Local news after CBS World News 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
LaSalle County drug and mental health courts get green light from state
LaSalle County’s drug and mental health court programs have been approved by the state. State’s Attorney Karen Donnelly says the two programs focus on treatment and not time in jail. Low-level offenders in the court system can be referred to either program by their lawyers. Donnelly says it’s an intensive program. Donnelly expects to start…… read more »
Starved Rock Country Community Foundation chosen for pandemic relief funds
The Starved Rock Country Community Foundation is one of the grant recipients for the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund. Foundation President Pamela Beckett hopes to have more information about the selection Thursday. Last week, she told WCMY she was getting information from local non-profits that house, feed, and clothe people. That information is being used to…… read more »
Virus tally in LaSalle County climbs to 17
A man in his 40s and a woman in her 30s bring the LaSalle County corona virus case count to 17. The LaSalle County Health Department says the two are in isolation. The new figure was announced Wednesday afternoon. The state also announced 1,529 confirmed new cases, bringing the Illinois statewide total so far to…… read more »
Small businesses can get grants for getting through shutdowns
Small businesses affected by the pandemic may be eligible for grants of up to $25,000 to help them get by. Ottawa City Hall is asking business owners to join a conference call about it. One will begin at 2:30pm Thursday, April 9; the other is at 10:30am Friday, April 10. Businesses with fewer than 50…… read more »
Ottawa pool to stay closed; Thornton Park improvements on hold
Swimmers won’t be able to go to Riordan Pool in Ottawa this year. City Commissioner Marla Rodriguez says it’s too risky to open during a pandemic that doesn’t show signs of easing yet. Rodriguez says the pool needs some repairs, but won’t get them yet. She doesn’t think it’s responsible to make those repairs just…… read more »
Rick Koshko
Rick Koshko lived the first half of his life in southern Illinois, then moved to Ottawa early in his broadcasting career. His first thoughts of broadcasting as a career occurred to him at age five–when it was bed time and he realized the guy on the radio didn’t have to go to bed yet. Some irony: for most of the time he’s worked in radio, Rick has had to get up very early in the morning to be on the air, sometimes in addition to being up late at night like he wanted.
Rick is a graduate of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s broadcasting program. He speaks Esperanto, likes astronomy (SkyCaramba), and makes a hobby of photography.
Ethan Kruger
Ethan Kruger started his broadcasting career in college after realizing that he liked hearing himself talk a little bit too much. After a brief stint of spinning records at Eastern Illinois University’s student FM station, Ethan realized his love for reporting the news. He loves where he works and is always excited to discuss what’s happening in the community. Ethan sees it as a privilege to serve the good people of LaSalle County through broadcasting.
Ethan likes board games, the outdoors, and watching all the different versions of Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner.