Crash blocked traffic near speedway

Traffic was moving again on Route 6 near the La Salle Speedway.  An accident had blocked traffic for about 30 minutes late Tuesday afternoon.

A person stuck in traffic says it looked like it involved a pickup truck and a car.  Two people were taken away by ambulance.  The truck and car were towed.

Another accident on Route 6 happened along the Spring Valley curves.  A car had overturned but traffic wasn’t affected.

Screenings for cervical cancer encouraged

A few minutes of awkwardness a year could prevent you from developing cervical cancer.  January is Cervical Cancer Awareness month.

Dr. Shyrlena Bogard with Illinois Valley Community Hospital says the cure rate for cervical cancer in the United States is high especially when women are regularly screened for abnormalities.

Women should begin receiving annual screenings at age 21.

This month the La Salle County Health Department is paying for pap smears for uninsured women in La Salle County ages 35 to 64.

You can learn more about cervical cancer by listening to an interview with Dr. Bogard at the AM 1220 WLPO news page.

Ill. Senate votes to abolish death penalty

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – The future of the death penalty in Illinois is now up to Gov. Pat Quinn.

The state Senate voted Tuesday to abolish the death penalty. It now goes to the governor’s desk.

Abolition passed the Senate 32-25.

It’s not clear what Quinn will do with the bill. The Chicago Democrat supports the death penalty but he also has continued the long-standing moratorium on executions.

Death penalty critics point to Illinois’ record of wrongly convicting innocent people. They say flaws in the system mean an innocent person could be executed.

Supporters of capital punishment say Illinois has created new safeguards. They also say execution should be kept as a deterrent and a bargaining chip to get confessions.

Roads remain patchy with snow

Whether you’re taking the Interstate or a local road, slow down.  IDOT considered most roads Tuesday evening to be either snow covered or patchy with snow and ice.

You can find statewide road conditions by visiting IDOT’s website.

Power Outages In Peru

A crash on Plank Road appears to be why much of north Peru lost power this morning.

Just after 9 o’clock, police responded to a driver hitting a power pole on Plank Road north of the Armory.  Right after that, power went out to places like the Peru Mall and Wal-Mart.  Traffic lights on 251 north of Midtown Road began flashing red, causing traffic backup.

Power to most spots was restored by 10:30.  The driver in the crash received a knot on his head but didn’t need medical attention.

One Dead And One Critically Hurt In Ottawa Fire

A husband is dead and his wife is in critical condition after a fire Sunday night in Ottawa.

76 year old Eldon Wolfe was pronounced dead at St. Francis Medical Center Monday morning after being flown there after a house fire at 1637 West Madison Street.  His wife Barbara is in critical condition at Loyola Medical Center.

Ottawa Police and fire crews responded to the fire just after ten Sunday night and found Wolfe outside his 1 ½ story home.  They broke out a window on the first floor to reach his wife.

Ottawa Fire Chief Jeff Newberry says the fire is accidental.  He thinks it started in the couple’s kitchen but doesn’t think it’s electrical in nature.  The State Fire Marshal’s Office is helping to determine a cause.

Newberry says they had the fire under control in about an hour.  He says there’s significant smoke and heat damage to the house.

Winter Weather Advisory

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for snow until 6 this evening.

Snow will increase in intensity this morning with the steadiest snow coming between 7 and noon.  Three to five inches of fresh snow is expected in the listening area.

Be careful driving as roads are snow covered and visibility is limited.