Crews burn off part of the green area for a controlled burn on Monday, March 2, 2026 at Deer Park Golf Club in Oglesby. The burn helps to manage invasive species, remove thatch buildup, and encourage the growth of native plants.

Crews started cutting trees near the trailhead to French Canyon on Monday, March 2, 2026 at Starved Rock State Park. A newly constructed bridge will be built here beginning this month. Starved Rock State Park received a 37 million upgrade to trail improvement that is underway and continue through 2026. Trail closures will be announced on the Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Park Facebook pages.

Over 125 participants from 13 teams plunge into the frigid waters of Lake Mendota during the 9th Annual Mendota Polar Plunge on Saturday, Feb. 28. The event, held in support of Special Olympics of Illinois, raised $36,000 for local programs serving the Mendota, La Salle and Peru areas. Despite temperatures of 39 degrees with a wind chill of 23 degrees, brave plungers took the icy dip to support athletes in Special Olympics programs.

Marquette defeated St. Bede to win the Class 1A Regional title on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 at Serena High School. Check out photos from the game by MaKade Rios.

L-P wins its third consecutive regional title with a 57-53 victory over Ottawa on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026 in Sellett Gymnasium at L-P High School.

Logan Junior High sixth graders hosted a live wax museum on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Princeton. Students made poster boards while dressing up as their featured character at the event.

Oregon and Mendota meet Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Rock Falls for the 2A regional basketball title. Oregon took the win 65-52.

L-P and Ottawa boys basketball teams met in the Regional title on Friday, Feb. 28, 1986 at La Salle-Peru Township High School. The Cavaliers won 74-66. Including that 1986 contest, the two programs have met 25 times in the postseason. Of those meetings, seven have come in regional finals, five in sectional games and two in sectional championship contests. Friday's matchup will be the 26th postseason meeting between the two squads. Check out photos from the 1986 game found in the La Salle NewsTribune archives and procured by photo editor Scott Anderson.

L-P defeated Dixon 62-53 during the Class 3A Regional semifinal game on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026 in Sellette Gymnasium at L-P High School.