The Illinois Valley Food Pantry is gearing up for the food assistance shutdown. Beginning Nov. 1, food assistance used by more than 40 million Americans will not be distributed from November due to the ongoing US government shutdown. Food shortage will worsen local food pantries due to the the shutdown.

Have you noticed excavators moving dirt along May Road in Peru? Work is being done at the The Illinois Valley Reliability Project encompassing a 23-mile stretch of 138-kV transmission line, upgrading and rebuilding the existing Princeton substation in the City of Princeton, and building a new switching station called Lima located near Peru. The transmission line will improve energy reliability for communities in La Salle and Bureau Counties. It includes constructing the new transmission line will connect the Princeton substation to the new Lima switching station. The Lima station will provide electricity to the City of Peru and La Salle County by adding the feed and supporting future growth and development. Currently Bureau County is served by a single radium feed and that is their only energy source. This project promises to change that narrative, introducing an additional feed that will not only enhance the resiliency of Princeton but also provide much-needed support to the entire Bureau County region. As the project progresses, Ameran will submit two final routes of the project with the Illinois Commerce Commission in 2026. Once the certificate is granted, the ICC will approve a final route. Ameran will then contact land owners to collect information, understand the opportunities, easement and compensation will be discussed with each land owner. Access roads will be built throughout the line from Peru to Princeton along Interstate 80. Steel poles will be built from a height of 80-120 feet tall with 7-8 structures (poles) per mile with a average span range of 700-800 of line feet between structures. The plan is to have the project completed and operational in 2029. The Illinois Valley Reliability project will enhance economic growth for now and in the future.

The Peru Public Library, 1409 11th St., will host several events and programs in November.

Local food pantries need cash to meet their holiday demand, but this year they need non-perishable food donations, too. Federal cutbacks are straining the food banks and making it harder for the pantries to buy discounted food.

The Peru Public Library will host a free Medicare Education Program at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5.

Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for Oct. 19-25. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Peru's Illinois Valley Auto Group hosts Trunk or Treat on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, with games and trick-or-treating.

Crews from Advanced Asphalt paved the final coat of asphalt on Plank Road on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025 in Peru. The first of three phases of Plank Road construction has been completed. The temporary stoplights have been removed from the construction zone. The project involved a new turn lane, wider lanes in both directions, curb and gutter, and addition of a recreation trail. Future plans are to reconstruct the road all the way to Interstate 80.

OSF HealthCare’s recent offer to keep a limited ICU in Ottawa hinged on the city endorsing its broader consolidation plan, a condition city officials rejected as unfair and unacceptable

A grand reopening at Debo Ace Hardware in Peru is Saturday, following the store’s completion of a remodel.

Crews with Advanced Asphalt Illinois Route 251 on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025 near the intersection of North 39th Road just south of Mendota. Resurfacing work consists of patching and resurfacing, which is expected to be completed in mid-November. The work zone stretches from the BNSF railroad bridge south of Mendota to just north of Interstate 80 in Peru. The construction will continue into the spring with earth work. Motorists are asked to drive with caution through the construction zone. The Route 251 work between Mendota and Peru will lead to daily lane closures controlled by flaggers.

Many Illinois communities are adding back a 1% grocery tax that will otherwise expire on Jan. 1. Is your town among them?

The Journey of Illinois Valley Regional Airport: Celebrating 40 Years of Progress

Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for Oct. 12-18. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

The Illinois Valley Regional Airport has been around for four decades now. On October 18, 1985, the grand opening of the Illinois Valley Regional Airport was dedicated by Illinois Gov. Jim Thompson. Check out photos from the airport's journey found in the La Salle NewsTribune archives by photo editor Scott Anderson.

OSF HealthCare will proceed with its plan to consolidate intensive care unit (ICU) and inpatient obstetrics (OB) services from its Ottawa hospital to the facility in Peru, the hospital announced Friday

Eakas Corporation has begin construction on a new 280,000 square foot multi-level industrial warehouse on Monday, Oct. 13, 2025 in Peru. in April 2024, Eakas purchased 80 acres from the Illinois Valley YMCA for $2 million in an expansion. Eakas, an automative parts manufacturer, plans to add larger injection molding machines, a new state-of-the-art decorative finish line and increased warehousing to support new business from its customers. The expansion warehouse is located south of North 31st Road and west of Route 251, where Eakas is located. Construction is expected to last until summer 2026.

Crews are replacing the old walking path with a new one. The Peru City Council approved of the project last month. Gillan Construction out of Cherry was the winning bid to do the project for just under $300,000. The city will use a credit from Mertel Gravel of about $200,000 to pay for materials. The resurfacing work will include a 10-foot wide concrete path with secondary concrete paths also added, connecting with the new parking lot near Lighted Way and connecting with the parking lot, playground, and shelter on the west side of Baker Lake. The park is closed to the public until early December.

Zach Hesselbaum of Law Hesselbaum will present the Elder Care Journey, focusing on elder law, estate taxes and Medicaid.

Day Jones interviews with Gaige Noonan and Hunter Holdcraft, also known as “The Hype.” They’re wrestling this Saturday at Dreamwave Wrestling’s Trick or Treat event at Lou’s Logrotto in Peru

NCI ARTworks will host an opening reception for its new exhibition, “Season of Color,” on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the NCI ARTworks Gallery in Peru.

The Illinois Valley Food Pantry recently reopened after moving to a new building located at 4133 Progress Blvd. in Peru.

Wellness and Recovery with Maitri in Peru recently was awarded a grant by the Illinois Valley Sunrise Rotary Club to buy YMCA memberships, create hygiene wellness packs, and buy gift cards.

Crews from Build LLC Custom Playgrounds construct a ninja obstacle course located south of the splash pad on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, in Washington Park in Peru. The city will also be installing ice rink chillers soon for the upcoming winter season.

The $7 million pool would have featured diving boards, a water slide, 25-meter competition lanes and a capacity of 434 swimmers.

The 10,000-square-foot, award-winning Insanity Haunted House in Peru features over 40 actors and different themes in each room.

St. Bede Academy held its annual homecoming parade on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, in downtown Peru.

The annual La Salle-Peru High School homecoming parade took place on Thursday. The Cavaliers host Ottawa on Friday for the homecoming football game.

St. Bede Academy in Peru will hold its annual Homecoming celebration from Oct. 3 to 5, featuring a parade, athletic events, reunions and more.

St. Bede Academy student Yannis Yong has been named a commended student in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Peru Mayor Ken Kolowski said he wanted to vote on phase two of the project, hiring Kmetz Architects to complete approximately $500,000 architectural drawings during Monday’s council meeting to move plans for the pool forward.

Peru Parkside made a run to the IESA Class 2A State championship game, falling to Washington 4-3 in East Peoria. The Raiders trailed 4-0 going into the bottom of the seventh, scored three runs and had the bases loaded with two outs.

Emergency crews responded to the scene of a semi truck that struck the overpass of Illinois Route 251 and Interstate 80 on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025 in Peru. The incident happened shortly after 7:15a.m. The driver of the semi had to be extricated and taken to OSF in Peru for minor injuries. Illinois State Police, Peru Fire and EMS, Senica Towing and Illinois Department of Transportation were all on the scene.

What began in the 1930s as a small garage in West Brooklyn, IL has grown into a large dealership group serving Mendota, Peru and Spring Valley. This weekend, Schimmer’s Automotive will celebrate its 80th anniversary in business.

Sam Nauman and Finley Jobst each won two individual events and swam on two winning relays to lead the La Salle-Peru co-op to dual victories over Geneseo and Bloomington on Wednesday.

Linda Mae Hiltabrand, who passed away in February 2024, was a member of the L-P class of 1971 and a former member of the L-P Foundation board.

The Class of 1975 remains the largest to enter and graduate from L-P. At the time, it was also the largest graduating class in the area.

The La Salle-Peru volleyball team improved to 19-1 with a 25-18, 23-25, 25-23 victory over Sycamore in an Interstate 8 Conference match Tuesday in La Salle.

Peru residents will enjoy a new walking path at Baker Lake this fall. When the time comes to put on ice skates, families will enjoy concessions at the skating rink, too.

A commercial sunflower field sprung up next to the Peru water tower on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025 next to Hy-Vee in Peru.

Check out photos when Jim Edgar campaigned in Peru 35 years ago. The photos were found in the La Salle NewsTribune archives. On Thursday, Aug. 30, 1990, Illinois Governor candidate Jim Edgar traveled on the Spirit of Peoria paddle-wheeler for a campaign stop in Peru. Edgar won the race against Neil Hartigan and became the 38th Governor of Illinois on Jan. 14, 1991. Edgar served two terms until 1999. Before becoming governor, he served as Illinois Secretary of State from 1981 to 1991. Edgar passed away on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 at age 79.

Fire trucks filled Main Street in McNabb for a fire at Grassers Heating and Plumbing on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. The fire began shortly before 10a.m. A Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was elevated to the fourth-alarm. No one was injured in the fire. Fire departments from McNabb, Peru, Utica, Henry, Ladd, Hennepin, Granville, Oglesby, Spring Valley, Leonore, Troy Grove, Seatonville, Wenona, Standard, Lacon-Sparland, Bureau and Tonica all responded to the scene. Firefighters left the scene at 11:30a.m.

La Salle-Peru sophomore quarterback Marion Persich took a game-day visit to the University of Illinois on Saturday and has one planned to Northwestern on Oct. 4.

Henry-Senachwine junior Sam Nauman was voted NewsTribune Athlete of the Week after being named Swimmer of the Meet and helping the La Salle-Peru co-op to the title at the Sterling Invitational.

Princeton's Payton Frueh, Ruby Acker and Alexandra Waca placed top 10 to lead the Tigresses to the team title at their own Gary Coates Invitational on Saturday.

Marisa Kress, DO, will begin on Sept. 14, providing access for patients in need of primary care and women’s health services at OSF Medical Group, Primary Care, located at 415 E. 2nd St., Spring Valley.

St. Bede allowed big plays on defense and had turnovers on offense that proved costly in a 20-14 loss to North Boone on Friday.

After back-to-back losses, the St. Bede girls volleyball team bounced back with a win over Woodland on Thursday.

Veterans and communities across the Illinois Valley held memorials Thursday to honor the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001. In Ladd, Veterans Park hosted a 9/11 service led by local veterans. At Waltham Grade School in Utica, students placed 2,977 American flags outside the school, one for each life lost that day. Peru held a flag-raising ceremony and memorial at the roundabout, followed by a remembrance event at SOAR (Students Obtaining Achievement and Responsibility) School.

The track, which first opened to the public in March 2014, will reopen for public use once the project is complete.