Princeton

Tyler Sandrock of The Cornerstone Agency-Sandrock Insurance in Tampico and Morrison is the Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois’ Young Agent of the Year.

It's shaping up to be a lean Christmas for families hard-hit by the pandemic, so gear-aheads across Starved Rock Country rolled Sunday into Princeton for the 17th annual Illinois Valley Toy Run.

There are a number of seasonal festivals scheduled throughout the Illinois Valley this weekend, as well as a literature festival in Ottawa, a classic car/toy drive in Princeton and a whodunit performance in Streator.

OSF HealthCare said Wednesday 119 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19 at 14 of its 15 hospitals. That total is up three from last week.

A new coffee franchise is headed soon to Princeton’s north end.

Interstate 80 is closed from Interstate 180 to Route 89 in both directions following a semi crash.

Roughly 82% of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at OSF hospitals are not vaccinated, according to regular weekly update from the hospital chain.

OSF St. Clare, formerly Perry Memorial Hospital, has shut down its intensive care unit, a move one hospital spokesperson said should be temporary.

Art, film and music lovers will have activities to choose from with the Starved Rock Country Festival of the Arts set this weekend in Ottawa, but there's plenty more activities across La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties for food and beer enthusiasts, dog owners and Halloween buffs.

OSF HealthCare said this week most of the cases of COVID-19 in its hospitals continue to be mostly among those who have not gotten vaccinated.