This past academic year has been nothing short of trying for Illinois’ state universities, which rely heavily on the state for funding.

At a meeting this week, the Oglesby City Council heard a presentation by Ax Church on community service projects.

At a meeting this week, the LaSalle City Council considered a La Salle County Historical Society request for a monetary sponsorship  for the Burgoo Festival Oct. 8-9 in Utica.

At a meeting this week, the LaSalle Streets, Alleys and Traffic Committee considered a resident's request for "Children at Play" traffic signs on or near the 100 block of Tonti Street.

At a meeting this week, the Sandwich Committee of the Whole considered advancing a recommendation to proceed with a proposed water-tower painting project.

Put union truck driver Jerry Long in the driver’s seat in Springfield as a new state representative, and he would have no problem down-thumbing any bill that would enact more gun control.

State Rep. David Welter (R-Dist. 75) recently said in a Facebook post that Illinois voters want a better state government and that term limits would be a step in that direction.

Practices for fall sports get underway next week at Ottawa High School, according to the school's il.8to18.com page.

Luke Yaklich has had numerous stops in his coaching career. Recently, he moved up without moving anywhere.

At a recent meeting, the Peru Public Services Committee considered a proposal to continue a City Hall security upgrade.

The Illinois Valley Regional Dispatch Board will consider approving the lowest contract bid for health insurance at its next meeting 10 a.m. Thursday at the Peru Municipal Building, 1901 Fourth St.

At a meeting this week, the Illinois Valley Regional Dispatch Board's PSAP Equipment Committee discussed whether to seek contract bids for  logging recorders and/or radio-dispatch consoles.

At a recent meeting, the Mendota Community Consolidated School District 289 Board discussed the district's budget deficit and its potential effects when combined with the state budget impasse.

The Boy Scouts of America features approximately 2.4 million members nationwide, but only 4 percent of its members manage to achieve the highest honor in scouting: the rank of Eagle Scout.

As the filing deadline came and went last week with nary a whisper from Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino, who failed to provide state election authorities with information regarding his previous campaign spending as a state legislator, the Illinois State Board of Elections (ISBE) now plans to set a public hearing date on the matter.

At a recent meeting, the Illinois Interagency Committee on Pesticides reviewed EPA regulations.

At a recent meeting, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services' (DCFS) Institutional Review Board to hear a presentation on preventing sleep-related infant deaths.

At a recent meeting, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity's (DCEO) Enterprise Zone Board discussed pending Enterprise Zone applications.

The Illinois Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) Department's Medicaid Advisory Committee will review mental health/drug-abuse disorder parity rules at its next meeting 10 a.m. Friday at the James R. Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph St., second floor, in Room 2025, in Chicago.

At a recent meeting, the Illinois Statewide Foster Care Advisory Council, a division of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, discussed the results of a recent foster-parent survey.