SPRINGFIELD – Education officials from five statewide organizations are pushing for fundamental changes in the way student achievement is measured each year and how schools are held accountable for meeting the state’s academic standards.

SPRINGFIELD – The OSFM is providing the secret recipe for a fun and safe holiday season; fire safety.

JOLIET – Heritage Corridor Destinations announced recently the area generated a local economic impact of $1.6 billion and contributed to an increase in visitor spending across Illinois in 2023.

OTTAWA – Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) were in LaSalle County recently completing a federally evaluated exercise for the LaSalle Generating Station.

MENDOTA – Tiffeny Meyers knew she didn’t want to stay in Mendota after graduating from Mendota High School in 2003. She wanted to branch away from rural life and see what was in the great beyond the corn fields.

MENDOTA — It was an open house full of familiar faces and fun Nov. 21 as Black Bros. Co. welcomed nearly 300 attendees to celebrate the completion of its new Roll Manufacturing Building.

The Mendota varsity girls’ basketball team opened up the Three Rivers Conference schedule with losses to Hall and Newman.

SPRING VALLEY – It was a great start to the Colmone Classic for the Mendota varsity boys’ basketball team as it rolled over Putnam County, 65-30, in a pool play game on Dec. 7 at Spring Valley.

MENDOTA – Mendota High School will be celebrating the 1989 state team and the 1990 supersectional team on Saturday, Jan. 11 against LaSalle-Peru at the Mendota High School gymnasium.

MENDOTA – It is with a deep sense of sorrow that we announce the passing of Harold LeRoy Schlesinger, 87, who left us on Dec. 10, 2024, in Franklin Grove.

MENDOTA – Charles Swanson, 85, formerly of Ohio, died Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Allure of Mendota.

CLERMONT, Fla. – Christine M. Mini, 77, formerly of Sublette, died Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Clermont, Fla.