Woman injured, man ticketed after accident in La Salle

Red lights and motorcycles- just a couple of things to watch out for.  A woman was injured after police say a man ran a stop light in La Salle.

Bernard Sylvester of La Salle was ticketed for not slowing down to avoid an accident and disobeying a traffic control device after the accident Sunday afternoon at Chartres and Wenzel Road.

Police say Sylvester hit Joseph Ridley’s motorcycle, injuring Elana Ridley.  She was treated at Illinois Valley Community Hospital.

Spring Breakers Involved In I-39 Crash

Three men are hospitalized after being hit by a wrong-way driver on Interstate 39.

John Anderson of Wisconsin is in critical condition at St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.  Another passenger Jacob Klem and their driver Adyn Clausen of Minnesota are in fair condition.  A third passenger was treated and released.

The men were driving down to Florida Friday night when an 85-year old man from Cleveland, Ohio slammed into them head on.  The elderly man was driving northbound in the southbound lanes of I-39.  He was pronounced dead at the scene but his name is still being withheld.

A car with four other students on their way to Florida was also involved in the crash but no one else was hurt.

Fire damages basement in La Salle

A late night for a family in La Salle after fire broke out in their basement.  La Salle and Peru Firefighters were called to the house at 363 Bucklin Street just after midnight Monday.  They arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the home.

La Salle Fire Lt. Brian Zeller says the fire was mostly in the basement.  The cause is being investigated.

The family living in the home received help from the Illinois Valley Chapter of the Red Cross.

Mega Millions Jackpot Still Climbing

CHICAGO (AP) – Lottery officials say the record-breaking Mega Millions jackpot was even higher than originally announced.

After sales from the 44 state lotteries were totaled, the final jackpot for Friday’s drawing was increased to $656 million. It had previously been reported as $640 million.

Three winners who purchased their tickets in Illinois, Kansas and Maryland will split the prize. None of the winners have been made public.

The three tickets matched all six numbers: 2-4-23-38-46 and had the Mega Ball 23.

Gas Prices Staying Steady

Want the lowest gas prices in the listening area?  Hit up the truck stops.

According to the website Illinois Gas Buddy, Sapp Brothers in Peru, Flying J’s in La Salle and Love’s Travel Stop in Utica all have gas going for 3.83 a gallon.  The next cheapest gas is in Marseilles and Ottawa at 3.85 a gallon.

Gas in La Salle and Peru ranges from 3.87 to 3.99 a gallon.  Mendota prices are also knocking on the door of four bucks a gallon.

Robbery Sets Off ISU Alert System

NORMAL, Ill. (AP) – An armed robbery on the Illinois State University campus has prompted the use of an emergency text message alert system.

Students, faculty and staff got the warning from the Illinois State Emergency Text Alert System about an hour after the robbery early Sunday. Police say no one was hurt.

University President Al Bowman says a person is in custody. He says there was minimal threat to the campus but he decided to issue the alert nonetheless.

Area Lawmakers Differ On Online Dating Bill

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Every use online dating sites? State  lawmakers are trying to make it safer for people to use them.

The legislation aiming to do that passed the Illinois House last week. It would require Internet dating services operating in Illinois to post disclaimers saying whether they conduct background checks on their members. State Representative Frank Mautino supports the idea.

Opponents like State Representative Pam Roth say the bill overreaches. Republican Rep. Jim Durkin of LaGrange says adults should be responsible for their own safety when using such sites. The law now goes to the Senate.