'Little Women' kicks off Stage 212's 2026 season with performances running Feb. 6-15.

Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for Jan. 18-24. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Graduates and their degrees or certificates are listed by hometown. The students are eligible to participate in the college’s spring commencement.

La Salle firefighters responded to a fully engulfed two-story home in the 800 block of Bucklin Street on Friday, Jan. 23. A woman, her son and their dog evacuated safely before crews arrived. Firefighters from La Salle, Peru, Oglesby and Utica fire departments worked together to battle the blaze in subzero temperatures. Peru Fire Department provided an aerial truck to help crews reach the roof. Firefighters broke windows and cut a hole in the roof to access the seat of the fire. Bucklin Street was closed between 8th and 9th Streets during firefighting operations.

School districts across the Illinois Valley have announced full closures or shifts to e-learning on Friday due to the dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills forecast.

A search party was organized by the family of Villa Herrera on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026 at Advanced Asphalt in Utica. Herrera went missing on Sunday, Jan. 11, after being involved in a crash at the Utica roundabout. He was last spotted walking on foot and wearing a white and grey windbreaker jacket and jeans. Agencies with Central K9 Search in Spring Valley and Eye in the Sky in Bloomington helped the family with the search. La Salle County Sheriff's Office has also searched the ground and air surrounding the crash site.

The La Salle City Council approved an ordinance authorizing a Tax Increment Financing District (TIF) to allow Glenstone Redevelopment and Nathan Watson to redevelop the property during Monday’s meeting.

Two people were taken to local hospitals for smoke inhalation Tuesday morning after fire broke out in Fire on Fifth, located in the Westclox building.

Shaw Local Radio's "Day" Jones interviews Anne Pesola from the Hegeler Carus Mansion. The mansion is offering "A Historic Date: An Unforgettable Experience" for couples on Valentine's Day

Sasso Jewelry & Gifts, located in downtown LaSalle, has a laid-back environment that puts customers at ease.

Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for Jan. 11-17. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Stage 212 in La Salle is accepting submissions from directors for its 2027 season.

La Salle police are seeking information on a three-vehicle crash Monday that injured the three drivers, one of whom was flown to a regional medical center.

La Salle Police, Fire and EMS responded to the scene of a three vehicle crash near the entrance to La Sale Speedway on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026 on U.S. Route 6 in La Salle. The crash happened around 8:30a.m. Crews from Utica and La Salle responded to the scene. OSF Lifeflight helicopter landed in the parking lot of La Salle Speedway to transport one patent. U.S. Route 6 was closed in both directions as crews could attend to the victims.

Take a look at some of the week’s best photos, captured by Illinois Valley photographers from Sunday, Jan. 4, to Saturday, Jan. 10.

Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for Jan. 4-10 Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

La Salle and Peru first responders work at the scene of an overturned semi truck on the westbound Interstate 80 in La Salle on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. Emergency crews responded to the crash to assist with recovery and traffic management.

La Salle workers will dig up and replace aging water mains starting shortly before next Christmas and hopefully finish in spring 2027.

Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for Dec. 28-Jan. 3 Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

The La Salle City Council will hold its first meeting of the year at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 5, at City Hall, 745 2nd Street.

AARP’s Tax–Aide will offer a free tax return preparation program in 2026 for everyone, focused also on area residents ages 50 and older. The program will be available at five locations in DeKalb, La Salle, Genoa, and Sycamore.

Downtown La Salle welcomed new businesses in 2025 thanks to a renovation project.

Illinois Valley businesses large and small closed in 2025. After less than a year in operation, Illinois Food and Deli in La Salle closed on April 30.

A La Salle County grand jury convened Tuesday and returned the following indictments.

A 15-year-old passenger extinguished an electrical fire in his vehicle on Tuesday at a Casey's gas station in Peru. Jesus Gonzalez of Streator put out the blaze that occurred near a gas pump at the station on Shooting Park Road. The vehicle sustained interior damage and was awaiting a tow truck following the incident.

Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for Dec. 21-27. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Michael Turk, owner and president of Turk Furniture’s, said the company’s goal hasn’t changed since Joseph Turk founded Turk Furniture in 1885 in downtown Joliet.

La Salle’s Officer Santa program delivered gifts to 100 children and 35 families this year.

The Illinois Valley experienced a year marked by high-profile murder cases, heated healthcare battles and political setbacks in 2025.

Check out these 8 eateries that are serve up mouth-watering burgers.

Check out these decorative Christmas homes and parks throughout the Illinois Valley.

You may not know Lacey Haltenhof, but if you’ve shopped downtowns in the Illinois Valley this holiday season, you’ve seen her work.

Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for Dec. 14-20. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

The ordinance stands: Feed a feral cat in unincorporated La Salle County and, yes, you could be fined $75. But there have been behind-the-scenes discussions between between county authorities and the Safe House Animal Rescue League, which opposes the ban on feeding feral cats.

Shaw Local Radio Station’s Christmas Cheer Toy Drive concluded Monday with the delivery of hundreds of toys to local organizations.

The ongoing work will cause some disruptions to campus parking and traffic over the second semester.

The St. Carlo Acutis eighth grade girls basketball team won an IESA regional title.

Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for Dec. 7-13. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Dancers performe during the Our Lady of Guadalupe vigil Chichimeca dance on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2025 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in La Salle. The Chichimeca dance is a vibrant, Indigenous-rooted devotional tradition where dancers (Danzantes) perform to honor the Virgin Mary's appearance to Juan Diego in 1531, symbolizing faith, hope, and cultural fusion, often involving elaborate costumes, feathers, and drumming, leading up to the main Feast Day on December 12th, with celebrations happening globally in parishes.

Dani Holland from Shaw Local Radio interviews Anne with the Hegler Carus Mansion. She talks about last-minute tickets for their "Oh Christmas Tree" tour, along with an upcoming Valentine's Day dinner

Experience the magic of the season with a cozy carriage ride through the Celebration of Lights in La Salle. Carriage rides are offered in November and December at Rotary Park. The last ride is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 11. Prices are $25 per person or $200 for the entire wagon up to a dozen people. The carriage rides are organized by the Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce. For more information visit https://www.ivaced.org/carriage-rides.

Churches across La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties have announced their Christmas Eve and Christmas Day service schedules for 2025.

The Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra will perform Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” with live orchestra and local dancers for two shows this weekend at Matthiessen Auditorium. The holiday performances are scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, at La Salle-Peru Township High School District 120. Dancers from The Dance Center of La Salle, Gray’s School of Dance in Ottawa, and Dancenter of Streator and Pontiac will perform alongside the orchestra. The Illinois Valley Youth Choir, directed by Jenilyn Roether, will join the production as the Snowflake Chorus.

La Salle police are buying a hybrid squad car that will save the department money, but which won’t mean less power and acceleration.

Oglesby Knights of Columbus recently donated $1,500 to the Academy of St. Carlo Acutis.

Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for Nov. 30-Dec. 6. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

The City of La Salle celebrated their annual Miracle on First Street on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 downtown La Salle.

"Day" Jones interviews Stephen Wolf, who will be participating in Dreamwave's Good as Gold event this Saturday at the Kaycee Club in La Salle

The show is a fundraiser supporting the recent renovation of the auditorium. It will feature local performers singing and dancing to a variety of holiday favorites.

Grace United Methodist Church in La Salle will offer a Blue Christmas service at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18.