezes in seven of the past 10 years.
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An outbreak of the bird flu is being blamed for wiping out an entire flock of chickens at a family-run farm in south suburban Matteson. The owners of Kakadoodle Farm are hoping to get back and running after losing close to three thousand hens. U.S. Department of Agriculture officials say the flock was most likely infected by wild birds getting into the chicken feed. Kakadoodle Farm is an online business that has been delivering organic, chemical-free produce to homes in the area since 2020.
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A scholarship is established in the name of fallen Chicago police officer Areanah Preston. The Memorial Scholarship will provide financial support to Chicago police personnel and students pursuing studies at the Loyola School of Law. Officer Preston was just days away from graduating from Loyola with a master’s degree when she was killed in 2023. She was gunned down during a robbery attempt outside of her South Side home.
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A man is admitting to stealing a vehicle with a three-year-old child inside in Peoria last summer. Victor Farris pleaded guilty yesterday to Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking and Kidnapping. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Prosecutors say he stole the vehicle on September 4th in the two-thousand block of West Pioneer Parkway Street. A short time later, the child was located unharmed at a gas station in the 21-hundred block of South Airport Road. Farris was arrested 12 days later in Iowa.
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The true identity of a man charged in an Urbana hit and run that killed two Chicago area women is being revealed. Police say amended charges were filed in Champaign County for the suspect after authorities learned that Juan JaHaziel Saenz-Suarez was an alias. He has now been identified as Julio Cucul Bol, a 29-year-old citizen of Guatemala. Authorities say the suspect is the driver who ran after slamming an SUV into a Honda Civic this past Sunday at the intersection of University and Coler avenues. Bol was arrested Wednesday in Texas while riding a bus heading to Mexico. He faces charges of leaving the scene of a crash, aggravated driving under the influence resulting in death, and reckless homicide.
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Fifty-nine-year-old Eric Mills has begun serving a 180-day jail sentence following a plea agreement on three counts of child pornography. Mills, who was arrested in September 2023 after an Illinois State Police investigation, is eligible for day-for-day credit, potentially reducing his time behind bars. In addition to his jail sentence, he will serve four years of probation as part of the deal.
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Joseph P. Pawelczyk, 45, is charged with two counts of reckless discharge of a firearm, a Class 4 felony carrying up to three years in prison. Prosecutors argue he fired a gun into a fire pit, while Pawelczyk claims he threw a firecracker as a prank. The incident occurred on June 22, prompting two visits from La Salle County sheriff’s deputies. Witnesses allege Pawelczyk discharged a handgun, though their testimonies have discrepancies. Pawelczyk denies the claim, saying his revolver was secured and attributing the noise to firecrackers purchased in Indiana. The trial has been delayed until Jan. 30, as prosecutors wait for a rebuttal witness. The defense has highlighted inconsistent witness accounts and the absence of gunpowder residue testing. A verdict is expected after closing arguments.
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42-year-old Thomas Vernoy of Ottawa was arrested by Ottawa Police Thursday at 900 Paul Street on an outstanding LaSalle County Warrant for battery.
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A Peru woman is charged with driving on a suspended license. Ottawa Police stopped 47-year-old Teresa A. Hash Thursday in the 100 block of West Etna Road.
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WEATHER:
Today
Increasing clouds, with a high near 23. Wind chill values as low as -7. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Tonight
Intermittent flurries with a slight chance of snow after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a temperature rising to around 22 by 3 am. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
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OBITUARIES:
Anthony “Tony B” Bianchi passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 16th at his home in Ottawa. Visitation will be held at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home chapel in Joliet TODAY from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The funeral Service for Anthony David Bianchi will be held at 10:30 a.m., TOMORROW at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home in Joliet, Interment will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park.
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Gary Knutson, 64 of Ottawa, passed away on Saturday, January 18th, in Ottawa. A Mass of Christian burial will be TOMORROW, at St Patrick’s Catholic Church located in Ottawa. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park.
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Judith Ann Claus, 84, of Ottawa, passed away on Wednesday, January 22nd, in her home, surrounded by family. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 1st, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Ottawa Avenue Cemetery.
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LOCAL SPORTS:
GIRLS BASKETBALL
St.Bede 49, Marquette 38:
The St. Bede Lady Bruins won the Tri-County Conference championship after defeating Marquette.
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Earlville 61, Hiawatha 31:
Dwight 38, Henry-Senachwine 31:
Reed-Custer 29, Streator 20:
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PRO SPORTS:
The Chicago Bulls unraveled in the second half during a 131-106 loss to the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center. Chicago trailed by just one at halftime before getting outscored 68-42 in the second half. Zach LaVine scored 24 points in the losing effort, while Josh Giddey finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds. The Bulls remain in tenth place in the Eastern Conference at 19-and-26. They host the 76ers tomorrow night.
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The Chicago Blackhawks look to get back in the win column when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning at United Center tonight. The Hawks are coming off a 4-3 overtime loss against the Carolina Hurricanes at home on Monday night, but they’ve earned at least one point in each of their last three games. Chicago is still at the bottom of the Central Division with 34 points and a 15-28-and-4 record. Tonight’s game starts at 7:00 PM. In other team news, the Hawks signed prospect AJ Spellacy to a three-year, entry-level contract yesterday.
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SoxFest Live gets underway this weekend. The two-day event begins tomorrow at the Ramova Theatre. It’s the White Sox’s first fan festival since the 2020 season. The event features a State of the Sox panel on both evenings and a look back at the 2005 World Series championship that will include pitchers Mark Buehrle, Jose Contreras, and Freddy Garcia on Friday. On Saturday, there will be a discussion with several of the team’s prospects.
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COLLEGE SPORTS:
The number-17 Illinois Fighting Illini fell apart in the second half during a 91-70 loss to Maryland at State Farm Center yesterday. The Illini trailed by just three at halftime before getting outscored 53-35 the rest of the way. Kasparas Jakucionis had 21 points in the losing effort, while Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn had 15 off the bench. Illinois is now 5-and-4 in the Big Ten and 13-and-6 overall.
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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are back in action for the first time in a week when they visit Virginia at JPJ Arena tomorrow night. The Irish are coming off a 77-69 loss to Syracuse on the road last Saturday. Notre Dame is 2-and-5 in the ACC and 8-and-10 overall. Tomorrow’s game tips off at 5:30 PM.
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The Northwestern Wildcats go for a season sweep of the number-17 Illinois Fighting Illini when the two teams meet at State Farm Center on Sunday. The Wildcats beat Illinois 70-66 in overtime when they played in December, and they’re coming off a 79-70 win against Indiana on Wednesday. Northwestern is 3-and-5 in Big Ten play and 12-and-7 overall. Sunday’s game tips off at 2:00 PM.
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>>College Basketball Round Up
In college hoops action tonight, Chicago State is at Stonehill College. Tomorrow, DePaul visits Butler, Bradley hosts Illinois State, UIC welcomes Southern Illinois, Northern Illinois is at home against Ball State, and Valparaiso has a home game against Evansville. Chicago State is on the road against Central Connecticut on Sunday.
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MEN’S BASKETBALL
Black Hawk 70, IVCC 53: Roko Jurasovic scored 17 points as the Eagles lost an Arrowhead Conference game in Moline.