Utica

Check out these northern Illinois restaurants known for their burgers. From McHenry County to the Illinois Valley and everywhere in between, we've got you covered with a variety of places to try during National Burger Month.

May 10, 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the Mothers Day fire downtown Utica. The fire broke out shortly before 3a.m., in an apartment above the Second Look Antiques shop (now Skoogs.) Over a dozen area fire departments responded to the fire. One victim Jay Lance, was rescued from the fire by Utica firefighters Andy Brown and Robin Partain.

The Utica Village Board still needs one trustee – Kylie Mattioda’s trustee seat remains vacant – but otherwise the board returns intact.

Utica businesses kick off the outdoor dining season by setting up patio furniture, flowers, decorations and canopies on Thursday for customers on Mill Street in downtown Utica. The outdoor dining season on Mill Street runs through October.

Traffic was halted on Interstate 80 Monday night following a deadly collision involving a semi-tractor and a minivan, police said.

The Illinois National Committeewoman for the National Young Republicans and Grassroots Engagement Director for Americans for Prosperity will speak at the next YANA (You Are Not Alone) meeting.

The Market on Mill in Utica opened for business Saturday, featuring 12 new shops in the village's downtown.

While Utica welcomed 12 new vendors to the Market on Mill, the outdoor retail plaza provided a venue for future entrepreneurs on Lemonade Day.

The Market on Mill, Utica's long-dreamed-of outdoor shopping plaza, opened for business Saturday.

The Music Suite 408 flute ensembles, under the direction of Natalie Lindig, Becky Weiler and Sue Gillio will present the 32nd annual Spring Flute Fling at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 4, at the Zion United Church of Christ, Peru.

La Salle County Sheriff Adam Diss has announced his reelection campaign.

A farmers market is coming to Utica on a vacant lot south of downtown.

Market on Mill will open in Utica, Morel Fest returns to Ottawa, the Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra will conclude its season, the MOMsemble will perform in Princeton and an Earth Day celebration will commence in an event-packed weekend in the Illinois Valley.

Ginger Road Brewing in Utica is open for the summer season.

Utica officials will cut the ribbon at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Market on Mill. Here are some of the vendors who plan to open in the plaza.

Read the transcript from our Walls 102 podcast: Dani Holland interviewed Bill Zenns, Executive Director of the Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce about their upcoming event called “Lemonade Day.”

Listen to our latest podcast: Dani Holland interviewed Bill Zenns, Executive Director of the Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce about their upcoming event called “Lemonade Day.”

The Illinois Valley Community College Board welcomed members elected in the April 1 election on Tuesday, canvassed the election results and named officers during an organizational meeting.

The meeting of the Utica Planning Commission and the April committee meeting, both previously set for Thursday, April 24, have been canceled.

Children scramble to collect Easter eggs during the annual Easter egg hunt on Saturday at Carey Memorial Park in Utica. This year marks the first time the Utica Fire Department used plastic eggs since the 1970s when the hunts began. The fire department chose plastic eggs instead of dying them because of the egg shortage.

The Illinois Valley Parkinson’s Support Group will host its monthly meeting from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Monday, May 5, at the Utica Fire Station, just south of Casey’s at U.S. 6 and Route 178.

A 14-year-old boy from the Hinckley-Big Rock area fell about 25 to 30 feet Thursday in La Salle Canyon at Starved Rock State Park.

Firefighters extinguished a fully-involved chicken coop fire Thursday morning on Meridian Road near Eagle Rock Christian Center in Peru.

There are more Easter egg hunts this weekend, including a glow-in-the-dark egg hunt in Hennepin and an underwater egg hunt in Princeton. The Easter bunny is even planning to skydive into Skydive Chicago on Easter Sunday.

The Illinois Valley Community College Board of Trustees launched a multimillion-dollar renovation project to improve lab and testing areas on campus. 

Ottawa firefighters said a Tuesday afternoon fire at 1617 Sycamore St. was an accident. No injuries were reported.

The Starved Rock Country Community Foundation recently played a role in the 38th Annual Teen Showcase at Illinois Valley Community College.

The Utica Knights of Columbus Fr. Marquette Council donated $2,000 to four local charities who provide services for people with intellectual disabilities.

The La Salle County Board wants to regulate wind and solar farms and has asked Springfield to tear up an existing law that limits its authority to do so.

The Utica Village Board has an opening.

Utica Fire Chief Ben Brown tells us all about about his team's effort in the rescue of a mother, father and son from an April 1 fall at Starved Rock State Park

A farmers market may be coming to Utica on a vacant lot south of downtown.

Utica is actively exploring a dog park to be located south of the police department.

Read the transcript from our podcast: Utica Fire Chief Ben Brown talks about about his team's effort in the rescue of a mother, father and son from an April 1 fall at Starved Rock State Park

The annual Easter Egg Hunt in Utica will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 19, at Danny Carey Field - but not with real eggs.

Utica officials will cut the ribbon at the Market on Mill, the village’s outdoor retail plaza, at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 3.

Utica firefighters responded to the scene of a single-vehicle rollover crash on Monday just to the west of the entrance of the Starved Rock Lock and Dam Visitors Center on Dee Bennett Road near Utica. La Salle County Sheriff, Utica Police, Fire and EMS all responded to the scene. The crash happened shortly before 1 p.m. The driver was uninjured.

Easter is Sunday, April 20. In the weeks prior to the holiday, there are several Easter egg hunts and opportunities to meet the Easter bunny throughout La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties. Here is a list of upcoming events.

The Illinois Valley Animal Rescue will host its annual Building Care & Fund Auction from 4 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 5, at Grand Bear Lodge in Utica.

Schools in La Salle, Putnam and Marshall counties recently held their annual spelling bees.

Here’s a look at how candidates across the Illinois Valley reacted to Tuesday’s unofficial election results.

The portable classrooms at Waltham Elementary may stick around for a while. Tuesday, Utica-area voters rejected building a $10 million annex.

Here is a list of stories from our Tuesday, April 1, 2025, election coverage.

Dozens of fire vehicles respond to a structure fire Tuesday on U.S. 6, across from the golf course, in La Salle. Fire departments from Peru, La Salle, Utica, Troy Grove, Wallace, Spring Valley and Oglesby were dispatched just before 2:30 p.m. to a one-story duplex home. Traffic was shut down on U.S. 6 in both directions from Richard Hallett Road to North 29th Road.

Voter turnout was solid, if not spectacular, in La Salle-Peru thanks to contested mayoral races. Outside L-P, however, foot traffic at the polls was spotty, at best.

Check out photos on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, from Spring Valley, La Salle, Peru, Oglesby and Utica as voters head to the polls during the consolidated election.

A Chicago man is headed to prison for nine years for selling fentanyl-laced heroin to undercover agents in Utica.

About 20 visitors took a Thursday tour of Waltham Elementary, where district officials made their case for a $10 million expansion ahead of a Tuesday vote to fund it.

Waltham School Superintendent Kristi Eager led residents on a tour Thursday, March 27, 2025, and gave a presentation on why the school has outgrown its space five years after being built in Utica.

Seven Illinois Valley mayors spoke Wednesday about their cities during the State of the Cities luncheon coordinated by the Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce.