The fast-casual restaurant chain will be building their Ottawa location at 106 W. Etna Rd, between Thorntons and Tapatios.

Donors who give blood through Sunday, Jan. 25, will be automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LX in the San Francisco Bay Area.

As Shaw Media continues its 175-year tradition of local reporting, we examined five front pages from January 21 spanning more than a century

Deer Park School announced its students that qualified for honor roll in the second quarter of the 2025-26 school year.

Trenity Kimes, a senior at Ottawa Township High School, has been named the OTHS Educational Foundation Student of the Month for January.

Lin Garden restaurant is temporarily closed for cleanup and restoration following an apartment fire early Saturday in the building.

Jake Siena and Ava Offerman, students at Marquette Academy, have been named Illinois State Scholars.

Applications must be completed and submitted to the Regional Office by 4 p.m. on April 16. Applications are available at roe35.org.

The Rotary Club of Ottawa Sunrise has recognized two high school seniors as January Students of the Month.

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

Illinois Valley Public Action to Deliver Shelter (IV PADS) will host its 3rd Annual Coldest Night of the Year walk on Saturday, Feb. 28, in Ottawa.

Ongoing search efforts are scheduled to resume with the assistance of the Illinois Conservation Police.

The Ottawa Fire Department extinguished an apartment complex fire in a multi-use building early Saturday, rescuing two residents from the structure.

The Illinois Sheriffs’ Association announced that it will be awarding over $58,000 in college scholarships throughout the state of Illinois to students wishing to pursue higher education during the 2026-2027 academic year.

For the first time ever, the Hegeler Carus Mansion in LaSalle is hosting a romantic dinner. The dinner will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Feb 14 on the mansion’s main level.

The Starved Rock Country Community Foundation has opened its 2026 scholarship application season. The SRCCF provides educational funding opportunities for students in LaSalle, Bureau, Putnam, and surrounding counties.

The Ottawa Township High School Educational Foundation is inducting Jeff Vezain into its 2026 Hall of Fame class.

The Starved Rock Country Community Foundation has announced the launch of a new scholarship opportunity, the “Boots” Wisniewski-Eike College Scholarship, honoring the life and legacy of Charlene Just-Wisniewski Eike.

The Master Naturalists of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Extension are having an in-person watch party for the next Calling Frog Survey training from 1:00-5:00 p.m. on Jan 31 at the La Salle County Extension Office.

Seneca High School has announced its semester 1 honor roll, recognizing students for academic achievement.

The city of Marseilles was awarded $1 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to support essential infrastructure improvements.

Ottawa Township High School is opening its doors to incoming freshman students and their families for their annual 8th Grade Open House.

Over 100 protesters gathered during a "ICE Out For Good" rally on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026 at Washington Park in Ottawa. Illinois Valley Indivisible held the rally. Protesters rallied in solidarity with Renee Nicole Good, the woman who was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on Wednesday.

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

State Rep. Amy “Murri” Briel, D-Ottawa, recently announced that select Illinois community colleges are eligible to apply for a grant funding advanced workforce training facilities.

Woodland Elementary and Junior High has announced its 2nd quarter honor roll, recognizing students for academic achievement.

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

Here's the schedule of varsity high school sporting events in the Ottawa/Streator/Seneca area for the coming week.

Who you got on Saturday? There are a couples in the Illinois Valley who'll be cheering on the Bears while their better halves cheer on the Packers. Chicago and Green Bay are division rivals but are only making their third playoff contest.

The Ottawa Township High School Educational Foundation is inducting Dr. Charles Scheaff into its 2026 Hall of Fame class.

Roosty’s Chicken will celebrate the grand opening of its Ottawa location on Sunday, Jan. 11, at 2749 Columbus St.

The 3rd District Appellate Court affirmed the SAFE-T Act detention of a Glendale Heights man charged with attempted murder of a Joliet police officer in 2023. The case still awaits trial.

A monument commemorating Ottawa’s role in transporting submarines during the Second World War is coming to Allen Park.

The Ottawa Fire Department is set to receive four new radios after the Ottawa City Council approved a quote from Nicholson 1 Communications.

This couple opted for a courthouse wedding, which led to a small, intimate ceremony that only their immediate family could attend.

As Shaw Media continues its 175th-anniversary celebration, we delve into the archives to examine four front pages from January 8, including a striking front-page image of a bolt of lightning over the Illinois River

Ottawa City Council is moving forward with the next step in replacing the Post Street Bridge, approving phase two design work during Tuesday night’s meeting.

The annual Penguin Plunge supports granting wishes for children with critical illnesses. This year’s event coincides with Make-A-Wish Illinois’ 40th anniversary.

Hasty said the architects have been updating their plan while working with city officials to address comments raised during recent discussions.

Two former partners of Home Run Auto Group have taken ownership of Ottawa auto dealerships following the company’s December acquisition of the Bill Walsh dealership network.

OSF HealthCare has announced the addition of cancer specialist Muzamil Arshad, MD, to its radiation oncology team at Saint Elizabeth Hospital in Ottawa.

Illinois Extension will offer a bread-making workshop Jan. 24 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby.

Here is a schedule of high school sporting events in the Ottawa/Streator/Seneca area for the week.

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

Ottawa is expected to spend the new year grappling with the long-term impact of OSF Healthcare’s decision to build a new regional care model and their decision to withdraw plans for a new hospital in Ottawa.

The Ottawa City Council will hold its first meeting of the year at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6, at City Hall, 301 West Madison Street.

After closing in 2024, Sam and Serena Witz reestablished the Serena Cafe on Wednesday, March 5.

Cajun Connection closed in 2023, but the loss of the nearly 30-year-old restaurant was softened with plans for a food truck.

Amazon opened a last-mile delivery facility in Ottawa in September, bringing in jobs while speeding up deliveries across the Illinois Valley.

Planned Parenthood of Illinois closed four health centers in March, including its Ottawa location.