A former Monsignor in the Catholic Diocese of Peoria has been denied an appeal to overturn his dismissal. Thomas Miller was dismissed in 2006 after accusations arose in 2004 that he abused a boy while and assistant pastor at a Bloomington congregation in the late 1970's. Miller was a Monsignor at the time of his removal and served as a pastor at Saint Vincent de Paul Parish in Peoria. He also...More

Shootings in the city of Peoria have been reduced 25-percent in the last two weeks. That's according to statistics released Friday by the Peoria Police Department. The new police task force formed after a surge in gun violence has been out for two weeks and Capitan Mike Scally says the gun play has subsided significantly. Officers have also made 135 arrests, 690 traffic stops and 17 guns seized...More

 CHICAGO (AP) - Jurors deliberating for a third day at the corruption trial of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich have asked if it is possible to receive transcripts of witness testimony. Judge James Zagel told attorneys Friday that he'd say jurors could receive specific transcripts of specific testimony, and that compiling transcripts would take time...More

Winston-Salem, North Carolina will be the recipient of an 850,000 square foot mining equipment manufacturing plant courtesy of Caterpillar.  CAT Friday announced plans to build the state of the art facility beginning late this fall.  The factory should open by early 2012.  This will be the 10th location for Big Yellow in North Carolina.  About 1,000 full-time CAT workers are...More

Many BP gas owners across the country are considering rebranding as Amoco or another name. But not in Peoria right now, according to Terry Beachler of Beachler's ServiceCenter. "Occasionally a customer will make a comment," Beachler tells 1470 WMBD. "But, we're physically separated from the mess going on the in the Gulf. The impact here has certainly been less." That's not to...more

The current Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer for Honeywell International is taking a similar position at Caterpillar Inc. Cat's Board of Directors announced Friday Frank Crespo will serve as a company Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer with responsibility for the Global Purchasing Division. Crespo is a graduate of the U.S Naval Academy and earned his MBA from the Harvard...More

No injuries are reported from a Peoria house fire. The blaze at 1311 West Howett was contained to a small room at the rear of the house. The fire fighters on the scene spotted a small pile of trash and clothes on fire inside an unlocked back door. Neighbors said they had seen children on bicycles outside the back of the house. No one was home at the time of the fire. Arson is...more

A 16-year old boy pleads guilty in Peoria County juvenile court to hitting at 14-year old who fell into an I-74 culvert last month. The boy pleaded guilty to a charge of mob action just as his trial was about to get underway. The Journal Star reports he could get probation to up to three years in juvenile prison when he's sentenced in September. A second 16-year has also pleaded guilty to...more

(From WEEK News 25) - A new report out has sports fans thinking twice before buying their peanuts and cracker jacks. Not to mention the Hot Dogs, Nachos and other ballpark staples. ESPN looked at 107 Major League ballparks, stadiums and arenas and found that many of them had been cited for critical violations by local health departments. In fact 100% of the concession stands at Tampa's Tropicana...more

Next Tuesday runners from Peoria will load up in RV's and head to Memphis for the 29th year to raise money for St. Jude. Peoria County Sheriff Mike McCoy says the work to get ready for the race is ramping up as the supplies for the trip are being gathered. The Sheriff says the motor homes head this way on Saturday. He says a group goes to St. Louis at 5am to pick up 21 motor homes and bring them...More

The ultimate accomplishment for the 166 soldiers who left for Iraq a year ago, was to have all 166 return.  That goal was met Thursday as the 724th Transportation Unit based in Bartonville returned from deployment.  Families, friends and supporters turned out at the training center as two motorcoachs pulled into their base led by the Guardian Angles.  Lt. Colonel Bruce Hoover is the...More

Circle the calendar for September 13th. 18th District Congressman Aaron Schock of Peoria confirms that's when former First Lady Laura Bush will be in Peoria. Laura Bush will be headlining a fundraiser on Schock's behalf. "Believe it or not getting Laura Bush is more difficult than getting the President of the United States," Schock tells 1470 WMBD. Schock says he's been working on...more

A pre-algebra teacher and a former Marine are among the jurors considering the corruption case against former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. The six men and six women are meet today for their first full day of deliberations. A Peoria native has been in the courtroom every day of the testimony. John Nelson is a so-called jury watcher. Nelson tells WMBD's Greg and Dan Show this jury is hard...more

Funeral arrangements are set for Peoria environmentalist Tom Edwards. The 79-year old Edwards was killed last Friday night in a traffic accident on the McClugage Bridge. Funeral services will be at 6:30 Friday night at the Universalist Unitarian Church in Peoria. The family will visit with friends at the church during a potluck following the services...more

The Peoria County Facilities Committee will further study the best way to use the Hanna City Work Camp in the short term.  The committee was set to approve allowing outside law enforcement and fire protection agencies use of the former site for training purposes.  Peoria County Sheriff's Department uses the facility for that purpose now.  Committee member Mike Phelan says the ...More

After a rash of shootings that's been plaguing parts of Peoria, officers designated a specific target where most of the most shooting and violent crime are...More

An effort by the Midwest Food Bank to try to figure out how to better distribute donated soybeans has led to a new nutritious meal for those who get the distributed food. The food bank worked with researchers and nutrition experts from the University of Illinois to make Tender Mercies. This is a big filled with beans, rice, textured vegetable protein and chicken flavor that feeds a family of...More

(AP) - Rod Blagojevich's fate is now in the hands of the jury at the former Illinois governor's corruption trial. The jury got the case Wednesday morning after the judge gave them instructions on how their deliberations should be conducted. Blagojevich and his wife, Patti, were in court for the proceedings. Before court began, an elderly woman told Blagojevich...more

Equal pay for equal work and support for child care programs are among women's issues first and foremost for Democratic Lt. Governor candidate Sheila Simon. Simon, who has a law and education background, tells WMBD's Greg and Dan Show, she and current Governor Pat Quinn have placed women's issues as a priority as opposed to their Republican opponent. Simon also says the state needs to do more to...more

Another $2 million dollar joint city-county payment to PNC was also approved in the measure, but that's connected to a possible asset sale....More 

The East Peoria City Council approves a redevelopment agreement toward a 6-floor, $20-million Holiday Inn and Suites in the East Peoria Downtown 2010 area. But it was a close vote of 3-2. East Peoria Mayor Dave Mingus cast one of the no votes primarily because of one of the incentives to the developer, Iowa Machine Shed Company. That incentive is $3-million from the city to the developer toward...more

The...More

An early morning traffic stop near Bradley University Tuesday resulted in the arrest of the driver after a handgun was found. Illinois State Police pulled over 45 year old Naiel Abdeljaer Asad about 1:30am at Main and North University. Troopers say a search of his vehicle led to the discovery of a loaded .32 caliber handgun. Asad was then taken into custody for aggravated unlawful use of a...More

District 150 high school students are just a couple of weeks away of having a dress code to follow. The school board is expected to take a formal vote August 9th. Students have told board members they were willing to police themselves. Board president Debbie Wolfmeyer says having a formal high school school dress code is fine - but it must be enforced. "It's easy for us to pass it and it's...more

The Peoria District 150 school board approves three hires by Superintendent Grenita Lathan to her administrative team. They are all former colleagues of Lathan's when she was an elementary school principal at Guilford County Schools in Greensboro, North Carolina. The new hires include Associate Superintendent Michelle Ungurait. Lathan tells 1470 WMBD, "(She brings) experience working as...more

(AP) - The judge in the federal corruption trial of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has sent the jury home for the day. Judge James Zagel dismissed the panel Monday after Blagojevich attorney Sam Adam Jr. complained the judge was gutting his closing arguments. Adam told Zagel that he intended to tell jurors about all the...More

The firm is identified as Electrotherm from India.  Mayor Jim Ardis says the city is...More

Bradley University's new arena is drawing another headliner this fall. The host of NBC's Tonight Show, Jay Leno, will be performing his stand up act at the new arena Saturday October 16th. That is homecoming weekend at Bradley and President Joanne Glasser expects the late night star to be a big hit with alumni and community members as well as students. Ticket information will be released at a...More

The Green Party candidate for Illinois Governor spent the day in Peoria pushing his Green Jobs Initiative. Rich Whitney and Sheldon Schafer, the Green party candidate for 18th District Congressman, toured the city in a CityLink bus. Whitney says turning the state's financial woes around starts with getting people to work. He says a major problem in Illinois is the way citizens are taxed. Whitney...More

A Peoria environmentalist who co-founded the Heart of Illinois Sierra Club is identified as the victim of a Friday accident on the McClugage Bridge. 79-year old Tom Edwards died of a lacerated aorta, according to the Tazewell County Coroner's Office. Two pickup trucks collided on the westbound span about 8:00 Friday night. Edwards was pronounced dead at the scene. Edwards identity was confirmed ...More

