Illinois Valley Times

Ottawa attorney Peter Ferracuti remembered as strong advocate for injured workers

By Justin Stoltzfus | Nov 17, 2017

Peter Ferracuti was a well-respected figure in the field of workers' compensation litigation, and his death Oct. 24 left many grieving but offering eloquent eulogies to a man whose life reflected the principles of supporting people injured on the job.

Ives laments overlooked heroes in civil asset forfeiture change

By Justin Stoltzfus | Oct 27, 2017

Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) was happy to see Illnois reform civil asset forfeiture laws; she's not happy about who got the credit for it.

Sales tax hike for Lee County jail seen as falling considerably short

By Justin Stoltzfus | Jul 6, 2017

Lee County officials are moving ahead with plans to build a new jail after instituting a 0.5 percent sales tax increase for the project via a referendum in April.

Illinois among states seen as on the precipice of a pension disaster

By Justin Stoltzfus | Jun 23, 2017

Officials in Springfield and around the country are talking about a “pension cliff” and trying to determine what will happen as large numbers of educators become fully vested in school district pension benefit systems.