The Mercer County unemployment rate at 4.2% percent. The number is for June and compares to a 4.1% figure that was recorded the same time a year ago, according to data from the Illinois Department [FULL STORY]

A Milan man facing a first-degree murder charge in a 2024 drug-related death investigation in rural Sherrard will return to court in October. 43-year-old William DeWitt appeared in Mercer County Circuit Court on Monday, where [FULL STORY]

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has signed legislation into law sponsored by local State Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Alpha) dealing with SUDEP or Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy. SUDEP is the unexpected death of an otherwise healthy person [FULL STORY]

Two Mercer County School District IT workers facing charges of illegally accessing students’ medical records will return to court next month. In their first court appearance since Mercer County School District Superintendent Tim Farquer was [FULL STORY]

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker recently signed legislation sponsored bylocal State Rep. Norine Hammond (R-Macomb), which modernizes and strengthens the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act to improve resident safety, elevate professional standards, and enhance regulatory clarity across [FULL STORY]

The Mercer County Health Department is hosting a Healthy Living Fair at Aledo Central Park this week. The event is scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday. The Mercer County Health Department’s Melissa Hajostek [FULL STORY]

A jury trial has been pushed back two months for an Aledo man facing attempted murder charges. The trial for 23-year-old Brody Esp has been rescheduled after the defense filed a motion to continue during [FULL STORY]

Aledo officials haven’t received a concrete opening date from the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office for the new DMV location in downtown Aledo, but are hoping the facility will open its doors in the next [FULL STORY]