Volunteers have been helping out to transform the former Loucks Edison School building on North University into the new Quest Charter Academy. Peoria's first charter school opens for 5th through 7th grade students August 24th. Volunteers have been splashing some new paint on the walls, laying new carpet and giving the former Loucks-Edison School building a good cleaning. Monday that group was...More

A hit-and-run accident at Sterling and Newman Parkway has left a number of Peoria residents without power -- in addition to the entire Landmark Recreation Center complex. Police say a car, reported as being stolen, hit a utility pole with a transformer at that location. The driver fled the scene on foot. No suspects...more

A light agenda faces the Peoria District 150 school board tonight. The board is expected to discuss, once again, the high school student dress code issue. Board member Martha Ross, during the last meeting, told the board her parent-student advisory committee decided to let the students police themselves when it comes to student dress. However, if that didn't work, Ross said the administration...more

In fact, you might have seen her practicing for the job before.  Hall has been known to be out alongside roads and highways in the area...More

An unidentified person was shot in the arm early this morning at a home in the 2300 block of West Marquette.  Officers called to the scene about 450am.  Several shots were apparently fired into the house by an unknown person or persons when the victim was hit.  The injury doesn't appear to be life threatening.  There's no word on the suspects.

The 2010 Prairie Air Show continues Sunday at the Peoria International Airport. This year's show features several new acts to the Peoria show. Spokesman Brad Windsor says with no jet team this year the show features four or five different headliners. That includes the AeroShell Aerobatic Team. That is a four plane team that flies together. Pilot Mark Henley says the 15 minute act is very close...More

One man is dead after a two-vehicle crash on the westbound lanes of McClugage Bridge. The Journal Star reports both vehicles flipped as the result of the accident that happened about 8:00 Friday night. The victim's name has not been released. Two people were taken to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. Their names and conditions...more

Fire fighters and occupants escape injury during a two alarm fire. Peoria fire fighters were called to 708 East Ravine just after three this morning. Battalion Chief Jim Phelan says crews spotted fire on the east side of the building and kept the fire from spreading to the house next door. But Phelan says that wasn't the worst of it. Phelan says as a hole was being cut through the roof to...more

The Republican candidate for President Obama's old Senate seat is in Peoria announcing a ten-part agenda for the city. Congressman Mark Kirk says it's a list of federal priorities to help the Peoria he would fight for if elected. One is to eliminate gang violence by, he tells WMBD's Greg and Dan Show, eliminating the gangs. Kirk says gangs undermine the entire economic and social fabric of a...more

The 18 year old inmate who escaped Wednesday night from a work detail outside the Tazewell County Jail has been apprehended.  Sean Hensley was found in an apartment on the north side of Pekin just after 700pm Thursday evening.  Tazewell County Sheriff Bob Huston says Hensley did not resist when taken into custody.  A warrant was issued earlier in the day Thursday charging Hensley...More

The board approved expanding the county Enterprise Zone to Elmwood. This will allow...More

(AP) - Authorities at the Peoria County Jail say a Baptist clergyman who has long served as a minister for inmates there has been barred from the facility after allegedly making derogatory comments about jailers and encouraging inmates to sign petitions. Peoria County Sheriff Mike McCoy confirmed Thursday that the Rev. A.J. Guyton is at least temporarily no longer allowed to visit the jail to...more

Tazewell County Sheriff Bob Huston has issued an appeal to the 18 year old inmate who escaped from outside the jail in Pekin Wednesday night.  Huston says authrorities will find him and it would be better to end this quickly and come forward to face his action.  Sean Hensley was taking out the garbage while under supervision and ran away about 900pm.  Huston says he thinks Hensley...More

A nine month investigation culminated Tuesday with the arrest of a Jacksonville man in Peoria for allegedly attempting to have sex with a minor. 55 year old Donald Fisher was charged in federal court with attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. He faces 10 years in prison. Fisher had Internet chat conversations for nine months with who he thought was a 42 year old woman...More

The latest Peoria Metro unemployment figures are back in double figures.  Results released  Thursday by the Illinois Department of Employment Security shows a 10.3 percent jobless rate in June.  That's up one percent from May's 9.3 percent rate.  Even though the unemployment percentage rose, the Peoria area gained 500 jobs in June when compared to May.  177,600 people are...More

