Two Women Wanted for Using Counterfeit $20’s in Ottawa Last Month

Two Chicago women are wanted after an investigation into counterfeit cash being passed around in Ottawa.

Two businesses in Ottawa had reported to police last month that they had been paid in fake $20 dollar bills. 29-year old Keyanna Powell and 20-year old Dawn Cunningham are each wanted for 2 counts of Forgery following an investigation by Ottawa Police.

If you know anything about where Powell and Cunningham are, police say to contact your local police department.

Four Teens All Allegedly Involved in Taking a Car Caught by Ottawa Police

A young woman who allegedly stole a car Thursday evening has been caught

Ottawa Police got the call about a stolen car just after 6:30. When police caught up to the car, the 4 teens inside ran. It didn’t take long for police to catch 2 boys and a girl who were allegedly in the car. The kids, all under 18 years old, were arrested and charged with Criminal Trespassing to a Vehicle.

The alleged driver of the car wouldn’t be caught until this afternoon when Police arrested 19-year old Brandyne Cody from Ottawa. She was taken to the LaSalle County Jail and charged with Unlawful Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle.

Her bail was set at $40,000.

Congressman Kinzinger’s Bill Banning Internet Price Regulation Passes House, President Obama Promises Veto

An Illinois Valley Congressman caught President Barack Obama’s attention, but not in a good way.

The president said he would be using his veto power if Congressman Adam Kinzinger’s bill makes it to his desk. It passed in the House of Representatives but there was a clear divide down party lines. Every Republican that voted did so in favor of the bill, and all but one Democrat voted against it.

The bill, known as the No Rate Regulation of Broadband Internet Access Act, would prevent the government from telling Internet Service Providers how much they can charge for high-speed internet. It has received criticism from some who see the bill as a gateway to much higher prices for premium internet access.

Salaries cause debate with La Salle County Board members

Would you be comfortable having a room of people vote on how much money you’d make? There was a bit of spirited discussion as that played out Thursday at the LaSalle County Board Meeting.

The Board voted to approve the salaries of its Chairman, Auditor, Coroner, Recorder of Deeds, and Circuit Clerk. Each position will make $66,000 for the next 2 years, with small raises in the following 2 years.

The vote was far from unanimous, however. Some Board members did not the idea that raises would be locked in regardless of how the county is doing at the time. It still passed by a vote of 19-6.

Groundbreaking set for “inclusive playground”

Are you planning on taking to your kids to the playground this weekend to enjoy the warm weather? One group is breaking ground on a playground they say is intended for all kids to easily play on.

The Ottawa Kiwanis is beginning the first construction phase of their “Project Inclusive Playground” at Lincoln-Douglas Park. Parallel bars, a roller table, glider, and see-saw are just some of the equipment pieces that are part of this first phase. City Commissioner James Less says the unique part of the playground is that “children with a range of abilities, not disabilities, will have the opportunity to play together.”

The first phase is expected to be completed next month. So far, the group has received more than $150,000 in donations, and they need another $100,000 to hit their goal. Saturday morning’s ceremony will be at the corner of Wake and Utica Drive at 8:30.

Alleged dog fighting ring busted in the Quad Cities

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (AP) – An investigation into dog fighting in the Quad Cities has resulted in two arrests and the seizing of more than 60 dogs.

The police chief in Rock Island says 11 federal search warrants were executed yesterday in Rock Island and Davenport as part of a yearlong investigation related to dog-fighting, drugs and guns. Arrested were 41-year-old Ryan Hickman and 34-year-old Willie Jackson, both of Rock Island. Hickman is charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. Jackson is charged with unlawful possession of cannabis.

The Rock Island County State’s Attorney says a bunch of animal abuse charges are also possible under Illinois law. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has taken possession of the pit bulls.

Most gas in the Illinois Valley heads back over two dollars a gallon

After holding the line for several weeks below two dollars a gallon, unleaded has jumped up over the two dollar threshold in most of the Illinois Valley.

According to GasBuddy.com gas is as high as $2.19 a gallon at some Ottawa and Streator stations. Every station in Mendota and Princeton is charging over two bucks a gallon now. You can still find below two dollar gas in Peru, La Salle and Oglesby.

The statewide average for unleaded is $2.21, which is up 14 cents from last week.

Fatal hit and run case up for a hearing in Bureau County

An Oglesby man blamed in a hit and run that killed a Mendota girl is due in court Friday afternoon in Princeton.

Twenty-year-old Jose Torres has a final pretrial hearing for allegedly failing to report an accident resulting in death and failing to report an accident resulting in an injury. Both are felony charges.

The charges stem from Torres allegedly hitting and killing 19-year-old Jacquelin Martinez of Mendota with his car last August. Martinez and other teens were walking near Bureau when they were hit.

Torres also faces a lesser charge of fraud in La Salle County. He’s accused of trying to prevent a repo man from taking his Jaguar that investigators say was the car involved in the fatal hit and run.