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Looming cicada invasion is a 'natural wonder,' naturalist says

SPRINGFIELD – Expect to see a lot of noisy, two-inch flying cicadas in Illinois this May. But don’t worry. 
More local news
Drug disposal event set for May 4 in Mendota
MENDOTA — Mendota residents and nearby community members are encouraged to safely dispose of unwanted and expired prescription drugs with an upcoming event.
District 280 Board moving forward on buildings & grounds maintenance projects
MENDOTA – The Mendota High School District 280 Board of Education moved forward on several buildings and grounds maintenance projects at its April 15 regular meeting.
Rep. Bradley Fritts
Dixon Rep. Fritts bill passes that will help rural taxpayers
SPRINGFIELD – House Bill 5011, introduced by State Representative Bradley Fritts (R-Dixon) passed the House floor with a unanimous vote of 108-0.
IDOA plans 'clean sweep' collection of unwanted agricultural pesticides
SPRINGFIELD – Residents of 11 Illinois counties can dispose of unwanted agrichemicals for free this year through the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s (IDOA) agricultural pesticide “Clean Sweep” program.
Mendota residents, commuters asked to complete housing survey
MENDOTA—The City of Mendota is asking all residents and commuters to Mendota to complete a survey that will help to identify local housing conditions and needs.
Mendota teenager killed in traffic crash
MENDOTA – A 16-year-old Mendota boy was killed in a one-vehicle traffic accident at 7:50 p.m. April 18.
Sports
Trojans edge Princeton twice by 8-7 scores
Mendota held off Princeton for an 8-7 victory in Three Rivers Conference varsity baseball action on April 15 at Princeton.
Carlos, Elam take firsts in Ferris Invite
PRINCETON – Mendota went up against four other teams in the Princeton Ferris Invitational on April 15 at Princeton.
Lady Trojans have solid showing in Rockford Christian Invitational
ROCKFORD – The Mendota girls’ track team put forth a solid effort in claiming three first-place finishes and a fifth-place showing in the team standings of the Rockford Christian Co-ed Invitational on April 20 at Rockford.
Obituaries
Obituaries
Harold Becker
AMBOY – Harold (Junior) Becker, 83, died Sunday, April 21, 2024, after a brief battle with cancer.
Jerome C. Henkel
MENDOTA – Jerome C. “Jerry” Henkel, 76, of Mendota, passed away unexpectedly on April 20, 2024.
Madrick L. Musgrove
MENDOTA – Not an ordinary obituary for an extraordinary kid.
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20 hit songs you may not know were written by music icons

Stacker compiled 20 hit songs between 1960 and today that were written by someone other than the singer, using various sources.

Billions of cicadas are about to emerge from underground in a rare double-brood convergence

In the wake of North America’s recent solar eclipse, another historic natural event is on the horizon. From late April through June 2024, the largest brood of 13-year cicadas, known as Brood XIX, will co-emerge with a midwestern brood of 17-year cicadas, Brood XIII.

Removing PFAS from public water will cost billions and take time – here are ways to filter out some harmful ‘forever chemicals’ at home

Chemists invented PFAS in the 1930s to make life easier: Nonstick pans, waterproof clothing, grease-resistant food packaging and stain-resistant carpet were all made possible by PFAS. …

Gold vs. stocks: As both hit record highs, which is performing better for investors?

Money helps shed light on which is a better investment: gold or stocks.

Taylor Swift’s homage to Clara Bow

One track on Taylor Swift’s new album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” honors a long-celebrated, oft-miscast heroine of American feminism: actress Clara Bow. As historians of the 1920s, we’ve studied Bow’s fame and her cultural legacy.

How to turn your passion for pets into action

(BPT) - Are you passionate about pets? Whether you have a beloved animal of your own or simply appreciate all the joy pets bring to our lives, there are many ways you can turn that passion into …