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Illinois Valley Times

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

News from December 2016

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Madigan nears milestone, faces opposition as he runs for 17th speaker term

By Illinois Valley Times | Dec 19, 2016

After a year of many changes, something may wind up remaining as it has been for decades in the General Assembly.

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Rauner kicks off state's Hanukkah Celebration at Chicago event

By Carol Ostrow | Dec 19, 2016

Ushering in the Festival of Lights in advance, Gov. Bruce Rauner recently launched the state’s annual Hanukkah Celebration with local constituents at Chicago’s James R. Thompson Center, where a menorah will shine through New Year’s Day.

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Watchdog group accuses LaSalle Police of stonewalling on FOIA matter

By Carol Ostrow | Dec 18, 2016

When the Edgar County Watchdogs (ECW) filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for LaSalle Police Department personnel records and was denied, improperly in ECW’s view, it filed a review request — and the chase was on.

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Ottawa Plan Commission approves driver-thru CVS

By Lhalie Castillo | Dec 18, 2016

The city of Ottawa Plan Commission met Sept. 28 to approve a driver-thru CVS.

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Ottawa Playground and Recreation Board reports goals

By Lhalie Castillo | Dec 18, 2016

The city of Ottawa Playground and Recreation Board met Sept. 8 to report goals for next year.

Ottawa Visitor's Center Board approves social media policy

By Lhalie Castillo | Dec 18, 2016

The city of Ottawa Visitor's Center Board met Sept. 26 to approve a social media policy.

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Peru Public Services Committee relocate skating rink

By Lhalie Castillo | Dec 18, 2016

The city of Peru Public Services Committee met Oct. 10 to announce the relocation of the skating rink.

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Peru committee provides city finance update

By Lhalie Castillo | Dec 18, 2016

The city of Peru Finance and Safety Services Committee met Oct. 26 to provide a finance update.

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Brookfield LaGrange Park SD board approves accounts payable

By Louie Torres | Dec 14, 2016

The Brookfield LaGrange Park School District 95 Board of Education met Nov. 10 to approve accounts payable.

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Brookfield library trustees discuss roof inspection report

By Lhalie Castillo | Dec 14, 2016

The Brookfield Public Library Board of Trustees met Sept. 28 to discuss the roof inspection report.

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Princeton ESD board hires faculty, staff

By Lhalie Castillo | Dec 14, 2016

The Princeton Elementary School District 115 Board of Education met Sept. 26 to hire faculty and staff.

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Marseilles Public Library replaces windows

By Lhalie Castillo | Dec 14, 2016

The Marseilles Public Library Board of Trustees met June 13 to replace windows on the main floor.

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Streator City Council issues general obligation bonds

By Lhalie Castillo | Dec 14, 2016

The Streator City Council met Oct. 26 to issue general obligation bonds.

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Dems called on to end Madigan's reign as House speaker

By Illinois Valley Times | Dec 12, 2016

“If America is two countries, Illinois is two states,” the Peoria Journal Star said recently in an editorial, censuring House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) and attributing the state’s “abysmal” financial status to continued ineptitude and duplicity in the General Assembly.

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Rezin: Route 89 bridge to be named in honor of veterans

By Carol Ostrow | Dec 12, 2016

Thanks to the efforts of state Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris), a brand-new Route 89 bridge spanning the Illinois River and connecting Bureau and Putnam counties will be named the Illinois Valley Veterans Memorial Bridge.

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Election losses have taken some shine off Madigan's rose, analyst says

By Illinois Valley Times | Dec 12, 2016

Voting for state Rep. Mike Madigan to serve yet another term as House Speaker may be more difficult for Democrats this time, according to the screenwriter for a documentary about the Chicago Democrat.

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Rauner outlines details for second stopgap budget

By Illinois Valley Times | Dec 9, 2016

Gov. Bruce Rauner took to social media this week to lay out his terms for another stopgap budget.

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Proposal would replace pensions with 401(k)-style plans for new public hires

By Illinois Valley Times | Dec 9, 2016

With Illinois' state pension liability 17 percent more than it was last year, the vice president of a Chicago-based think tank recently said that 401(k)-style plans for public employees would go a long way toward easing the pension crisis.

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Illinois loses 10,000 manufacturing jobs in past year

By Illinois Valley Times | Dec 9, 2016

The manufacturing industry in Illinois continues to show job losses, despite October's net gain of 1,600 jobs.

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Report: State's pension debt soars 17 percent to $130 billion this year

By Illinois Valley Times | Dec 9, 2016

Already struggling under a multi-tiered fiscal burden, Illinois taxpayers are now confronting incontrovertible evidence of serious fiscal setbacks in their state as a new report revealed staggering amounts of pension debt and escalating red ink.