Jake Gillum started his day running the Steamboat Classic in Peoria running a 4-mile race starting at 8:05 a.m. Then he made fast tracks to defend his Princeton Mile championship by the narrowest of margins, clocking a 4:08.2 to edge runner-up Dale Johnson of Sterling

Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for May 31-June 6. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

The Putnam County Public Library District announced the opening of “Flag in the Map: Charting Rainbow Flag Stories,” an international photography exhibition on display at the Granville branch through Aug. 31.

Logan Petre argued he didn’t get a fair shake when he was sentenced for strangling his father. Petre struck out and keeps his 52 years in prison. There may be more prison time on the way.

Woodland Elementary and Junior High School in Streator announced its honor roll for the fourth quarter of the 2025-2026 school year.

The La Salle Public Library announced its June programs.

Applications are open for the 2026 Miss Marshall-Putnam County Fair Queen Pageant.

A Spring Valley man pleaded guilty Friday to possessing a stolen gun – seized after he ran from a traffic stop – and faces up to 10 years in prison at sentencing on Aug. 13.

The Putnam County baseball team scored three runs in the first inning and led throughout in an 11-2 victory over Fulton to win the Class 1A Putnam County Sectional title, the Panthers' first sectional crown since 2013.

The Seneca softball team battled to the very end but came up just short in a 3-1 loss to Carterville in Saturday's IHSA Class 2A championship on OSF Healthcare Field inside the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria. The Fighting Irish ended the season 39-3.