A Peoria County Grand Jury Tuesday indicted Clarence Thomas on three more first degree murder charges in connection to the alleged stabbing death of his wife in January.  The 42 year old West Bluff man now faces four counts of first degree murder.  Court files say Thomas repeatedly stabbed his estranged wife Martha when he got out of the car the two were riding in just north of ...More

 CHICAGO (AP) - State officials say unemployment in Illinois jumped slightly from December to January.  The seasonally adjusted jobless rate for January was 11.3 percent. That's compared with an 11 percent revised rate the month before.  The rate is the highest for Illinois since August of 1983. In January of last year, the rate was 8.1 percent. Illinois...More

St. Philomena School in Peoria is joining the community effort to bring Google fiber-optics to Peoria.  Google will soon select a few cities to test a faster more efficient broadband system.  St. Phil principal Jodi Peine says it's vital for Peoria to remain at the forefront of an always expanding communication network, especially for education.  St. Phil will be open Saturday from...More

"Edison needs to go back on the table." That's a suggestion by Peoria District 150 teachers union president Bob Darling. And, the school board and administration is apparently listening. The possibility of hundreds of teacher layoffs is prompting Darling to ask that all possible budget cuts be considered, including District 150's contract with Edison Schools. Interim Superintendent...more

The number of certified and non-certified employees to be sent pink slips within Peoria Public Schools could total over 400. Interim Superintendent Norm Durflinger tells the District 150 school board the projected $6.5-million dollar deficit the end of next school year could grow to $20-million. That's if the board does nothing while inflation and a cut of $700 per pupil in state aid add to the...more

A one on one attendant at Peoria's Greeley Alternative School is fired by the District 150 school board for beating a student. 26-year old Benjamin Thornton was arrested last week and given a notice to appear in court on a battery charge in connection with the February 25th incident. A certified employee at Greeley, who was not identified, has been placed on five days suspension without pay. The...more

Bill Brady thinks there is a common sense answer to fixing Illinois' money problems.  Treat it like a business.  The GOP candidtate for Governor spent about an hour in Peoria Monday evening wrapping up a fly around to thank voters before heading back to Bloomington, his hometown.  The State Senator thinks taking another path with the deficit is the way to go.  And that's to go ...More

An apparent grease fire up in the duct work above the rear of Mushrush at 631 Main closed off traffic for about 45 minutes while firefighters put out the blaze to the bar and restaurant about 400pm Monday afternoon.  Peoria City/County Health Department officials went to the scene to determine if the business was safe enough to be open Monday night.  Damage was limited to the back of ...More

Even though a Illiniois Commerce Commission judge has cut a proposed Ameren rate hike by more than half, there are two citizen groups who want to see the utility ask for nothing and actually cut rates by $6 million dollars.  Officials with Citizens Utility Board and AARP rallied at Peoria Friendship House Monday  prior to the ICC's April decision if it will allow Ameren to pass a $56 ...More

Non-partisan is word you hear a lot, especially as the health care reform debate wages on. But, Republican Congressman Aaron Schock of Peoria tells WMBD's Greg and Dan he's not surprised the effort has not been accomplished yet. "Speaker Pelosi from day one since I arrived has been extremely divisive and extremely partisan, "says Schock, "and has been unwilling to incorporate...more

Gov. Pat Quinn's administration is warning that his budget proposal could cut school money by $1.4 billion. Quinn budget director David Vaught says 17,000 teachers could lose their jobs. That number is expected to be in the hundreds in Peoria School District 150 as the school board has begun the process of pink-slipping teachers. A proposed list was presented to the board in executive session...more

Peoria fire officials are investigating the cause of a fire in a vacant house. It happened just after 9:20 Sunday night at 1531 South Lydia Street. Fire battalion chief Jim Phelan says the blaze was located in a rear storage closet. Fire fighters searched the house for people and pets but later were told by neighbors the occupants had...more

A rash of alleged burglaries and another other unrelated crime have Bradley University campus police on alert.  The Journal Star reports BU campus police chief Dave Baer plans more foot and bicycle patrols on campus mostly to gain more visibility and comfort level for students.  Campus police report numerous thefts in unlocked dorm rooms at Harper and Wyckoff halls on a recent

A two vehicle accident at Sheridan and Wilcox sends three women to the hospital Friday night.  The Journal Star reports an SUV collided with a convertible about 830pm.  The SUV flipped over onto it's roof.  There was a lone female driver in the SUV and a driver and passenger in the convertible.  The SUV driver was ticketed for failure to yield at a stop sign.  The

A Mark Bills Middle School student is charged with aggravated arson in connection to Monday's locker fire at the school.  WEEK News 25 reports the juvenile student has also been expelled from school.  Another student has been placed on suspension regarding the incident.  The fire was contained to the 2nd floor locker as school was set to dismiss Monday afternoon.  Students and ...More

Delta Airlines will begin using a newer and larger capacity aircraft for it's flights into and out  Peoria International. Airport Director Gene Olson says the new jets are 50 seaters compared to the 34 seat planes now used by Delta. The airline runs service from Peoria to Minneapolis-St. Paul and Detroit.  The conversion will being April 7th.

CHICAGO (AP) - A former Democratic candidate for Illinois comptroller and Peoria native says he's submitted an application to be the party's candidate for lieutenant governor. Raja Krishnamoorthi  says he sent his application to Democratic party officials on Friday. Another Peorian, State Senator Dave Koehler filed his applicaion for the same post ...More

CHICAGO (AP) - Sen. Kirk Dillard is conceding defeat in the  Republican primary for Illinois governor. that makes Sen. Bill  Brady the party's official nominee.  In a news release Friday, Dillard said it was a close race but that Brady ended up the winner.  Dillard says he'll do whatever he can to help Brady defeat  Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn in November. 

(AP) - Results compiled by the State Board of Elections show Bill Brady won the Republican nomination for Illinois governor. Brady beat Kirk Dillard by a margin of 193 votes. The board voted Friday morning to declare the results from the Feb. 2 primary official. Now that the board has acted, Dillard will have to decide whether to concede the race or ask for...more

Severe Weather Preparedness week also includes a warning about floods. National Weather Service Meteorologist Chris Miller says flash flooding could be a problem since the water table remains high. Storms with heavy rainfall can make for a dangerous mix.  Miller expects the Illinois River to go over flood stage again this Spring.  He doesn't think flood stage will be as severe as last ...More

(AP) - A Peoria County coroner's jury has ruled that the January shooting death of a 4-year-old boy was an accident. Austin Williams of Morton died Jan. 8 after he was shot in the head at a Peoria home. Peoria police Detective Keith McDaniel testified the boy was shot with a handgun while playing with two cousins who are 5 and 2 years old. The older cousin found the loaded gun in a bedroom. No...more

The Peoria District 150 school board hears a first report of the number of teachers who will need to be pink-slipped. The board met as a Committee of the Whole Thursday night to get its first look at a list of affected positions from the administration. Board president Debbie Wolfmeyer says the exact number is still being fine-tuned but will be much larger than before. "In the past it's...more

(AP) - A Peoria County prosecutor says a suspect being held on $1 million bond for the slaying of Clifford Harvey Jr. maintains he was acting in self-defense. Assistant Peoria County State's Attorney Steven Pattelli said Thursday 20-year-old Daniel Jackson of Peoria confessed to police that he shot Harvey the night of Aug. 29 as part of an ongoing gang dispute. Pattelli said in Bond Court that...more

(AP) - A judge in Marshall County has sentenced convicted murderer Tony Smith of Lacon to natural life in prison without any chance of parole, and says it isn't enough. In handing down the sentence Thursday against the 40-year-old Smith, Circuit Court Judge Stephen Kouri said the law does not provide adequate punishment for someone who could shoot his estranged girlfriend five times. Smith was...more

Former Senator George Shadid says he is very supportive of Senator Koehler becoming the democratic nominee for Lt. Governor. If selected, Koehler recommends Shadid to be placed on the ballot in November for his Senate seat. So would the 80 year old Shadid want his old seat back for awhile? He tells 1470 WMBD..."If that happens and they want me to do the seat for awhile, I would be glad...More

State Senator Dave Koehler has thrown his hat into the ring to be considered for the vacant Lt. Governor's post on the Democratic ticket.  Koehler made no formal announcement, but registered on-line informing the state Democratic Party he is interested in filling the post.  He says he's treating his interest in the candidacy in a low key manner.  He says he is not going to actively ...More

Open enrollment is emphasized as the application process is started for Peoria's new math, science and technology Charter School. Peoria Charter School Initiative board member Vicky Stewart says all District 150 students who will be in grades 5, 6, or 7 next school year are welcome to apply. "You don't have to be really talented in those areas," says Stewart. "You just have to be...more

Caterpillar chairman Jim Owens is getting 300,000 restricted shares of common stock. The Journal Star reports that's the equity portion of his compensation for 2010 and does not include his salary. Owens won't get those shares until October and he won't be able to do anything with them for three years. Cat stock closed at $58.57 Wednesday, making the shares worth...more

East Peoria is jumping in to help fund this year's March Madness Experience.  The East Peoria Council Tuesday night approved a $5,000 payment to help close the $40,000 funding gap.  East Peoria Mayor Dave Mingus says you sometimes have to spend money to make money and the investment to cover the deficit will provide the needed gain financially for the metro area. Morton has kicked in

Peoria officials want you to put on your creative hat to come up with ways to lure Google Fiber to Peoria. Mayor Jim Ardis says along with nominating Peoria on googlepeoria.com to be the test market for the ultra high speed internet, he wants videos submitted supporting Peoria. He says the goal is for the community to drive this because it benefits everyone. The application deadline is...More

Meet the principal of Peoria's math, science and technology Charter School. Engin Blackstone has been principal a charter school in Toledo, Ohio since 2007. Before that, he helped launched charter schools in Chicago and Milwaukee. Blackstone says this assignment is special to him. "I was not leading those two, I'm going to be leading this one," Blackstone tells area reporters...more

Caterpillar is among 70 Illinois employers nominated for awards for the support they give workers serving in the Guard and Reserve. The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the U.S. government to employers. Only members of the Guard and Reserve or their family members can make nominations. Senior Defense Department officials and business leaders...more

Despite a plea by Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis in Springfield Tuesday it appears it will be a while longer before the Illinois Senate considers Peoria to be a test market for conceal carry. Ardis was championing Senator Dale Risinger's legislation to allow Peoria to allow conceal carry for two years. He says Peorians are average American citizens who want to protect their families, homes and...More

It appears Peoria has some creative competition in the bid to be the test market for Google Fiber. Topeka's mayor says the city shall temporarily be referred to as "Google, Kansas - the capital city  of fiber optics," in an effort to persuade the Internet giant to  test the ultra-fast connection there. Mayor Bill Bunten issued the proclamation Monday after no city council...More

The chairman of a Nashville Committee that monitors its combined government system says UniGov has led that area to new heights. Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis announced during his State of the City Address in January the city and county are looking into that sort of system. Dewey Branstetter is a lawyer in Nashville. His father helped to combine the city and county there in 1962. He says the first...More

The one-on-one attendant accused of beating a student at Greeley School has been formally charged with battery. Peoria police say 26-year old Benjamin Thornton was arrested Monday and issued a notice to appear in court. Peoria District 150 Interim Superintendent Norm Durflinger said the alledged incident happened last Thursday and police were conducting the investigation. Durflinger says the...more

Statistics show Tazewell County ranks 5th and Woodford County 8th in tornadoes statewide per 100 square miles over the past 60 years.  And McClean County ranks 3rd.  Those numbers alone should stir us to pay attention to sever weather watches and warnings this Spring and Summer, according to Chris Miller with the National Weather Service in Lincoln.  Miller sees the effect of El Nino off the ...More

Community and civic leaders get together to initiate a framework toward developing a strategy toward a healthier you. A community briefing, hosted by the Peoria City/County Health Department, focused on a new report which ranked Peoria County 71st out of 101 counties in a review of health outcomes. Health Department Administrator Greg Chance says the report ranked Peoria County number one in...more

Asphyxia is the cause of death of a two month old Peoria boy who died after sleeping with his mother on a couch Sunday morning. Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll says an autopsy shows Jerrion Snipes was unable to breathe before being pronounced dead at the Children's Hospital of Illinois. He was found unresponsive and taken to the hospital by private vehicle. Ingersoll says the infant's...More

25 laid off Caterpillar workers may soon be offered a chance to get back on the job, but with a different set of employment guidelines. Cat spokesman Jim Dugan says the company is contemplating offering the workers supplemental employment with fewer benefits. He says there is an increase in demand for the products made at the Mossville facility, but the jobs will be temporary due to the division...More

Two seperate incidents at Greeley and Trewyn Schools are being investigated by District 150 administration. Superintendent Dr. Norm Durflinger reports one as the alleged beating of a student by an aide at Greeley School.  The other is a video posted on You Tube which show students being openly disruptive in a Trewyn School classroom.  The incident at Greeley, a special needs school, ...More

A small locker fire Monday afternoon won't stop Mark Bills Middle School from being in session Tuesday. Peoria Fire Battalion Chief Gary Van Voorhis says no one was injured in the blaze and every student was safely evacuated. He says the fire started in a locker on the second floor and spread tot he two lockers next to it. Staff put the blaze out before firefighters arrived. The fire broke out...More

The city of Peoria is apparently floating the idea it would like only give up 50 percent of ownership of the 4 acres the Peoria Riverfront Museum will sit on.  Peoria County Administrator Patrick Urich says the plan has been for the city to sell the whole property to the county.  Both sides have been communicating, but more details need to be hashed out, according to Urich.  City...More

An autopsy is scheduled today to determine the cause of death of a two-month old Peoria boy. The Peoria County Coroner's office says Jerrion Snipes was pronounced dead in the emergency room at the Children's Hospital of Illinois about 8:00 Sunday morning. The infant was taken to the hospital by private vehicle about a half-hour before after being found unresponsive in his apartment. The coroner's...more

Peoria police are investigating a report of a shooting. One victim was reportedly shot in the leg outside The Excalibur at 2205 Southwest Washington just after 3:45 this morning. No other details are available. Police also report one man is stabbed and a woman is in custody after an incident that took place about 10:00 Sunday night in the 700 block of South Western. Preliminary reports had the...more

A one year old boy from Washington waiting for a heart transplant has passed away. Judah Kirkham had dilated cardiomyopathy-- meaning his heart could not pump blood properly. Almost two weeks ago he got so weak he was placed on a device to keep his blood flowing. WEEK News 25 reports Judah's body gave out Sunday morning and he passed away. If you would like to help, a Judah Kirkham fund has been...more

A $25-million donation allows for the construction of a new facility on the campus of OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. Bill and Mary DiSomma donated the money to OSF and the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria to build the Jump Trading Simulation and Conference Education Center. OSF CEO Keith Steffen says the center will offer simulation training. He says doctors can be trained...More

Fire in an East Peoria mobile home claims the lives of two cats. The fire was reported about 2:40 Saturday afternoon in the 300 block of West Bluff Street. East Peoria Assistant Fire Chief Randy Hurd tells the Journal Star smoke was seen coming from the windows. The fire began in the laundry area of the mobile home. There were no injuries. No damage estimate is available, but the building is...more

Sully is selling his last remaining bar. The Journal Star reports Mike "Sully" Sullivan is selling Sullivan's at 4614 North Prospect to Joe Kahn and Justin McConnell. Sullivan's is closed as of Saturday night. Kahn is quoted as saying he and McConnel are buying the building and equipment, will remodel the place, and will open in two to three weeks with a European theme. Sullivan...more

Officials from Caterpillar are saying public claims made by an organization about Big Yellow's business dealing in Iran are not supported by the facts.  CAT on Friday said it would now prohibit it's non U-S subsidiaries from accepting orders for CAT machines. parts and engines for Iran.  The New Yoek based group known as United Against Nuclear Iran has a billboard posted in Peoria...More

An Administrative Law Judge Thursday recommended Ameren Illinois Utilities receive $56-million of a $130-million requested rate hike. State Representative Mike Smith of Canton says any increase right now is too much. He says its wrong Ameren would ask for another rate hike after reporting record profit. 92nd District State Representative Jehan Gordon says now is not the time for this when so...More

About 200 men and women braved the sunny and cold outdoor conditions Friday afternoon to take a plunge into icy water for charity on the property of Maui Jim.  The 10th annual event called "Dive for Cover" took place in front of the company headquarters in Peoria.   Entrants paid $60 to dive into the temporary pool carved out of the ground.  Maui Jim Marketing ...More

The COO of the Economic Development Council for Central Illinois told a group of business leaders and public officials Thursday morning, building collaboration is the key to improvement of the local economy.  Vickie Clark led the discussion at the event called "Economic Climate, 2010".  Attendees received information on status of local banks, the economic effects of the...More

Only a simple majority vote by the Peoria County Board stands in the way of $3.875 million dollars in federal funds being allocated to help pay for the parking deck of the pending Peoria Riverfront Museum.  The County Facilities Committee Tuesday sent the issue on to the full board.  If approved, funding will be appropriated from Federal Highway Authority through a joint agency ...More

Peoria police say no injuries are reported despite one shot being fired during an alleged armed robbery. Police say three suspects held up the Circle K at War Memorial and Northland about 2:00 this morning. Police believe the shot was fired accidentally. The suspect fled...more

U.S. 24 could have a new look as early as 2013 from Interstate 474 to Interstate 74. Peoria Public Works Director Dave Barber presented a feasibility study of the route to the Peoria City Council during a policy session Tuesday night. The council then voted on the concepts put in front of them to make the street more pedestrian friendly. The study broke 24 up into four sections including the...More

Will Google's Ultra High Speed Internet Play in Peoria? Officials from around the area sure think so and want your support to get it. Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis has deemed Wednesday as Google Peoria Day. Councilman Ryan Spain says everyone should log-on to a new website to show why Peoria should be Google's test market. Spain says he wants everyone to log on to www.googlepeoria.com and nominate...More

"I will just say, I'm psyched." That's Peoria District 150 school board member Laura Petelle's reaction as the board, on a 6-0 vote, approves a 3-year, $198,000 a year contract for Grenita Lathan to be the next Superintendent. Lathan's first day on the job will be July 1st. The district will also pay for Lathan's life and health insurance as well as Lathan's share of the annual...more

Retired 18th District Congressman Bob Michel was in town Monday night to hand out the annual lifetime acheivement award named for him in his honor during annual Creve Coeur Club of Peoria banquet at the Embassy Suites.  The Michel Award has been given out by the club since 1994.  Michel talked to 1470 WMBD News prior to the organization's 112th annual George Washington Banquet....More

Peoria police are investigating an alleged armed robbery which occurred outside Olin Hall at Bradley University. Police say it happened just after 11:45 Monday night. Police say a laptop was taken from the victim. Police say what is believed to be a suspect vehicle fled the scene, hitting another vehicle. No suspects are in custody. It's not clear whether or not the victim is a Bradley...more

It appears plans to build a Marriott Hotel in downtown Peoria are being scaled back. Gary Matthews of EM Properties had planned to build a 200 room tower to attach to the Hotel Pere Marquette creating a hotel with 500 rooms and building a 500 space parking deck. Peoria City Manager Scott Moore says now it appears the $102-million project is being scaled back a bit. Moore says he cannot speculate...More

Roads in the Peoria area are wet and sloppy this morning after up to 5.6 inches of snowfall reported since Sunday morning. The National Weather Service has cancelled the Winter Storm Warning for Peoria County and the Winter Weather Advisory for Tazewell and Woodford County. Meteorologists say there may be some lingering flurries, but the snow event is mostly over. The highest...More

No injuries are reported during an overnight house fire in Lake Camelot. Logan-Trivoli firefighters were called to 4520 South Misty Isle Point just before 10:15 Sunday night. Firefighters called for mutual aid from several neighboring fire departments. The blaze was extinguished around midnight but Logan-Trivoli firefighters went back to the scene when the fire rekindled at around 2:10 this...more

The Peoria County States Attorney has determined Peoria Public School officials have violated the Open Meetings Act.  Kevin Lyons says a gathering was clearly a public meeting when the District 150 Board held a meet and greet Tuesday with the likely next superintendent.  Grenita Lathan was introduced to media at the 150 board room.  The event was termed a 'meet and greet' for ...More

Two separate incidents involving unattended children within a half hour of each other Friday night.  Illinois State Police reported finding a vehicle parked near the McCluggage Bridge about 820pm Friday and reported the owner's information to Peoria Police.  Officers went to the home of the vehicle owner and found a 5 year old child alone in the residence.  The mother of the child...More

The Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff for President George W. Bush is coming to the Peoria area next month. Karl Rove has been announced as the speaker at the 43rd Tazewell County Republican Lincoln Day brunch. The event is set for March 20th at 9am at the Embassy Suites in East Peoria. Rove is credited with the campaigns to get Bush elected first as Governor of Texas and later as...More

Quality Quest for Health of Illinois based in Peoria has received just over $7.5 million dollars from the federal government to implement a certified electronic health records system.  Quality Quest serves 38 central Illinois counties as a regional extension center satellite office. Quality Quest CEO Dr. Gail Amundson explains her organization is a non-for-profit which brings together...More

Two storm systems will bring more snow to the Peoria area. Around an inch of accumulation is expected from later this afternoon through tonight. The second storm system, the stronger of the two, will impact the area Sunday through Monday with 2 to 4 inches expected. The heaviest snow from that storm system will fall along a line from Jacksonville to Champaign. But National Weather Service...more

Illinois legislators have drawn their own district's lines for decades, but supporters for a change will be holding a rally in Peoria Saturday to talk the proposed Fair Map Amendment in which a group of non-legislators would draw the lines. Jan Czarnik with Illinois’ League of Women Voters says Illinois needs an independent, bipartisan organization to designate district lines. Her...more

Authorities at Northern Illinois University say a suspect is in custody after an early morning shooting on campus left one person injured. Police say the victim was taken to Kishwaukee Community Hospital for treatment. There are no details yet about that person's condition. Last week marked the two-year anniversary of a shooting rampage at NIU that left five students dead and 12 others injured...more

Peoria police are investigating an alleged armed robbery at the Radio Shack on Allen Road. The incident was reported just after 8:15 Thursday night. No suspects are in custody. Police are also investigating a fight that resulted in two women being stabbed. Officers responded to the 2600 block of Northeast Madison about 10:25 Thursday night. The victims were taken to a local hospital for...more

(AP) - State universities are pushing Gov. Pat Quinn and the General Assembly to start working on Illinois' budget crisis before it does them permanent damage.  The University of Illinois is appealing to its graduates to write to lawmakers. That follows a letter university presidents sent to Quinn last week urging him to act....More 

The groups heard from the National Conference of State Legislatures about how Illinois compared to other similar states during the recession. State Senator Dave Koehler says the results of the meeting were informative, but by...More

No one was injured in a fire at a home near Sunnyland Thursday afternoon, but it was a close call for the family dog. Fire crews from Northern Tazewell, East Peoria and Morton were called to the scene at 214 Esser in near Sunnyland shortly after 1:30pm. The small one story home was fully involved when fire crews arrived, according to Northern Tazewell Fire Chief Ray Kiddy. He says the...More

Northern Tazewell firefighters are battling a blaze at 214 Esser off Washington Road between Sunnyland and Washington. East Peoria Police Chief Bill Darrin tells 1470 WMBD's Jonny King no one was injured in the blaze, but on resident did suffer some smoke inhalation when trying to recover a pet from the home. The fire appears to be in the chimney area and there was extensive damage done to the...More

A call to increase civic education within schools is the message an Illinois Supreme Court Judge is promoting around the state.  Justice Thomas Kilbride spoke to the Peoria Downtown Kiwanis Club Wednesday and asked for their help to teach young people about civics.  The justice says children are limited in learning civics now due to an emphasis on subjects mandated in the No Child Left...More

Two requests are joint ventures including one-million dollars for a emergency radio system and $100,000 for a minority business incubator. The city items include funding for another Drug market Initiative, the Harrison School Impact Zone and Springdale Drainage Improvements. City Manager Scott Moore says don't expect everything to be funded. He says if two items get dollars that would be...More

Peoria County ranks the lowest of the Tri-County area in a new state report on health outcomes. Peoria County ranks 71st out of 101 counties reviewed by the state. Woodford County ranks #3 and Tazewell County #46. The survey looks at five factors: the number of people dying before age 75, the percent of people who report being in fair or poor health, the numbers of days people report being in...more

A growth in jobs and population in the core of the city was the message the Peoria City Council gave staff about the new Comprehensive plan during a policy session Tuesday night. Members of the city's Planning Department and Planning Commission presented council members with a draft of the 2010 plan which is set to help guide the city for the next 15 to 20 years. Assistant Planning Director Ross...More

A work session prior to the East Peoria City Council meeting Tuesday night gave the group a first look at the suggested Downtown 2010 streetscape design put together master developer Cullinan Properties, LTD.     The next step is for the council and the public to weigh-in with any changes or ideas before the design is targeted to be offically approved in about a month. ...More

The confirmed person of interest to be the next Superintendent of Peoria Public Schools meets with local reporters...but for only one minute and 37 seconds. Grenita Lathan read from a prepared statement Tuesday, but did not take any questions. Lathan, who is currently interim deputy superintendent for the San Diego Unified School District, is visiting District 150 this week meeting with senior...more

The Freshman lawmaker spoke of the need for improvements in Locks and Dams and Levies. Schock says the Comprehensive Plan to improve levies support by the Army Corps of Engineers could have a negative affect on farmland. The Peoria...More

Caterpillar is one of three large corporations pulling out of the U-S Climate Action Partnership.  The group consists of business and environmental organizations with the purpose of building support in Washington D-C for capping U-S emissions of greenhouse gases.  CAT in a written statement Tuesday states it has decided to direct it's resources toward the "commercialization of ...More

 LOS ANGELES (AP) - The nation's largest shopping mall owner is making a $10 billion hostile bid to acquire Chicago-based General Growth Properties.  Simon Property Group's acquisition would allow General Growth to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. General Growth is the No. 2 owner of shopping centers. It filed for bankruptcy last year after buckling

(AP) - The $32 billion company that puts the Peoria area on the world's financial map got its start 100 years ago with the deed to a bankrupt tractor plant and a dozen employees. Holt Manufacturing of California chose East Peoria and the bankrupt Colean Manufacturing plant as its base east of the Rockies. Holt took the deed to the plant on Feb. 16, 1910, and started work right away. The company...more

CHICAGO (AP) - The deadline has arrived for counting ballots in the virtually tied Republican race for Illinois governor. Tuesday is the last day absentee ballots can be counted by local election authorities. The Illinois GOP is closely watching the vote totals because their party's Feb. 2 primary ended with state Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington just a few hundred votes ahead of state Sen. Kirk...More

The Upper Mississippi, Illinois and Missouri Rivers Association has been working over 50 years toward shaping public policy related to flood control and navigational issues at the local, state and national levels. The group held its annual conference today at the Par-a-Dice Hotel in East Peoria. Chairman David McMurray says there are plenty of policies in place and ideas on the table focusing on...more

An overnight two-alarm fire at Peoria home is labeled as suspicious by fire officials. Fire fighters were called to 312 North Saratoga just after 2:30 this morning. Battalion Chief Mike Ogburn says the second alarm was called because the rear of the house was fully involved and flames were threatening to spread to either side. Ogburn says the fire started in the rear and spread to the interior of...more

The founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure will give Bradley University's May commencement address. The Journal Star reports Nancy Goodman Brinker will deliver the address May 15th. Bradley president Joanne Glasser made the announcement Monday during the women's basketball Pink Zone reception. The reception was held ahead of this Sunday's game at ICC against Drake to benefit the Susan G. Komen...more

Mil Ovan is leaving Firefly Energy. Ovan co-founded the startup firm  that has become famous for its production of a lighter, more powerful lead-acid battery. The Journal Star reports Ovan is looking into consulting offers and other startup ventures. Firefly had grown to 30 employees but last June 15 workers were laid-off. The paper quotes Ovan as saying his decison to leave is based on a...more

The Peoria metro area ranks high in well being. The region is ranked number 80 in the 2009 Gallup-Healthways Well Being Index. The study shows Peoria is number 12 nationally when it comes to emotional health. That category measured people's daily experiences including laughter, happiness, worry, anger and stress. The metro area ranked 53 for basic access which ranks how residents feel about...More

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Republican Congressman Aaron Schock of Peoria makes an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press." Schock was part of a political roundtable that took the stage after an inverview with Vice President Joe Biden during which Biden blasted his predecessor, Dick Cheney, over criticism of the Obama administration's efforts to fight terrorism. Cheney maintains that the Obama administration is...more

(From WEEK News 25) They came looking for answers. "We're living in this world where everybody is looking for the magic formula of here, follow this, ABC and everything is good. That doesn't work," said Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis. The Mayor was joined at the Dream Center Saturday by other local politicians and leaders, as well as about 150 concerned citizens. Dubbed a Community Call To...more

U-S Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood from Peoria visited both his hometown and Bloomington-Normal Friday and touted the future benefits of high speed rail.   LaHood first spoke in Bloomington-Normal, attending a McClean County Chamber of Commerce luncheon.  LaHood told the group Peoria is looking into a light rail connector line to the Twin Cities.  He knows of a committee...More

The media got a tour Friday afternoon of what's inside the new Bradley University Athletic Performance Center still under construction.  When completed this summer and opened by the start of the fall semester, the 164,000 square foot facility will serve as the home court for the women's basketball and volleyball programs.  The structure will also house the Puterbaugh Men's Basketball...More

The fifth of seven guest conductors and finalists to be Music Director for the Peoria Symphony Orchestra will lead the musicians during their next concert Saturday night. George Stelluto is a native of Washington, D.C. and is currently conducts students and concerts at the Juilliard School at the Lincoln Center in New York City. Stelluto tells WMBD's Greg and Dan Show if he is chosen as the new...more

The Salvation Army Tree of Lights campaign surpassed its goal for 2009. Co-chairs Sid and Flo Banwart announced during a victory celebration Thursday night a record $1,377,800 had been raised - the surpassed the 2009 goal of $1,350,000. Salvation Army Divisional Commander, Major Charles Smith, says the agency knew there would be challenges during the 2009 campaign with a struggling economy but...more

The Peoria County Board will hold off on making a "blacktop reform" oridnance effective for another 75 days while the Land Use committee considers some revisions to the resolution. A Peoria County ordinance passed late last year, intended to protect citizens from being scammed by unscrupulous asphalt contractors out in the county, has become a political football since it was voted into ...More

(AP) - A judge is giving prosecutors more time to decide if they'll seek the death penalty for two brothers accused of killing a Beason couple and three of their children. The judge granted the request for additional time Thursday. Prosecutors say they're waiting for the results of DNA testing on more than 80 pieces of evidence before deciding whether to seek the death penalty. The defense attorneys for...more

 SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Gov. Pat Quinn is getting more time to prepare a state budget and Illinois taxpayers are getting a  chance to offer their ideas. The Illinois House voted Thursday to delay next week's budget address to March 10. The vote was 65-44, with Republicans opposing the delay. The Senate approved the delay on Wednesday. With the state ...More

State ...More

Wednesday's 3.8 magnitude earthquake 45 miles northwest of Chicago was reported to be felt in 10 states.  Some Peoria residents claim to have felt the quake's vibration which occurred about 400am Wednesday morning.  Dr. Henry Helenek of Bradley Univrsity is an expert on earthquakes.  He states Wednesday's tremor was a minor one and did not produce any known damage. Dr. Helenek...More

 The Peoria Promise Foundation is looking to get a jump start on the fundraising goals for 2010. Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis announced Wednesday morning the goal is to raise one-million dollars to fund Peoria students to go to Illinois Central College. Peoria Promise Director Tara Gerstner says about $650,000 is needed for the estimated 360 students to receive assistance with paying for school, while...More

A winter weather advisory that had been issued for the Peoria area is cancelled. The National Weather Service says reports from law enforcement agencies indicate blowing snow is no longer a widespread issue. Some localized blowing snow will continue through sunrise, mainly north of I-74, but that will subside as the winds become less gusty. Motorists should still be alert for drifts on area...more

Local U-S Marines are making their first deployment to the Afghanistan Theatre Tuesday.  Six soldiers based at Peoria's Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Center are mobilized for an initial 12 month period. They will first go to Camp Pendleton, California for extensive pre-deployment training.   They are affiliated with Engineer Company "C" and will join up with the 9th...More

The Winter Storm Warning for the 1470 WMBD listening area has been cancelled by the National Weather Service. Meteorologists say periods of light snow are still possible, but any additional accumulations should be less than an inch. The Peoria area has seen about four inches of snow and 2-4 inches of additional accumulation was expected, but has now been downgraded to less than an inch. A Winter...More

Billy Halstead hopes the County chairs of the Democratic Party will get to weigh in on who should be the candidate for Lt. Governor for the Democratic Party. The Democratic State Central Committee will select the replacement for Scott Lee Cohen before September. Those who have expressed interest so far include the five candidates Cohen defeated last week in the primary and Peoria native Raja...More

The Winter Storm Warning continues for the 1470 WMBD listening area until noon Wednesday. The first batch of heavy snow to hit the area overnight left different amounts of snowfall depending where you are, but the totals are generally less than the five inches predicted by Tuesday morning. The highest amount reported in the Peoria area was near Dunlap with 5.4 inches of accumulation. The...More

Illinois Department of Transportation District 4 spokesman Brian Williamson explains 115 trucks are ready for the snow and are now working the Interstates and other state highways across the 12 county district. Williamson advises motorists to be aware of the orange snow plows and allow plenty of room. He suggests to wear a seat belt and take it slow. Williamson says the continuing snow system...More

This will be the final school year Dr. Herschel Hannah will be an employee of Peoria Public Schools. Hannah who has been with the District 150 administration 11 years, the last five years as Associate Superintendent, says he expects to sign a contract Wednesday to become Assistant Superintendent of Bloomington District 87. Hannah tells 1470 WMBD it's a move he had to make. "I'm at a point...more

The celebration of 100 years of the WD Boyce Council Boy Scouts of America kicked off Monday morning with the launch of a new campaign to recognize Heroes of Scouting. 100th Anniversary Chairman Jim McConoughey says the program honors those who have taken scouting to a new level. He says five local heroes will be recognized who attribute the success in their lives in part to the lessons they...More

--A parking ban will go into effect in the village of Creve Coeur Monday evening beginnnig at 600pm.

It's now a Winter Weather Advisory in effect for Peoria and Central Illinois from Noon today until 6:00 Wednesday morning. Snow should move into areas west of I-55 this morning and spread east throughout the day. Most of the accumulation, around 5 to 7 inches, should occur tonight into early Tuesday followed by blowing and drifting snow Tuesday afternoon through Tuesday night. The highest snow...more

(AP) - The Democratic nominee for Illinois lieutenant governor has dropped out of the race less than a week after winning the nomination amid a political uproar about his past. Scott Lee Cohen announced his decision Sunday night at a Chicago bar. The pawn broker and owner of a cleaning supplies company won the nomination Tuesday. Since then, it has become widely know that he was accused of...more

(AP) - An ex-girlfriend of embattled Democratic lieutenant governor nominee Scott Lee Cohen says he's unfit for office. Twenty-nine-year-old Amanda Eneman issued a statement Saturday through her attorney saying that, based on her observations and Cohen's behavior during their relationship, she "does not believe that he is fit to hold any public office including that of lieutenant...more

"It's really a terrific feeling for me to be able to celebrate what my dad would call the 60th anniversary of his 39th birthday." That's how Michael Reagan, son of former President Ronald Reagan, describes his visit to Eureka College Saturday. Saturday marked the former President's 99th birthday. Michael Reagan led a bus tour of about 50 people to Ronald Reagan's boyhood homes of Dixon...more

The city of Peoria, Peoria County and Tazewell County all are under traffic collision alerts.

A 27 year old Peoria woman is dead from injuries sustained during a two vehicle accident Friday on Route 24 about 2 miles west of Gridley. WEEK News 25 reports the woman's identification is being withheld until autopsy results are determined Saturday.  McClean county Coroner Beth Kimmerling reports the woman was in the front passenger seat and was not wearing a seat belt. The coroner states

A Glasford man died Thursday as a result of an all terrain vehicle accident in Manito.  47 year old Jeffrey Urish lost control of his ATV while riding it in a rural area.  The ATV fell on top of him as it hit a tree.  Urish was found by family members after he had not returned to his sister's residence near Spring Lake where he originally departed from.  He was pronounced dead...More

The medical team from the Friends of the Children of Haiti who returned just a few days ago from a  two week mission to the earthquake ravaged region answered questions and were honored by staff members at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center Friday. The team was already planning to be in Haiti as part of one of the six yearly trips to help people there. Dr. Bill Edwards says he is proud that...More

State Police will have increased patrols surrounding Sunday's Super Bowl to prevent impaired driving. State Police Captain Dean Kennedy tells WMBD's Greg and Dan troopers will not only be looking for those driving under the influence - they'll also enforce speeding, seat belt and improper lane usage violations and drivers who follow too closely. Kennedy says it's part of a State Police and IDOT...more

Caterpillar's World Headquarters Administration Building in downtown Peoria has been handed a special award.  The CAT complex has received the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings in Operation and Maintenance Gold designation.  The LEED-EB certification honors promoting energy efficiency and is given by the United States Green Building Council.  LEED...More

A winter weather advisory remains in effect until 6:00 tomorrow morning. Snow will develop this morning, although it may mix with rain, freezing rain or sleet early this morning. The snow will taper to flurries late tonight after an accumulation of 1 to 3 inches. Little or no ice accumulation is anticipated. The wintry mix this morning and minor snow accumulation this afternoon and evening...more

The Peoria Riverfront Museum project could break ground by early to mid summer if all the T's get crossed and I's get dotted according to Peoria County Administrator Patrick Urich.  The full board got up to date details Thursday afternoon from key statekholders  during a Committee of the Whole meeting.  A current financial statement released by Lakeview Musuem reveals a $7.2...More

(AP) - Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn says he expects Scott Lee Cohen ultimately will have to step down as the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor over charges that he once abused his girlfriend. Quinn called Thursday for Cohen to answer all questions about his 2005 arrest for domestic battery. But Quinn says he thinks Cohen will end up dropping out of the race. Illinois voters choose the...more

Bob Marx is now on the job as the new President and CEO of the Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Marx started Monday and was introduced to the public Thursday. Outgoing PACVB Board Chairman Rick Edwards says they received over 70 applications for the position and Marx stood out. Edwards says the board looked for strong leadership skills, fiscal responsibility and strong sales and...More

About one-fifth of the registered voters in both the city of Peoria and Peoria County turned out for Tuesday's Primary.  City of Peoria Elections Commission Executive Director Tom Bride and Peoria County Clerk Steve Sonnemaker oversee the voting process locally. Both are happy with the 20 percent turnout, but both also acknowledge the number is still considered low.  Only minor...More

(AP) - Police say a man who opened fire in a Macomb farm supply store didn't hold hostages before killing himself, but some employees and customers were afraid to leave the building. No one else was injured in the standoff at the Farm King store in Macomb. Macomb Police Chief Curt Barker says the man was found dead Wednesday evening in the store's housewares section. Barker identified him as...more

Bloomington State Senator Bill Brady is in a very tight race with Kirk Dillard for the Republican Primary nod for Governor. No winner has been determined as the final one percent of votes is still being counted in Cook County. Brady spoke with 1470 WMBD News Wednesday afternoon about how his grassroots campaign helped him win votes downstate, despite not being able to afford campaign adds...More

 MACOMB, Ill. (AP) - Illinois State Police say there are no reports of injuries from a shooting at a Farm King retail store in Macomb. Macomb police say the gunman is still inside the store. Reporters on the scene say two hostages could be seen leaving the store Wednesday afternoon. No other details were immediately available.  The Macomb Daily Journal...More

The celebration wasn't lengthy for the winner of the  Democratic 18th District Congressional Primary Tuesday night.  Deirdre D-K Hirner from Springfield defeated Carl Ray of Washington with 54 percent of the total vote throughout the 20 county district.  Hirner is happy about the outcome, but says it's right back to the campaign Wednesday.  Hirner spent election night at the...More

(AP) - For now anyway, Kirk Dillard doesn't have any intention of throwing in the towel a day after the Illinois primary.The Republican is in a near deadlock with two other gubernatorial candidates. Dillard, State Sen. Bill Brady and businessman Andy McKenna are all within about a percentage point of one another. On the way to a Republican unity breakfast...More

(AP) - Workers at the Cook County Board of Elections are still counting ballots from Illinois' primary election. Board of Elections spokeswoman Courtney Greve says 13 of the 24 precincts in suburban Cook County need to count paper ballots that didn't properly transmit Tuesday. On Wednesday morning, workers at a warehouse on Chicago's West Side where ballots are stored fed paper ballots from 13...More

Bill Brady holds a small 503 vote lead over Kirk Dillard with 11,118 of 11,215 precincts counted. The 97 precincts still being counted will decide which of the two men moves on to face most likley current Governor Pat Quinn for the Governor's seat. Quinn holds about a 7,000 vote lead over Comptroller Dan Hynes and has already declared...More

  CHICAGO (AP) - Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has declared victory in the state's Democratic gubernatorial primary, even though his challenger says the fight isn't over. Quinn held a small lead over Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes early Tuesday morning with not all the votes counted.  With 99 percent of precincts reporting, each man had....More

Many Peoria area social service organizations are trying to get supplies and food and other helpful functions to earthquake ravaged Haiti.  Tuesday afternoon the Central Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross coordinated a local forum to get these humanitarian groups to together.  Representatives from each of 12 organizations in attendance gave updates on their respective...More

A Peoria man is leaving for Haiti Tuesday to assist with the relief effort following the devastating earthquake there a few weeks ago. Bob Wiltz works in Morris, Illinois at an outpatient mental health clinic and plans to use his skills in the mental health field in Haiti. Wiltz, working an a volunteer from the Central Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross, will serve on the U.S. Naval...More

Gertie the Groundhog says Punxsutawney Phil is wrong this year. The Pennsylvania based groundhog saw his shadow meaning winter will last another six weeks. Gertie the Groundhog at Wildlife Prairie State Park outside of Peoria disagrees. She did not see her shadow, meaning spring is just around the corner. Jennifer Bertolet with the Park says Gertie has a good track record. She says her....Click here for More on this story and to see the video of Gertie 

Governor Pat Quinn hit the campaign trail Monday on the last day before the primary election. Quinn included a stop at the Peoria International Airport into his six city tour.
Quinn says he will not follow in  the footsteps of the state's two previous governors if elected to a full term. He says he is an honest governor and the state neds that after the last two governors were both...More

Will high speed rail in Illinois be that much faster? Transportation Secretary and former Congressman Ray LaHood of Peoria says you gotta start somewhere. The planned top speed of 110 miles an hour means an average speed of about 62 miles an hour between Chicago and St. Louis, according to Rick Harnish of the Midwest High-Speed Rail Association. The White House announced last week Illinois will...more

A Peoria landmark is for sale. The Journal Star reports Emo's Dairy Mart at War Memorial Drive and Prospect is for sale. The asking price is $2.4-million, according to Jim Grube who is a realtor with ReMax Unlimited. Dave Harms' parents bought the popular ice cream and coney dog store in 1960. Harms has co-owned the building with his brother since 1983. Harms been semi-retired and wants to...more

The death of a Pekin man who was found in his burned SUV Wednesday was likely an accident according to investigators. The Journal Star reports the fire probably started by a dropped cigarette or lighter in the vehicle.  26 year old Curtis Byars was found inside the SUV after Pekin fire fighters put out a fire which had engulfed the vehicle in the 400 block of Court Street in Pekin about...More

The murder trial involving the April shooting death of a Lacon woman begins Monday in Marshall County.  Tony Smith faces first degree murder charges after he allegedly shot his girlfriend Judith Berchtold at a highway intersection in Sparland in April of 2008.  The woman was shot five times with a shotgun and then beaten with the weapon.  Smith was shot by a Lacon police officer at ...More

Both candidates running in the Democratic Primary for 18th District Congress have no previous politicial experience.  Washington resident Carl Ray was the first to throw his 'hat into the ring' for a chance to face incumbent Republican Aaron Schock in the November general election.  Ray's opponent is Deirdre D-K Hirner of Springfield.  She joined the race last fall.  Ray first...More

The Peoria County Recorder of Deeds has died.  59 year old Brad Horton passed away at 135am Friday morning while in surgery at Methodist Medical Center.  Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll says Horton collapsed while in his office at the County Courthouse about 1230pm Thursday afternoon.  He was transported to Methodist where he was diagnosed with an abdominal aortic...More

No injuries are reported during a $25,000 Peoria house fire. Fire fighters were called to 1702 North Machin just after 1:00 this morning on a call of smoke coming from the residence. Peoria fire officials say the first crews on the scene reported a working fire, the bulk of the blaze located in the attic. Peoria police say the Red Cross was called to assist in finding housing for one adult male...more

While the amount raised for the 2009 Heart of Illinois United Way did not surpass the 2008 record total, the latest campaign surpassed expectations even with a bad economy and high unemployment in central Illinois.  The 2009 campaign raised over $8.6 million, as was announced at the campaign celebration event Thursday evening.  United Way President Michael Stephan says while the 2009..More

Pekin Police are investigating a vehicle fire Wednesday night that resulted in authorities finding a deceased man. Tazewell County Coroner Dennis Conover identifies the victim as Curtis Byars of Pekin.  The Coroner says preliminary results from today's(Thursday's) autopsy shows the cause of death to be smoke and soot inhalation caused by the vehicle fire. Firefighters were called to the 400...More

The unemployment rate in the Peoria metro area continues to fluctuate from month to month. The latest numbers released by the Illinois Department of Employment Security shows the rate for December was 11.2-percent. That's up four-tenths of a percent over November's 10.8-percent number and up from 6.2-percent in December of 2008. The rate means about 22,200 people are currently without a job and...More

Pekin Police are investigating a vehicle fire Wednesday night that resulted in authorities finding a deceased person. Firefighters were called to the 400 block of Court Street about 10:00pm to where they found a 2007 Chevrolet Equinox engulfed in flames. After the fire was extinguished a body was found inside. Police say the identity of the deceased person is not known at this time. An autopsy is...More

The full Peoria County Board will now consider a selected final design of the new Belwood Nursing home, now that the Facilities Committee made their unanimous recommendation during it's regular meeting this week.  A two-story structure was chosen over other finalists including  one-story and three-story options. Belwood Nursing Home Administrator Matt Nieukirk answered questions by the...More

Vice President Joe Biden is coming to Peoria March 31st. Martha Herm with the Center For Prevention of Abuse announced Thursday the Vice President has accepted an invitation to give the keynote address at the annual Partners In Peace Luncheon Event to be held at the Peoria Civic Center.  Biden has been credited with helping the Center For Prevention of Abuse with legislation he passed...More

There are two Democratic candidates running in Tuesday's 18th District Congressional Primary and the winner will face first-term incumbent Aaron Schock in November's general election.  Today, 1470 WMBD profiles Deirdre "D-K" Hirner from Springfield who is on the ballot versus Carl Ray from Washington.  This is the first public office attempt for Hirner who most recently served...More

(AP) - Authorities say the search for millions of dollars of cigarettes stolen from a warehouse in East Peoria has reached as far as the New York and Miami areas. East Peoria police Detective Kevin Beckman says stolen semi trucks and trailers that have been recovered include one trailer found abandoned on the New Jersey Turnpike near Newark, N.J. Police discovered the break-in at Federal...more

Peoria fire fighters make quick work of putting out a garage fire. Fire fighters were called to 3920 North Prospect just after 10 Wednesday night on a report of a fire in a detached garage. Battalion chief Michael Morgan says smoke was coming from the garage with the overhead and side doors closed. Morgan says crews entered through the side door and three male dogs alive and a female dog dead...more

Peoria County Sheriff Mike McCoy is seeking another term. He says there are several things he still wants to accomplish as the county's top cop. McCoy says while in office since 2002 the county's crime rate has decreased 34-percent, the budget has always been balanced and technology has been expanded. He points to the automated booking system, the video bonding expansion, video visitation at the...More

The issue of a specific revised strategy for Peoria Animal Welfare Shelter was recommended unanimously by the Peoria County Management Services Committee this week now to be turned over to the full county board for approval.  Control of PAWS will be assumed by the county April 7th after the city of Peoria voted to transfer control in a budget cutting move.  The Management Services...More

Caterpillar is reporting year end 2009 profit of $895-million or $1.43 per share, compared to the $3.5-billion profit or $5.66 per share reported for 2008. Sales and revenue in 2009 totaled nearly $32.3 billion compared to $51.3-billion in 2008. Caterpilar spokesman Jim Dugan says while Cat did not make as much money as in 2008, given the state of the economy in 2009 the financial report is...more

Some Peoria residents and business owners may be able to cut down on their energy bills thanks to an ordinance passed by the Peoria City Council Tuesday night. Small Wind Energy Conversion Systems or SWECS will now be allowed if the property meets certain requirements. Planning Director Pat Landes explains these units are designed to meet individual needs. She says it isn't a wind farm and the...More

A first degree murder charge against 19 year old Kendall Brown has been dismissed by Peoria County prosecuters apparently for not enough evidence to convict in connection to the December 29th shooting death of 17 year old Diondre Nunn.  However, Brown was indicted by a Peoria County Grand Jury Tuesday related to the case on charges of armed robbery, aggravated discharge of a firearm and...More

The Peoria County Board will hold a Committee of the Whole meeting February 4th to fill everyone in on the status of the Peoria Riverfront Museum project.   Delays resulted in a letter sent to County officials  from Caterpillar asking for answers.  The County assured CAT in a response letter the project is on track.  But, CAT has since stated there are still many issues...More

      MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A person familiar with the negotiations says slugger  and Peoria native Jim Thome and the Minnesota Twins have agreed to a  one-year, $1.5 million contract. The person requested anonymity Tuesday because the team was not ready to make the announcement. Thome's contract also includes performance bonuses. The...More

A one-million donation to the Bradley University Renaissance campaign has made it the highest grossing campaign in the school's history. Dale Burkland made the donation which raises the campaign total to $130.8-million. The goal is $150-million. Bradley officials say due to the donation the Athletics Hall of Fame in the Athletic Performance Center will be named in honor of the Burkland family...More

The consolidation of government in the city of Peoria and Peoria County may not be far off. Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis announced during his fifth State of the City address Tuesday the city and county are prepared to put a group together in the next couple of months to explore a concept being called UNIGOV. The mayor says the group will be charged with exploring opportunities to move the two...More

Candidate profiles for next week's primary election begin Tuesday on 1470 WMBD with a look at the Republican challenger for Peoria County Sheriff. Vince Wieland is looking to take the position currently held by long-time Sheriff Mike McCoy. Wieland says he believes the county needs a change at the top and points to the recent escape of two inmates from the jail and the way an accident involving...More

Repairs to a washing machine lead to a small fire at a Peoria house. Peoria firefighters were called to 2511 West Westport Road about 3:20 Monday afternoon. Assistant Battalion Chief Kent Seiler says a resident had repaired a broken water line on the washing machine, but when he turned the power back on water got into an electrical outlet which shorted out. The gas line for the dryer was leaking...more

The Peoria Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau has a new President and CEO. PACVB Board Chairman Rick Edwards announced Monday afternoon Bob Marx has been hired to fill the role left vacant since former President and CEO Brent Lonteen left the organization last year. A press release says Marx is currently with the Marriott Corporation and has past experience managing Convention and Visitor's...More

East Peoria Police believe a large amount of cigarettes were what was taken from a warehouse on Sunday. Authorities from multiple agencies discovered two Semi trucks and a trailer at the Federal Warehouse Company on National Road Sunday afternoon, just hours after they had been reported stolen. Police Chief Ed Papis says another truck and trailer reported stolen was found Monday about...More

Washington Area Community Center Board President Sherril West Mondaymorning announced the first of she hopes to be many significant speakers to appear at Five Points Center in the future.  Dhe told those attending a press conferecne former Alaska Governor and John McCain's running mate Srah Palin will attend a banquet and give a speech at Five Points Saturday April 17th.  Palin, the ...More

The City of Pekin now has permanent police and fire chiefs. Pekin City Manager Dennis Kief says the interim tags have been taken away from police chief Ted Miller's and fire chief Kurt Nelson's titles. Miller, became a sworn Pekin police officer in 1987 after eight years at Caterpillar. He was named interim police chief when Tim Gillespie announced his retirement last July. Nelson has been with...more

The reports of shots fired in the 1000 block of south Shelley about 340am Sunday morning brought Peoria Police to the area.  Officers found a victim down on the ground.  The person was taken to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center for treatment.  The victim was reported possibly unresponsive.  No other details are available about the shooting at this time. 

Both the CEO of St. Louis Blues Enterprises and the team president of the Blues were in Peoria today(Friday) for the formal announcement of the new agreement keeping their AAA affiliate in Peoria through 2014-15 season.  Peter McLoughlin and John Davidson praised the city and the Civic Center for their part in the negotiations resulting in a new five year agreement for the Rivermen....More

The unemployment rate statewide is up two-tenths of a percent from November to December. The latest Illinois numbers released by the Illinois Department of Employment Security shows the December rate is 11.1-percent. Statistics show the state lost 16,300 jobs when compared to November...the 23rd consecutive monthly loss. Officials with IDES say slight increases and decreases are to be expected...More

It's better here. Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce COO Rob Parks says she expects to hear and extension of that message during Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis' State of the City Address. Parks says while there may not be a lot of job growth going on natiowide, the Peoria area has plenty going for it right now. "We're still in the middle of big expansion projects at two of the three hospitals in...more

Mark McGwire needs to apologize more for using steroids during his career. That's the feeling of Hall of Famer and former Cubs great Fergie Jenkins in an open letter to the Associated Press. Jenkins says McGwire should even apologize to the pitchers who he hit homers off of. McGwire has been hired as hitting coach for the Cardinals. Jenkins tells WMBD's Greg and Dan how he thinks McGwire's job...more

The Ameren outage map still shows just over 3,300 customers without power because of this week's icy weather. That includes 779 customers in Varna, 335 in Wyoming and 307 in Toulon. There are also still 106 customers in Eureka without power along with 54 customers in Morton...more

City officials say Thursday's icy conditions prevented garbage collection on a number of neighborhood streets in addition to alley that could not be accessed Wednesday. City crews are still attempting to salt and sand the trouble spots. City officials say Peoria Disposal Company will attempted to re-visit those areas today where it is safe to do so. If collections still cannot be made today, the...more

The Peoria Rivermen will stay in the Civic Center and be an AHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues another five years. The Journal Star is reporting a five year lease agreement has been reached between the Blues and the Peoria Civic Center to keep the Rivermen playing under the Blues umbrella. A news conference is scheduled this afternoon to officially announce the agreement. The report claims the...more

Power outages continue to affect parts of the tri-county area. Ameren officials report about one-percent of customers in Peoria and Tazewell County remain without power, while that number increases  to about 27-percent in Woodford County or 3,200 customers. That includes about 2,700 in Eureka alone. Spokesman Neal Johnson says the work continues to get the lights back on ASAP. He says good...More

Bond has been set at $1.5 million dollars for a man charged with first degree murder in connection to Tuesday night's multiple stabbing death of his estranged wife.  42 year old Clarence Thomas appeared through video bonding at Peoria County Courthouse Thursday afternoon.  38 year old Martha Thomas was found by Peoria Police outside of a car in front of 730 Northeast Adams about 610pm...More

Governor Pat Quinn signed a bill into law Thursday that will allow Keystone Steel and Wire in Bartonville to continue getting a key tax exemption. Quinn visited Keystone to sign the legislation unanimously approved by the Illinois House and Senate last week. The bill amends the Public Utilities Act to keep the exemption in place for Keystone to allow for them to not pay additional charges on...More

Crime in Peoria will be the focus of an upcoming Community Call to Action. It's a community forum to be hosted by Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis, State Senator Dave Koehler and State Representative Jehan Gordon. Ardis tells 1470 WMBD the gathering is partly a spinoff of Koehler's being the victim of a robbery attempt in his place of business in November. Ardis says it's more important these days for the...more

Administrator Patrick Urich outlined a few key state statutes about animal control services during Wednesday's special Peoria County Management Services meeting.  The County continues transition plans to take over Peoria Animal Welfare Shelter after the city of Peoria voted to send control back to the County.  Urich told the committee there are several points in the State of Illinois...More

The election of Republican Scott Brown to the Massachusetts Senate seat previously under Democrat control since 1972 has a national lawmaker from Peoria hoping for more compromise. 18th District Congressman Aaron Schock says the election of Brown shows the American people are not satisfied with the way things are going in Washington right now. The Peoria Republican is hoping the first compromise...More

Autopsy results show 38 year old Martha Thomas was stabbed over 30 times Tuesday night, leading to her death. That's according to Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll who says the autospy shows one of the stab wounds caused a severed artery. Peoria Police officers found Thomas near a parked car at the intersection of Adams and Wayne about 6pm. She was pronounced dead about 45 minutes...More

The freezing rain caused an aircraft to slide off the runway at the Peoria International Airport this Wednesday morning. Airport Director Gene Olson says the the plane slid off the apron/taxi-way as it was trying to make its way onto the runway for take-off.  Olson says the mishap occurred about 830am just after the freezing rain began.  Airport maintenance crews needed about an hour to...More

Republican Illinois State Senator Dan Rutherford expects a tax increase to be one topic of discussion during the upcoming spring session of the General Assembly. Rutherford says that's something the majority of democrats want in the Senate and the democratic Governor has been proposing a massive tax increase. Rutherford feels the state should first get a handle on its spending - especially in...more

Following a banner year in 2008 for record low rates in crime across Peoria, it's not surprising to Peoria Police Chief Steve Settingsgaard the 2009 crime figures have all gone up.  Measures of eight crime indexes show a rise in crime across the board.  The Chief states the numbers look about average with the numbers over the past 10 years if one excludes that record low crime level in...More

A Freezing Rain Advisory is still in effect until 6:00 tomorrow morning. Freezing rain is overspreading Central Illinois from the southwest this morning. There may be breaks in the freezing rain this afternoon and tonight, as freezing drizzle developes from time to tim. One to two tenths of ice accumulation could result. Untreated roads, bridges, sidewalks and parking lots will become ice coated...more

What is identified right now as a 38-year old female is the first homicide victim of 2010 in Peoria. The woman was pronounced dead about 6:45 Tuesday night at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center 45 minutes after officers found her lying next to a parked car near Adams and Wayne Streets, the victim of multiple stab wounds. Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll says the victim's name is not being...more

The principal at Peoria's Lindbergh Middle School who recently resigned did so after being confronted about allegedly viewing pornography on a computer at school. The Journal Star reports Philip Hise tried to get around Peoria District 150's internet security to view porn from his office computer. Documents reportedly show screen images of the pornographic sites Hise was able to log onto. Hise...more

A Peoria County Grand Jury has handed down four counts of first degree murder to a Peoria man in connection to a double homicide early Christmas Eve morning.  48 year old Blake Irby, also known as Blake Montgomery Irby is being held in Peoria County Jail on the charges.  Irby was stopped by police about a block from the crime scene moments after the incident occurred. He was originally...More

Freezing rain could cause slick roads on Wednesday. The National Weather Service has issued a Freezing Rain Advisory from 5am to 3pm Wednesday. Light freezing rain is expected to begin after 5am causing light ice accumulations during the morning commute. One to two inches of ice accumulation is possible by mid-afternoon before the freezing rain ends. This could cause very slick roads until the...More

There will be another way to help with the Haitian earthquake relief effort on a local level and it takes place during the day tomorrow(Wednesday).  WEEK and WHOI television stations along with the Central Illinois chapter of the Red Cross have quickly put together a telethon which will run on both stations beginning at 500am Wednesday through 700pm Wednesday evening.  Channel 25 and 19...More

A Bartonville woman is dead after a single vehicle crash early Tuesday morning. Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll reports 23 year old Jennifer Carrington was pronounced dead about 4:40am in the emergency room at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. Ingersoll says the crash occurred about 3:10am at the intersection of Garfield and Adams in Bartonville, where it appears Carrington was eastbound...More

There will not only be high expectations for students attending the math, science and technology charter school...but the same will be expected of parents, according to the vice-president of the company that will manage the school. Salim Ucan of Des Plaines-based Concept Schools says that's because parents will have the ability to see real-time progress of their child's education. Ucan says...more

Peoria police are looking for suspects in a pair of alleged home invasions. Police say three black males, armed with guns, reportedly  broke into homes in the 300 block of East McClure and the 300 block of Hanssler between 6:40 and 6:55 this morning. Police say the suspects reportedly fled in stolen cars. Police say no shots were fired and there were no injuries in either...more

A world renown pediatric neurosurgeon visited Peoria Monday to deliver a message of hope during the annual Martin Luther King Day luncheon. Dr. Benjamin Carson spoke about how to make the country a better place to live. Carson is known for heading the operation which resulted in he separation of the Binder twins. The Siamese twins were joined at the back of the head and Carson led a 70 member...More

One of the many GOP candidates running for Governor in the February 2nd Primary stopped at the headquarters of Peoria's Fortune 50 company Friday afternoon to talk about his platform of job retention and growth in Illinois.  Dan Proft spoke with Caterpillar employees to let them know he is one their side when it comes to retaining good jobs.  Proft wants to completely strip down and...More

Now that the Peoria District 150 school board has approved a Charter School that's set to open in August, what can students expect? Concept Schools out of Des Plaines, Illinois will be the management arm of the math, science and technology charter school. Concept Schools vice-president Salim Ucan says the company's charter schools operate with goal of 100-percent college acceptance. Ucan says all...more

Major changes are coming to afternoons on 1470 WMBD. It was announced Friday the Markley and Luciano Show is moving to our sister station 102.3 Max-FM where Jamie Markley and Phil Luciano will do a morning show beginning in late February. They kicked off Cannonball Friday with the big announcement. The move of Markley and Luciano means the addition of Scott Robbins to host the afternoon show....More

The Peoria District 150 school board has interviewed three finalists to become the next Superintendent of Peoria Public Schools. Board president Debbie Wolfmeyer says the three candidates are from both inside and outside the state and are both men and women. Wolfmeyer says each candidate brings experience in working with things like finances and improving student achievement -- priority items for...more

One Peoria firefighter suffers minor injuries while putting out a house fire. The blaze at 2700 Humbold was reported as a working fire by a Peoria police officer around 1:00 Saturday afternoon. Fire battalion chief Mark Ihnken says the firefigher fell through a floor but remained on the scene and was not taken to a hospital. Ihnken says the owner of the house was trying to thaw frozen pipes with...more

The Bradley women's basketball team wins its third in a row, beating Northern Iowa 74-62 Friday night at ICC's Lorene Ramsey Gym. Katie Yohn led the Braves with 18 points, shooting 6-for-8 from three-point range. Renee Frericks and Raisa Taylor added 13 points each for the Braves. The win also allowed head coach Paula Buscher to become the winningest coach in Bradley women's basketball history...more

Republican candidate for Illinois Governor Jim Ryan stopped at the Homeway Homes Factory in Deer Creek today(Friday)to tout his job's plan.  Ryan told workers at the plant he would make job growth a top priority if elected Governor.  He talked of a plan to form a council of economic advisors from both private business and the academic profession.  Ryan wants to rebuild the...More

The logistics are still being worked out for a trip this weekend by volunteers from Friends of the Children of Haiti to help the people of Haiti left ravaged by this week's earthquake. Kay Shank is a volunteer from Peoria who is also Professional Recruiter at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. Shank, who has been to Haiti before, says she was shocked to hear news of the quake. Shank says her...more

The use of a federal lobbyist by a combined Peoria County and City of Peoria Intergovernmental agreement is halfway home.  The County Board Thursday night agreed to share the services of the Ferguson Group for a 15 month period through March of 2011.  The city will consider the matter during it's January 26th meeting.  The County has been using the services of Ferguson Group since...more

The Chief of Staff for former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar announced his plan for education if elected governor in 2010. State Senator Kirk Dillard visited Peoria City Hall Thursday to discuss his "Best of Class" plan. Dillard says it would restore funding for pre-school programs, reduce mandates in the classroom and allow for a longer school year. Dillard says Illinois students don't...More

There are a variety of ways people can help with the earthquake relief effort in Haiti.  Locally, Salvation Army spokesman Rich Draeger says his organization is accepting donations at this time while efforts are being organized to get more people and supplies to Haiti.  Draeger explains the Salvation Army headquarters in Port Au Prince was severely damaged by the 7.0 quake, but there...More

More U.S. forces are getting under way as the military ramps up its mission to help earthquake victims in Haiti. An advance group of more than 100 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division will leave Fort Bragg in North Carolina today. The soldiers come on top of some 2,200 Marines also on their way as the military prepares to help with security, search and rescue and the delivery of humanitarian...more

Keystone Steel and Wire in Bartonville will be allowed to keep a tax exemption and save $140,000 a month if Governor Pat Quinn signs legislation passed by both the Illinois House and Senate. The tax exemption is for businesses with 1,000 or ore employees, a number Keystone has dipped below recently due to a cutback on employee hours. 91st District State Representative Mike Smith says Senate Bill...More

Two local legislators on the Republican side of the aisle voice concerns over much of Governor Pat Quinn's State of the State address Wednesday. One of the issues rubbing Republicans the wrong way is Quinn's wish to overhaul the Illinois tax system to make it fair and also bring in more money for state government.  The Democratic governor says Illinois taxes the poor to heavily. He says...More

A crew of Peoria firefighters led by Division Chief of Fire Investigation Melanie Anderson knocked on residential doors around the 900 block of West McClure today(Wednesday) to hand out Arson and Crime Stoppers hotline numbers and other information in an effort to help find an arson suspect or suspects in the area.  Seven fires, most considered arsons have been put out by fire crews since...More

Governor Pat Quinn says he wants to overhaul the Illinois tax system to make it fair and also bring in more money for state government. The Democratic governor says Illinois taxes the poor to heavily. He says taxes could be cut for five million people through tax credits, bigger personal exemptions and other changes. In his first formal State of the State address, Quinn also acknowledged the...More

State lawmakers from the Peoria area are reacting to Governor Quinn's State of the State Address. 92nd District State Representative Jehan Gordon says she liked the speech, but would've preferred to hear more talk of fixing the state's fiscal issues. She says not enough time was spent on how lawmakers are going to come together to fix the budget deficit. The Democrat Gordon says she did like the...More

It's now the Peoria District 150 school board's turn to interview candidates to be the next Superintendent. Board president Debbie Wolfmeyer says the board's Community Superintendent Search Committee has recommended a list of four finalists out of eight the committee interviewed. The eight were selected out of around 50 applicants. Wolfmeyer says the board will conduct interviews with finalists...more

The founders of Peoria-based Friends of the Children of Haiti, Richard and Barbara Hammond, are in Haiti right now with an advance team preparing its clinic for a medical relief trip planned for Monday. Executive director Eric Behrens tells WMBD's Greg and Dan everyone is accounted for and is safe...and Monday's trip is still on for now. Behrens says the public can help the now recovery effort by...more

Over the years, there have been a number of Peoria area residents who have made humanitarian trips to Haiti. That includes members of the Haiti Mission Connection, Haitian Hearts and Friends of the Children of Haiti. Dr. John Carroll is with Haitian Hearts, the non-profit organization that brings Haitian children and young adults in need of heart surgery to the U.S. for life-saving medical...more

A 16 year old Peoria boy was indicted by a Peoria County Grand Jury Tuesday on several charges related to alleged armed robbery.  Devon Warfield has been charged with one count of armed robbery, one count of attempted armed robbery and one count of mob action.  The Peoria County States Attorney has already determined Warfield will be tried as an adult on these charges, based on a ...More

The Central Illinois Agency On Aging is holding informational meetings Tuesday at Peoria's Neighborhood House regarding the upcoming 2010 Census.  The promotion is called "Count Me In" and focuses on the importance of being counted in this census not only for total numbers, but also for economic factors such as proper distribution of federal and state funding. Local Agency...More

A four mile stretch of road around Pekin is one stop closer to being built with state dollars. Governor Pat Quinn came to Pekin Tuesday to tout $30-million for a section of Veteran's Drive. The goal is to have the road start at the river on the east side of the city and be a bypass all the way to Interstate 474. Mayor Rusty Dunn says it could have major benefits. He says economic development and...More

"It is not a gifted school." That's the message being stressed by the Peoria Charter School Initiative now that the District 150 school board has approved a math, science and technology charter school this fall. Vicky Stewart, ICC vice-president and Charter School Initiative board member, says while there is an application process the math, science and technology charter school will be...more

Pat Quinn will give this year’s State of the State address on Wednesday in Springfield. But don’t expect too many political fireworks. Longtime statehouse observer Mike Lawrence says a governor uses the annual speech to talk to constituents in a “friendly” light. Lawrence expects Quinn to focus on recent ethics reform efforts and other accomplishments, rather than the...More

Creating artwork to be auctioned off for an important cause is the focus a Peoria's Easter Seals headquarters this week and next.  For the 5th straight year Peoria Police officers pair off with Easter Seals kids to create pottery which will be on display to be auctioned at the annual Black & Blue Ball in February. The first creative session was held Monday afternoon at Easter Seals with...More

Peoria County States Attorney Kevin Lyons speaks about the circumstances of last weekend's tragic death of a 4-year old boy who was a victim of an apparent accidental gunshot wound to the head.  Austin Williams of Morton was shot at a relative's home in Peoria while he and his parents were visiting.  He was rushed to the hospital but died in the ER of OSF Saint Francis Medical Center...More

Mark McGwire finally came clean Monday, admitting he used steroids when he broke baseball's home run record in 1998. McGwire says in a statement today says that he used steroids on and off for nearly a decade and  he apologizes for his actions. He says: "I wish I had never touched steroids. It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never...More

NEW YORK (AP) - Mark McGwire finally came clean Monday, admitting he used steroids when he broke baseball's home run  record in 1998. McGwire says in a statement sent to The Associated Press on Monday that he used steroids on and off for nearly a decade and he apologizes for his actions. He says: "I wish I had never touched steroids. It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly...More

Peoria Police detectives are still interviewing people who were at a Peoria residence where a 4-year old boy from Morton was the fatal victim of a single gunshot wound to the head Friday evening.  Austin Williams was playing in a back bedroom of the home with two cousins, ages 5 and 2, when a gun discharged.  The boy was visiting relatives with his parents in the 2100 block of West ...More

Car seats should be safe for your child...or so you would think. But the fact is they can be deadly if they aren't used properly. A four month old baby in Adams County died after falling asleep in a car seat. The Adams County coroner says the baby managed to turn partially to his side and stomach which caused his head and neck to become hyper-extended, blocking his airway. The death was ruled...more

Traffic is moving again on both spans of the Murray Baker Bridge (I-74) after a series of accidents affected traffic in each direction for just shy of 90 minutes. Peoria police reported a total of three separate accidents in both directions of the Murray Baker Bridge within minutes of each other starting at around 10:20 this morning. Police say there was a three-vehicle accident the...more

Patrons at a Peoria bar are sent into a scare early Sunday when a man apparently opened fire outside after an argument. Peoria police were called to the Dome Tap in the 2300 block of West Lincoln just before 1:30 Sunday morning. Police say 31-year-old Kendal Robinson fired off multiple gun shots that struck a nearby car. No one was injured. WEEK News 25 reports when police arrived, they quickly...more

Fire overnight near Princeville. Akron-Princeville firefighters battled a blaze in a two-story house at 13407 Mendell Road about 12:45 this morning. Akron-Princeville asst. chief Dan Wells tells 1470 WMBD fire fighters saw fire and smoke coming from the house when they arrived. Wells says the cold weather caused problems with fire hoses and trucks freezing and creating icy footing for...more

A young boy from Morton sustained a fatal single gunshot wound to the head in a Peoria home Friday night while he was in a bedroom with two cousins ages 5 and 2.  Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll says 4 year old Austin Williams was rushed to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center where he was pronounced dead in the emergency room at 920pm.  Peoria Police received a 911 call about a half...More

A wind chill advisory is in effect from 9pm Friday until 11am Saturday. The National Weather Service in Lincoln is reporting wind chill values could dip as low as -20. That could cause frostbite in less than 30 minutes. People planning to be outside are urged to take precaution and make sure skin is covered.
 

18th District Congressman Aaron Schock is calling on lawmakers to begin working on bi-partisan solutions to put Americans back to work. The Peoria Republican says when President Obama visited Peoria early last year he said the stimulus plan would prevent unemployment from topping eight-percent. It now stands at ten-percent.
Schock says the priorities in Washington right now are leading to higher...More

Dissolving the City Election Commission in Peoria into one non-partisan countywide election commission has been on the plate for quite some time.  The issue was included again this week on the agenda which Peoria County officials presented to state lawmakers during a legislative workshop.  Voters in the City of Peoria turned down a proposed referendum in 2004 to dissolve the City..More

The CEO of C-SPAN is accusing President Barack Obama of using the network as a "political football". Those comments come just days after 18th District Congressman Aaron Schock said all healthcare negotiations should be on the channel. Brian Lamb says Obama broke his campaign pledge to televise the healthcare reform negotiations on C-SPAN. The Republican Schock says the campaign promise...More

A special Peoria County Management Services Committee meeting this week started development of  policy objectives for the pending transition of animal control services from the city of Peoria back to the County.  The city ran Peoria Animal Welfare Shelter under a special agreement for 25 years until budget deficit issues forced Peoria to turn back control of animal services to Peoria...More

Careless use of smoking materials is listed as the cause of a garage fire on Peoria's south side Thursday morning.  Peoria fire crews were called to 2408 West Malone about 900am and found the garage fully engulfed.  It took fire fighters about 5 minutes to bring the blaze under control.  Another garage close to the burning one was spared from any damage.  A car just behind the...More

Over the past several weeks Peoria Police have been notified of and are investigating several incidents of stolen wallets or purses while unattended at retail or grocery stores and restaurants.  Peoria Police spokesman Doug Burgess is urging the public to be mindful of their personal belongings, especially in these types of establishments.  He says the suspects are targeting shoppers...More

A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for Peoria and Central Illinois until 6 a.m. Friday. Snow is tapering off as the morning progresses with the heavier accumulations ending by midday. After that, northwest winds will crease to gusts in excess of 30 mph causing blowing and drifting snow through tonight. Snow accumulations reported to the National Weather Service as of 9:00 this morning...more

Sinclair television station WYZZ Fox 43 will stay on Mediacom's cable TV systems after the two companies reached an agreement ahead of a Friday night deadline. The one-year deal was announced today by Mediacom Communications Corp. It covers retransmission rights. Sinclair Broadcasting Group wanted Mediacom to pay more to carry its stations. Locally, Mediacom serves cable customers in communities...more

The cold temperatures during and following large accumulation snowfalls like the latest winter storm and the one during the holidays makes it tough for city crews to completely clear residential streets from snow cover once the snow plows get to them.  Primary streets and hills have been the focus of road crews in Peoria.  Once heavy traffic becomes consistent on primary roads, crews...More

IDOT road crews have been on the highways since last night in the 12-county area that makes up District 4. Spokesman Brian Williamson says it's going to be a long today today, as well. A winter storm warning remains in effect until 6:00 Friday morning mainly because of the blowing and drifting snow that will begin later today. Williamson admits as the wind increases many roadways will get...more

You typically see a listing of school and athletic events on permanent signs outside of schools around the region.  But, this week in Tremont the message is about money.  Specifically, stating the exact amount Tremont School District 702 is owed by the State of Illinois.  Superintendent Don Beard made the decision to post the message which says the state owes Tremont Schools...More

The interim Superintendent of Peoria Public Schools says he is very appreciative of both the district and Peoria Federation of Teachers negotiators that worked to get a new contract Tuesday. Dr. Norm Durflinger says the two year agreement reached between the two sides got done through compromise. He says it is one of the few times during negotiations that both sides liked each other...More

Six to seven inches of snow. That's what's forecasted for Peoria and Central Illinois from the latest winter storm that's on the way. National Weather Service meteorologist Heather Stanley says the snow will start as early at 6:00 this evening to our west and last through 6:00 Thursday night. Stanley says the bulk of the snow will fall between 10:00 tonight and 9:00 tomorrow morning. Then,...more

The money raised through the past summer's Tee It up for the Troops event in Peoria is now being passed along to area veteran organizations. Organizer Frank Benningfield presents checks for $15,000 to the Bob Michel Veterans Administration Clinic for physical therapy equipment and $5,000 to Goodwill Industries toward the General Wayne A. Downing Home for Veterans. Tee It Up for the Troops is a...more

District 150 teachers will be in the classroom Wednesday after ratifying a tentative two year contract. Peoria Federation of Teachers union president Bob Darling says around 90 percent of the over 800 teachers attending a membership meeting Tuesday night voted in favor of the two-year deal. Darling says teachers accepted a hard wage freeze this school year and "step" and...more

Tuesday is the last day to register to vote on election day, but not the last chance to vote for candidates in the primary February 2nd. Tom Bride, Executive Director of the Peoria Election Commission, says grace period voting begins Wednesday. That is where you can register to vote, but you have to vote at that time. That option runs until January 26th. Early voting begins Monday and goes...More

Officials from Peoria County Government Tuesday gave four area state legislators their wish list during a meeting at BelWood Nursing Home.  County Administrator Patrick Urich says with tight revenue streams due to 2009's poor economy most government units spent extra time cutting deficits from 2010 spending plans.  Urich states most counties and municipalities are strongly urging the...More

Pekin Police want help in locating a woman reported missing who has several warrants out for her arrest. 37 year old Keri Gillenwater was last seen June 6th after her release from the Tazewell County Justice Center. Authorities say her family then reported her missing September 17th. Detectives with the Pekin Police Department says family members did not hear from her over the...More

A house fire at 911 West McClure is the seventh in that area since October. Peoria firefighters responded to a report of a fire in the rear of the home about 12:45 Monday afternoon and quickly knocked down the blaze. The cause is listed as under investigation. Three of the previous fires in the area have been listed as arson. No arrests have been made. There were no injuries Monday and damage is...more

Woodruff High School will be the location of Tuesday's membership meeting of the Peoria Federation of Teachers. The meeting, scheduled for 4:30 Tuesday afternoon, will follow another round of negotiations between Peoria Public Schools and Local 780 of the Peoria Federation of Teachers with a federal mediator. Last month, teachers gave union the authority to call a strike, if necessary. The union...more

It's full speed ahead in the search for a new Superintendent for Peoria Public Schools. The district's Community Superintendent Search Committee will begin interviewing candidates from among those who have applied for the position. This interview process was delayed a couple of months after former Superintendent Ken Hinton retired and interim Superintendent Norm Durflinger took over in the hopes...more

So what do you do with those prescription drugs you have in your medicine cabinet when you're done with them? Don't flush them down the toilet, according to State Senator Dave Koehler of Peoria. Koehler has been working with a number of agencies in the area to set up drop off points for proper disposal of the drugs. Koehler tells WMBD's Greg and Dan one spot to take the drugs is the Peoria County...more

A Peoria woman faces charges after allegedly leaving her 5-year-old child alone in a car in frigid temperatures. Police say 43-year-old Paula Thomas left the child in the car Friday for about 45 minutes in the parking lot at Best Buy. The car was not running. The high temperature on Friday was 11 degrees. Thomas is charged with endangering the life or health of a child. It was not immediately...more

(AP) - A 17-year-old pedestrian has been hospitalized after walking into a moving police squad car in Kewanee. Kewanee police say an officer was driving down Main Street early Saturday when the teen wandered into the road and into the side of his car. The officer was responding to a call of an intoxicated male. It isn't clear if the teen was the person police were searching for. The teen was...more

Negotiators for Peoria Public Schools and the union representing its teachers complete another 9 hours of bargaining Saturday night. Peoria Federation of Teachers Local 780 president Bob Darling tells 1470 WMBD while a contract agreement has yet to be reached, both sides have agreed to resume bargaining Tuesday.

"I don't think we're very far apart and we're trying to get this settled,"...more

The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Chill Advisory which will be in effect from 9:00 Saturday evening until 9 a.m. Sunday. Wind chill readings are expected to range between 15 below to 20 below zero through Sunday morning across a portion of Central Illinois. A Wind Chill Advisory means very cold air and strong winds will combine to generate low wind chills...more

(From St. Louis Blues) - St. Louis Blues president John Davidson announced today the club has named Rivermen head coach Davis Payne as Interim Head Coach of the Blues. Payne becomes the 23rd coach in the history of the Blues replacing Andy Murray, who was relieved of his duties. "Davis is very knowledgeable of the players in our organization and we feel he is the best...more

Talks will resume Saturday morning between Peoria Public School Federation of Teachers Local 780 and District 150 representatives and a federal mediator in an effort to solve the current contract dispute.  150 teachers have been working without a contract since July.  Talks became at an impasse last month between the teachers and 150.  A federal mediator has been brought in to get...More

Peoria police apprehended a suspect shortly after the report of a stabbing early this(Saturday)morning at the Harrison Homes.  Officers responded to the call of the stabbing about 200am in an apartment in the 2700 block of West Montana.  A female was found with a stab wound to the neck.  She was taken to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center for treatment.  Her condition is...More

Peoria County prosecutors continue to say the fatal shooting of 17 year old Diondre Nunn last Tuesday night was a result of him being unintentionally caught  in the middle a gunfight between two other teens. The States Attorneys office says Nunn was shot in the head apparently by a stray bullet and found face down in a yard in the 900 block of West Third just south of downtown.  19 year...More

The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Chill Advisory from 9 p.m. this evening until 9 a.m. Saturday. Wind chill readings are expected to fall to between 15 below and 20 below zero overnight and into Saturday morning across a portion of Central Illinois. A Wind Chill Advisory means very cold air and strong winds will combine to generate low wind chills. This will result in frostbite and...more

Dimple Sahay and Nikhil Thaker are the proud parents of the first baby born in the Peoria area in 2010. Their daugher, Aanya, was born at 12:12 this morning at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. This is the married couple from Peoria's first child. Aanya weighs...more

Careless use of smoking materials is suspected as the cause of a $30,000 house fire in Peoria New Year's Eve. Fire fighters were called to 2500 West Marquette Avenue just before 6:30 Thursday night. Fire battalion chief Michael Morgan says fire fighters found light smoke coming from the two-story wood frame house. One resident reported smelling smoke and noticed the smoke coming from upstairs...more

Three people are now charged in connection with the Tuesday night fatal shooting of a Peoria teenager. 17 year old Diondre Nunn was found lying in the snow about 1030pm behind a home at 911 West Third Street, the victim of a gunshot wound to the back of the head.  Kendall Brown was arrested Wednesday and booked on charges of murder.  The Journal Star reports two others have been...More

Believe it or not, right after the New Year elections come back into the forefront.  The Illinois General Primary election this year is February 2nd, so the voter registration deadline is next Tuesday.  Peoria County Clerk Steve Sonnemaker is pointing people towards the County's website to find out everything about voting locations, procedures and if you want to vote before February...More

(AP) - Rush Limbaugh's radio program says the conservative talk show host is resting comfortably at a Honolulu hospital where he was taken with chest pains. The program said in a statement Wednesday that Limbaugh appreciates people's prayers and well wishes. The statement says Limbaugh will keep people updated via rushlimbaugh.com and his radio program. Limbaugh's chief of staff Kit Carson says...more

The latest round of contract negotiations between Peoria Public Schools and its teachers union will continue this weekend. The two sides have met for 16 1/2 hours over the last two days. Following today's session, Peoria Federation of Teachers union president Bob Darling says both sides agreed to suspend negotiations for the New Year's holiday and talks will resume Saturday and extend into...more

Funeral services are scheduled for Dax Locke. The two year old Washington boy who suffered from a rare form of leukemia died early Wednesday morning. Dax's mother Julie, writing on the Caring Bridge website, says visitation will be held Sunday from 4 til 8 at Crossroads Methodist Church in Washington. The visitation is open to the public. The funeral will be held at the same church Monday...more

Officials with the Central Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross have seen the statistics and they are alarming.  Spokeswoman Christine Smith says one person every 30 minute is killed by a drunk driver nationally.  So, for the 4th straight New Years' Eve the Red Cross along with the Illinois Department of Transportation and Peoria's Baumgarten Distributors are promoting a...More

The city of Peoria's new garbage collection contract with Peoria Disposal Company starts Friday with the start of a new year. It's a change for the city and its residents. Waste Management has been doing the garbage collection for the city for over a decade. PDC has been delivering its garbage carts to residents, but officials admit there have been snafu's as PDC was working off a list 5,300...more

The Washington boy who rallied Central Illinois and the nation to get its Christmas decorations out early and donate to St. Jude has died. Two-year old Dax Locke died at 2:15 this morning, according to a posting by his mother Julie on the Caring Bridge website. Dax's mother says -- quote -- "He touched so many lives in such a short time. He was a fighter until the end. He will be remembered...more

Contract negotiations between Peoria Public Schools and its teachers union will continue today. Peoria Federation of Teachers president Bob Darling says after meeting with a federal mediator for nearly ten hours Tuesday, both sides agreed to continue their discussions later today. District 150 teachers gave its union the authority to call a strike after the district declared an impasse in...more

The shooting death of a Peoria teenager is being investigated as a homicide. The Peoria County Coroner's office says 17-year old Diondre Nunn was found by police laying face down in the snow about 10:40 behind a house at 911 West Third Street. Nunn was pronounced dead at the scene, the victim of a gunshot wound to the head. Peoria police are investigating and urge anyone with information to call...more

A 2-hour lunch and discussion of 2010 City of Peoria Legislative Initiatives was held at Pere Marquette Tuesday afternoon between city and state elected officials and key members of city staff. Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis led most of the talks, asking state lawmakers for their input and help on a variety of pending issues.  Mayor Ardis explains some of the issues are what he considers major...More

The 8 member Congressional delegation including Aaron Schock Tuesday visited several key areas of military interest during their trip to Afghanistan.  Schock updated the media with another conference call following a meeting with U-S troops.  The 18th District Congressman explains the delegation visited Kandahar City which he has learned is the critical region of strategy...More 

No injuries are reported during a house fire in West Peoria. West Peoria fire chief Bob Stecher says firefighters were called to 2009 West Barker about 11:30 this morning. Stecher says the first crews spotted smoke coming out of the house and found a fire on the main floor and it appears the fire may have started beneath the floor in the basement. Stecher says the owners of the house, Charles and...more

The impeachment of former Governor Rod Blagojevich and the swearing in of current Governor Pat Quinn were the top items on the Illinois General Assembly's agenda during 2009. That's the opinion of Republican State Senator Dale Risinger of Peoria. Risinger says Quinn's move into the Governor's Mansion was - in his words - a breath of fresh air. "But," says Risinger, "it soon ended...more

(AP) - Top Illinois Republicans are condemning a perennial candidate's decision to air a political ad questioning the sexual orientation of the party's front-runner in the U.S. Senate race. The Republican Party said Monday it would no longer consider Andy Martin a legitimate candidate. Fellow Senate candidate Patrick Hughes says the radio ad has no place in the campaign. Martin's ad says there...more

Peoria's Streets and Sewer Manager David Haste says everything is under control after city snowplowing crews worked rotating 12 hour shifts to fight the slow falling and lengthy snow event which dumped between 7 and 9 inches of the white stuff on Peoria from Christmas night through Sunday afternoon.  Haste reports once the main roads were under control, crews went to the residential streets...More

18th District Congressman Aaron Schock is one of 8 U-S House lawmakers currently in Afghanistan to meet with key military players and political leaders of the war torn country. Schock states in a conference call from Kubul Monday their meeting with the Commander of the U-S military operations in Afghanistan served as an education of the frustrations of previous military efforts and the welcome ...More

Bargainers for Peoria School District 150 and its teachers union have accepted the invitation of a mediator for a sit-down. Federal mediator Jerry Meehan will meet with both sides Tuesday, but Meehan has said the meeting does not suggest or imply that either side has changed its stance.

A flood warning has been posted along the Illinois River. The river stage in Peoria was 17.4 feet as of 7:30 Sunday night. The river is expected to rise above the 18 foot flood stage early this morning and continue to rise to near 20.2 feet by Wednesday evening. The river in Henry stood at 22.5 feet as of 7:30 Sunday night. Flood stage in Henry is 23 feet. The river is expected to rise above...more

So how much snow did we get? Officially 7.4 inches at the Peoria International Airport, including 5.4 inches of snow on Saturday, breaking the old record for a daily snowfall for December 26th which was two inches. A weather observer reported 9.2 inches of snow five miles northwest of Peoria as of 8:00 Sunday morning. Other reported snowfalls to the National Weather Service included 8.3 inches in...more

The transition across the country to LED bulbs in traffic lights has been an energy savers, but there is one issue in the winter months. Many communities are reporting problems with snow covering the lights and the bulbs not burning hot enough to clear the snow off. This had led to accidents, including a fatal crash in Oswego last spring. Peoria Public Works Director Dave Barber says Peoria has...more

(From WEEK News 25) Central Illinois has been rallying behind a two-year-old Washington boy, suffering from a rare form of leukemia. Dax Locke was not expected to live until Christmas, but two days after the holiday, family friends say he's still hanging on. Marc Hurtgen and his wife Trish spearheaded the Decorate for Dax campaign that captivated the attention of Central Illinoisans...more

Here comes some more snow. The National Weather Service has issued a  Winter Weather Advisory for snow and blowing snow until midnight tonight. One to three inches of new snow are expected before the snow tapers to scattered snow showers this afternoon. Westerly winds will increase to 10 to 20 miles per hour this afternoon and this evening, creating areas of blowing and drifting snow...more

The National Weather Service reports a record snowfall for December 26th in Peoria. The Weather Service reports 6.9 inches of snow fell in Peoria, breaking the previous record snowfall for December 26th of two inches. Total snowfall, however, measured 9.2 inches five miles northwest of Peoria as of 8:00 this morning. The Weather Service is also reporting snowfalls of 8 inches in Chillicothe, 7.8...more

(Some from WEEK News 25)

St. Mathew's Catholic-Farmington: No Services Sunday; no communion to...more

Peoria police are investigating two shootings overnight. The first occurred about 10:15 Saturday night in the parking lot of the Shop Rite at 1823 West Lincoln. Police say the victim, who was shot in the thigh, went to a house in the 700 block of South Greenlawn to call for help. The victim was taken to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center with what were described as non-life threatening injuries...more

Collision alerts are in effect for Peoria, Peoria County, Tazewell... More 

Collision alerts are in effect for Peoria, Peoria County,...More

The city of Peoria has issued a snow parking ban in effect at 1200 noon Saturday.  Parking on designated snow streets is prohibited until the ban is lifted.  The fine for parking on snow streets during a snow route parking ban is $250 and ticketing will commence after that time.

The City of Peoria, Peoria County and Tazewell County are under traffic collision alerts until further notice due to the current weather conditions.  Citizens involved in vehicle crashes where no one is injured and the vehicles are drivable should exchange the required information and report the accident directly to the respective police department within a proper period of time after the...More

The Illinois River continues to rise due the recent heavy rains. The river level in Henry stood is 20.1 feet and in Peoria, river level was 14.6, both as of 12 noon Saturday.  Both levels are still below flood stage.  Minor flooding is forecast on the Illinois River with a predicted rise to 23.7 feet by Wednesday in Henry which is point-7 feet above flood stage and will crest and being...More

 EUREKA, Ill. (AP) - The police chief of the Eureka has  retired after more than four decades in public office around  central Illinois. Al Misener was the police chief in Eureka for 13 years. The 66-year-old says he's had a good career, even though  he's had some near-death encounters.   That included injuries from a 1968 shotgun blast. At the time...More

Periods of snow continued through the overnight periods in the Peoria area and is expected to last through this afternoon or evening.  Peoria city crews have been treating primary streets with a salt/sand mixture. The crews have now turned to using all salt on primary roads due to the lower temperatures. Traffic in the city is expected to be busy especially around shopping areas today...More

A long time felony court judge in the Peoria County Courthouse will be changing assignments after the first of the year.  The Journal start reports Judge Michael Brandt will move to Tazewell County to be the presiding judge in the Tazewell County Courthouse.  Judge Glenn Collier will replace Brandt in the felony courtroom in Peoria County.  10 other judges are also transferring...More

Some smaller rivers, creeks and stream are still in flood stage Saturday following the lengthy period of rainfall through Christmas morning.  The Mackinaw River at Congerville and the Spoon River at Seville and London Mills reported some flooding.  The Illinois River in Henry stood is 18.5 feet and in Peoria, river level was 13.1, both as of 800pm Friday night.  Both levels are...More

A Peoria man is in Peoria County Jail, being held on $200,000 bond on a charge of felony possession of a firearm after being stopped about a block from the scene of an apparent double homicide about 100am Thursday morning.  48 year old Blake Irby also known as Montgomery Irby has been booked on the gun charge.  Two men sitting in a van were found in the alley in the 2800 block of West ...More

Light snow continued through the overnight periods in the Peoria area and is expected to last through Saturday afternoon or evening.  Peoria city crews have been treating primary streets with a salt/sand mixture. The crews have now turned to using all salt on primary roads due to the lower temperatures. Traffic in the city is expected to be busy especially around shopping areas...More

Some smaller rivers, creeks and stream experienced high water levels during the lengthy period of rainfall through Christmas morning.  The Mackinaw River at Congerville reported some flooding.  The Illinois River in Henry stood is 15.4 feet and in Peoria's river level is 11.6.  Both levels are still well below flood stage.  Minor flooding is forecast on the Illinois River with...More

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Hundreds of people have been stranded  by a powerful storm that's brought heavy snow, sleet and rain  across the nation's midsection. About 200 passengers and workers have been stuck at  Oklahoma's largest airport. The Will Rogers World Airport closed  yesterday afternoon after several inches of snow clogged runways. One of the airport's three...More

(AP) - The Senate has passed President Barack Obama's landmark health care overhaul extending medical insurance to 30 million Americans. The bill requires nearly all Americans to buy insurance and forbids insurance companies from denying coverage based on patients' pre-existing conditions. The 60-39 vote on a cold Christmas Eve morning capped months of arduous negotiations - and a succession of...more

One person is dead following a car/tree accident. Peoria police say the accident occurred just before 2:20 this morning near Knoxville and Detweiler. Police say car was eastbound on Detweiler when it left the road and hit a tree in front of a home at 401 Detweiler. Police say the male driver was taken to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center and was later...more

The first of two long holiday weekends are here and that means police patrols will be in full force to assure everyone gets to and from their destinations safely. Illinois State Police District 8 Commander Captain Dean Kennedy reminds drivers three areas of focus are on officers' minds over the holidays.  The first is seat belt use, the second is speed control and the third is looking for...More

The Peoria Police force will be stronger in 2010 than originally thought.  The final 2010 budget approved by the Peoria City Council included the reduction of 33 police officers, including 16 through layoffs. Now city officials are saying Police Chief Steve Settingsgaard has found ways to allow for five officers to avoid the layoffs for at least the time being. The Chief submitted a plan...More

A Peoria County Grand Jury Tuesday handed down an indictment including three charges of first degree murder for 24 year old Christopher Armstrong in connection with the June murder of 45 year old Jonathan Pickett.  Armstrong was arrested December 1st on suspicion of burglary of a south Peoria residence, but already had an outstanding charge of murder.  Police say Armstrong kept a low ...More

A man threatening to jump off the Murray Baker Bridge early Tuesday afternoon was talked down by emergency officials. The man, identified as 44 year old Everett Lewis of Pekin was on the part of the support for the bridge on the eastbound side threatening to jump into the Illinois River. Officials arrived on scene about 1pm and talked him back onto the roadway about 1:45.  Lt. Jeff Smith...More

It appears unemployment in the Peoria area may be leveling out. The latest numbers released for November from the Illinois Department of Employment Security shows the Peoria metro area had 185,200 jobs last month. That number has now stayed consistent since September. The metro includes Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, Stark and Marshall Counties and has seen a loss of 6,400 jobs since November of...More

A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for the Peoria area from 9pm Tuesday until noon on Wednesday. Meteorologists say temperatures will dip below freezing by 9pm which could cause drizzle to change to freezing drizzle. That will cause roadways to become slick, especially secondary roads and overpasses. Ice accumulations are expected to be light. Later in the week the forecast is calling...More

Latest Peoria area forecast from NWS

The best chance for a white Christmas in Peoria is possibly late Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and there's only a possibility of light snow as it looks right now.  That's the assessment of Meteorologist Matt Barnes with the National Weather Service in Lincoln.  Barnes says the storm system moving through the midsection of the U-S will mostly bring rain to Peoria.  The rain will...More

A man threatening to jump off the Murray Baker Bridge Tuesday afternoon has been talked down by emergency officials. The man was on part of the support for the bridge on the eastbound side threatening to jump into the Illinois River. Officials arrived on scene about 1pm and talked him back onto the roadway about 1:45. His name has not been released by authorities, but he was talked off the bridge...More

A first of its kind electric drive track type tractor rolls out of Caterpillar Building SS in East Peoria. The D7E is touted to be best for Cat's customers and best for the environment. The D7E has a Caterpillar ACERT diesel engine and electrical generator that will save money over the life of the machine by cutting down on fuel and parts costs. The machine is also helping the environment by...more

Three suspects are in custody after separate overnight incidents in Peoria. Police say a clerk at Walgreens at 2215 North Knoxville was choked during a strong armed robbery to the business just before 11:45 Monday night. The lone suspect fled the scene with cigarettes and cash before being arrested following a foot chase. The clerk was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Two more suspects...more

A Peoria County Sheriff's Deputy has pleaded not guilty to a charge of DUI. The Journal Star reports 32-year old Tyler McCoy appeared in Peoria County Court Monday. McCoy was driving an SUV, owned by the Multi-County Narcotics Enforcement Group, in September when he allegedly swerved to avoid a deer and left the road hitting a culvert, a rock drainage ditch and a telephone box before returning to...more

Overloaded wiring is listed as the cause of a Peoria house fire. Fire fighters were called to 2213 West Humboldt about 5:50 Monday evening and found fire on the second floor. Battalion Mike Ogburn says fire was found on one side of the house and went up the wall into the attic. There were no injuries, although fire fighters searched the house after being told there was a 17-year old unaccounted...more

General Wayne Downing Peoria International Airport Director Gene Olson advises "be early" when arriving at the airport if flying out for the holidays.  Olson says the "rule of thumb" is to arrive at the terminal at least 90 minutes before your scheduled departure time and go through the check-in and security checkpoint at least 30 minutes before your flight leaves...More

The Peoria Charter School Initiative is upping the ante when it comes to trying to open a math, science and technology Charter School next fall in Peoria District 150. Officials say if the local business community and private sector each raise $250,000 toward the start up costs for a charter school the Caterpillar Foundation will match them with a $500,000 gift. But, the match is contingent on...more

A long time member of the Tri-County Urban League and the mother of 92nd District State Representative Jehan Gordon has died. 68 year old Annie Gordon was pronounced dead in the Intensive Care Unite at methodist Medical Center about 9pm Sunday according to Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll. The coroner says Gordon's death was cardiac related and she was taken to the hospital about four...More

Tazewell County authorities are investigating a report of an armed robbery at the Casey's General Store on Springfield Road in Groveland. No details are available. Police remain on the scene.

The speaker is announced for the 2010 Creve Coeur Club Washington Day Banquet. Co-creator and co-host of ABC's "The View", a former ABC Evening News anchor and perhaps best known for celebrity interviews - Barbara Walters will speak at the Creve Coeur Club event which will take place on the actual...more

Peoria Public Schools is changing its application process for acceptance into Washington Gifted School. Now, the District will open the process to all fourth grade students within District 150 boundaries instead of just fourth graders who attend District 150 schools. Principal Joan Wojcikewych says the change will make District 150 in full compliance with state board of education...more

It's not just drivers dealing with the winter woes. A deer in Morton had a chilling brush with death Sunday after falling through ice that covered an apartment complex lake. WEEK News 25 reports a deer fought to stay above the freezing waters of the man-made lake at Cape Cod Apartments. Morton police and fire fighters were called to the scene. After being in the water for an hour and a half, fire...more

No injuries during a Peoria house fire. Peoria fire battalion chief Jim Phelan says fire fighters were called to 516 Northeast Madison Street about 8:30 Saturday night. Phelan says smoke could be seen from an upstairs window and the fire was contained to an upstairs bathroom and hallway. Three dogs in the house escaped the fire and firefighters took three aquariums from the upstairs. There were...more

The significant snowfall has cleared out of Peoria and areas west after producing about an inch accumulation Friday night into early Saturday morning.  The IDOT road report map is showing patchy snow cover and slick spots on I-74...I-474 and I-155...in central Illinois...State...County...and Peoria city road crews have been treating roadways all night...and most main thoroughfares are wet...More

Larry King is in Peoria to give the mid-term commencement for Bradley University students at  Saturday morning's graduation ceremony at Peoria Civic center.  The host of CNN's Larry King Live will also receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University.  King held a question and answer session Friday afternoon on campus.  King says he was still putting the...More

A race discrimination suit has been filed in Federal Court in Peoria against Peoria School District 150, the school board, former superintendent Ken Hinton and the principal and assistant principal at Trewyn Middle School. The suit is filed on behalf of eight white teachers and staff members at Trewyn alleging the African-American administrators created what's termed in the suit as - "as...more

Whether the Peoria School District 150 school board forges ahead with plans to open a math, science and technology charter school next fall depends on money. Money that's not there right now, according to District 150 school board president Debbie Wolfmeyer. The Peoria Charter School Intitiative Board wants the school board to make the formal committment before January 11th -- or else the...more

A Peoria man has been sentenced to 52 years in prison for a 2005 murder after a judge declined to grant him a new trial. Peoria County Circuit Judge James Shadid on Thursday sentenced 24-year-old Kyron Murdock to prison for first-degree murder in the death of Mark Walker. Walker was shot to death while he sat in a car in what the judge called an execution. Murdock's attorneys claim he was framed...More

(AP) - Illinois' unemployment rate dropped ever-so-slightly in November to 10.9 percent. But state officials don't see it as a reason to rejoice just yet. They say the slight decrease of 0.1 percent from October's jobless rate is to be expected in the ups and downs of a national recession. Nationally, the November unemployment rate declined by 0.2 percent to reach 10 percent. The Illinois...More

18th District Congressman Aaron Schock will be spending the holidays in Afghanistan meeting with top commanders and troops along with other House members.  Schock's office announced the Congressman's plans for the excursion Thursday.  Schock explains the exact departure and return dates and times remain classified, but he tells 1470 WMBD News he will ber meeting with General Stanley ...More

Folks along the Peoria and East Peoria riverfronts can get a head start on ringing in the new year. A fireworks display is planned for  9:00 New Year's Eve. Developer and Kelleher's co-partner Pat Sullivan tells 1470 WMBD the restaurants of Le Vieux Carre are joining together to co-sponsor the event. Sullivan says the plans for the fireworks event started three months ago. Sullivan hopes...more

If a Charter School is going to open in August of 2010 in Peoria, the process of getting it approved has to happen soon. That's according to Roberta Parks, a member of the Peoria Charter School Initiative Board. Parks gave members of the Peoria City Council and Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce an update on the process of starting a Math, Science and Technology Charter School during a joint...More

Tazewell County State's Attorney Stu Umholtz says his office will complete a full investigation of the shooting death of 48 year old Samuel Craft by East Peoria Police before issuing an opinion about the incident. East Peoria Police Chief Ed Papis says his officers had no choice but to shoot Craft who allegedly came at them with a sword and knife and refused to drop the weapons. The officers...More

A list of initial policy considerations has been provided to the Peoria County Management Services Committee to use as a guide in making it's decisions involving the take over of the Peoria Animal Welfare Shelter.  Peoria County was handed back animal control services by the city of Peoria last month.  The city had oversight of PAWS for 25 years under a previous agreement with the ...More

Authorities say a man allegedly armed with a sword and knife is dead following a police-involved shooting in East Peoria. Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll says 48-year old Samuel Craft was pronounced dead in the emergency room at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center about 8:00 Tuesday night of multiple gunshot wounds. East Peoria police say they were called to Craft's residence at 116 Sun...more

Peoria District 150 school board plans to convert Lincoln Middle School into a kindergarten-through-8th grade campus are starting to take shape.

An amendment to the East Peoria Comprehensive Plan centering on future transportation needs highlighted numerous resolutions dealing with future growth of the city during Tuesday's City Council meeting. Ty Livingston, Director of Planning and Community Development for the city pointed to 15 specific corridor alignment projects eventually planned for East Peoria.  Included is a widening...More

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is ordering the federal government to proceed with acquisition of an underutilized state prison in rural Illinois to be the new home for a limited number of terror suspects held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Obama's decision to acquire Thomson Correctional Center in Thomson, Ill., was disclosed by Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary ...More

Food banks in both the Peoria and the central Illinois area will benefit from a statewide donation of $250,000 dollars by Walmart Foundation.  The announcement made Tuesday as a response by Walmart to the call of a sharp increase in the need for food and groceries at all Illinois food banks.  The donation is going directly to Feeding Illinois which serves as a coalition of eight food...More

Priority restrictions are now lifted so now anyone can get the H1N1 flu vaccine. The first Peoria City/County Health Department clinic open to the general public took place today at Peoria's Expo Gardens. Diana Scott with the health department says over 30,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine have been delivered to the Peoria and Marshall County areas. Scott says health department officials were prepared to...more

Peoria District 150's tax rate is going up in 2010. The school board has approved a levy of $68.9 million - or about $4.86 per hundred dollars assessed valuation. That's three cents less than the administration's estimate last month but still 27 cents more than District 150 taxpayers paid this year. District 150 Comptroller/Treasurer Pam Schau says it means...more

(AP) - The White House plans to announce Tuesday that a rural Illinois prison will be acquired by the federal government to become the new home for a limited number of Guantanamo Bay detainees. Administration officials as well as Illinois Sen. Richard Durbin and Gov. Pat Quinn will make the official announcement on Tuesday at the White House. Officials at both the White House and in Durbin's...more

Officials from the Illinois State Police and the Illinois Department of Transportation are reminding drivers of some new laws to combat distracted driving that go into effect January 1st. Using cell phones to text, e-mail or surf the web will be illegal, as will talking on a cell phone in either a construction or school zone. Teens under 19 will not be allowed to use a phone at all. IDOT...More

Peoria School District 150 is seeking a new contract with its teachers that will help improve student achievement. That's the feeling of District 150 attorney and chief negotiator Dennis Triggs.  District 150 is prepared this Friday to impose on its teachers the terms of its so-called final contract offer which union negotiators turned down November 30th. Triggs says there's more to the...more

Peoria District 150 teachers have given their union the go-ahead to call a strike against Peoria Public Schools if the district follows through in imposing the terms of what district officials called the "substantially final" contract offer which union negotiators turned down November 30th. The district has said it will implement that proposal at the end of the school day December 18th...more

Peoria police have arrested one suspect in connection with a weekend home invasion. Peoria County Jail officials confirm 19-year old Kamran Porter of Peoria has been booked on a charge of home invasion. Porter is one of four men who allegedly entered a house in the 5300 block of North Ronald road just before midnight Saturday night. Police say one resident was beaten with a bat. The unidentified...more

A store clerk is shot during an attempted armed robbery. Peoria police say one man entered the Family Food Market at Starr and Arago about 7:15 Saturday night. The clerk was shot in the neck and the the suspect fled. The clerk, who has not been identified, was taken to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. No condition report is...more

Peoria Police report a standoff with a suspect ended peacefully and calmly Friday afternoon involving a Peoria man.  21 year old  Kevin Ensor was taken into custody at a residence in the 2900 block of West Nevada.  Officers received a 911 call about 400pm Friday afternoon reporting a man standing outside with a gun.  When police arrived the man retreated inside the home...More

Tazewell county Coroner Dennis Conover confirms one person was found dead in an East Peoria home Friday after a fire consumed the inside of the small residence at 112 Richard Court.  East Peoria Fire Department received a 911 call about 1130am from a neighbor who saw smoke coming from the structure and also reported the occupant might be inside.  Fire crews put out the fire in about 10...More

A fire at 112 Richards Court in East Peoria off Meadows Lane has led to one death. East Peoria Fire Chief Bill Darin confirms to 1470 WMBD one person was found deceased in the home near the front door. Tazewell County Coroner Dennis Conover is on the scene. More details to come on 1470 WMBD and 1470 WMBD.com

Illinois health officials are reporting nine new deaths and 216 new hospitalizations from swine flu. Friday's update brings the total number of Illinois deaths from the virus to 76 since April. Hospitalizations have topped 2,400. The global epidemic is affecting younger adults more than the elderly. More than two thirds of the Illinois deaths were among people ages 19 to 64. Nearly 2.6 million...more

A Peoria company is giving a boost to the Salvation Army Tree of Lights campaign. Zanfel Laboratories will match kettle donations Saturday up to $10,000. Salvation Army spokesman Rich Draeger says timing is everything since the kettle donations took a hit during this week's weather. "Even the few indoor locations we had were we could still have ringers we didn't have much door traffic...more

Two Peoria Riverfront Museum project related resolutions were passed Thursday night by the Peoria County Board, but not before concerns were raised by several board members about the status of the "Build The Block plan.  One vote passed by a 13-5 margin to conduct an environmental assessment of the property before the county would take possession of the land from the city prior to...More

An impasse has been declared in the negotiations between Peoria Public Schools and the Peoria Federation of Teachers. Teachers union president Bob Darling tells 1470 WMBD he received a letter from District 150's chief negotiator, Dennis Triggs, informing him the school district is declaring an impasse. "We're disappointed they decided they feel this is at an impasse," Darling tells...more

The frigid conditions bring a whole new set of challenges to deal with the weather conditions.  Christine Smith with the Central Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross explains dressing appropriately to protect yourself form hypothermia and frostbite is the the most important factor when outdoors.   Residences will be colder, so if you use a space heater for extra warmth, make...More

The long process of putting together a 2010 budget plan for the city of Peoria has come to an end, but the discussion with continue Thursday night on 1470 WMBD. There will be a special Peoria City Council Year in Review Show from 6 to 7pm. The budget will be the focus of the hour long show hosted by 1470 WMBD News Director Shaun Newell and John Sharp from the Peoria Journal...More

The long process of putting together a 2010 budget for the city of Peoria has come to an end. What once was a projected deficit as large as $14.5-million has now been turned into a projected surplus of $1.2-million. The Peoria City Council approved a balanced 2010 budget plan Tuesday night by a 10-1 vote. This comes after a year filled with budget cuts, including parting with nearly 70 employees...More

A winter weather advisory is now in effect in the tri-county area until 6pm Wednesday. The National Weather Service in Lincoln is now reporting to expect sleet and snow to continue until the early evening with little snow accumulation. The forecast is still calling for anywhere from 3 to 6 inches of snow for areas west of the Illinois River, especially in the Galesburg area. The Peoria area is....More

The announcement of a new Caterpillar Parts Distribution Center being built in Clayton, Ohio will have an impact on the center currently in Morton. The City Council in Clayton approved the sale of 163 acres of land to Caterpillar Logistics, a move expected to lead to the creation of 500 to 600 jobs. Construction of the new parts distribution center there is expected to begin early in 2010 and be....More