(AP) - Heavy machinery manufacturer Caterpillar says its second quarter earnings shot up 91 percent on a big increase in sales of equipment for industries like mining, infrastructure and energy. The company, considered a bellwether of industrial activity, also raised its 2010 outlook Thursday, saying orders are growing and production will increase in the second half of the year. Caterpillar...more

Peoria police are investigating an overnight shooting. One person wa shot in the 700 block of Illinois just before 2:00 this morning. Police says it did not appear the wound was life-threatening. No other details have been released...more

Wildlife Prairie State Park employees have a big decision to make. They can agree to leave their positions by September 1st and collect unemployment compensation and benefits - or they can wait it out and risk ...More

A Peoria County judge has refused to toss out official misconduct charges against a Peoria police officer. Gerald Suelter and two other officers are accused of beating and tasing of Bryce Scott after a car chase in May of 2008. Suelter had claimed a Peoria County prosecutor misspoke to a grand jury. The Journal star reports Judge Glen Collier said the prosecutor's comments likely did not...more

CHICAGO (AP) - The presiding judge in Rod Blagojevich's  corruption trial is considering whether to throw out some or all  of the charges against the former Illinois governor or his  co-defendant brother. Speaking hours after prosecutors and defense attorneys both  rested their cases Wednesday, Judge James B. Zagel told attorneys  he'd rule on Thursday.  Motions...More

The defense for former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has rested its case without calling any witness, including Blagojevich to the stand. Closing arguments from both sides are expected Monday when the trial resumes. Blagojevich has claimed for the 19 months he planned to testify at his trial, but attorney Sam Adam Senior claims prosecutors did not prove their case, and calling Blagojevich to...More

Peoria Police have made an arrest for the July 11th murder of Orlando Davis.  22 year old Steven Coaxum was taken into custody by officers Tuesday near the Village Green apartments.  Detectives interviewed Coaxum and later arrested him.  The 30 year old Davis was one of two shot in the 2700 block of Trewyn on a night five total people were received gunshot wounds.  Davis was...More

How to deal with pain was the topic of a panel discussion with local health officials Wednesday in Peoria. 92nd District State Representative Jehan Gordon hosted the event where members of the public got to ask question and find out ways to better manage pain associated with arthritis, fibromyalgia and other related issues that cause pain. Dr. Demacio Howard with Advanced Pain Management of...More

(AP) - Rod Blagojevich's attorneys say the ousted Illinois governor will not testify at his corruption trial. Blagojevich had long pledged to take the stand in his own defense, saying for months that he wanted to do so to set the record straight. But his attorneys initially said Tuesday they could rest the case without calling a single witness. They confirmed that Wednesday. They say the...more

Peoria police are looking for a suspect who robbed Midwest Title Loan at 1618 North Knoxville this morning. Preliminary reports show the suspect, armed with a gun, forced an employee into the restroom before taking some money. The suspect fled on foot. There were...more

East Peoria's most aggressive developer officially has the approval of the city council to go ahead with a likely 12 story high rise close to the Illinois River.  The council OK'd a right of way agreement of land owned by Gary Matthews next to TGI Fridays.  Bass Pro Boulevard will begin there and continue to Riverfront Park and turn northward under the Murray Baker Bride to the old Ash ...More

(From Illinois Statehouse News) - Rod Blagojevich and his defense team could spike six months of preparation and break a promise they made to the jury to put the ex-governor on the stand on Wednesday–a move which could bring an abrupt end to the former Illinois governor’s federal corruption trial. Sam Adam Sr., a storied local criminal defense attorney, said it was his idea to pull...more

No injuries result from a fire at 731 East Kansas in Peoria late Tuesday night. Fire Battalion Chief Jim Phelan says the fire started in the front wall and extended upstairs. Phelan says the cause was a short in an electrical outlet because an air conditioner was plugged into an extension cord. The Red Cross was called to assist for...more

CHICAGO (AP) - An attorney for Rod Blagojevich says he does not think the ex-governor should take the stand in his own defense. Sam Adam Sr. said Tuesday after court adjourned that there is a disagreement among Blagojevich's lawyers. Adam said he feels the former governor should not testify because he does not believe the government has proven its case, and that the real issue is whether to call ...More

Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella is going to  retire at the end of the season.  Piniella announced his decision Tuesday before a game  against the Astros. The 66-year-old manager says he is looking  forward to spending more time with his family. He says announcing his retirement now - just after the  All-Star break - gives the team time to find a replacement. ...More

Another big step clearing the way for Bass Pro Shop to begin construction is on East Peoria's city council agenda Tuesday.  The council will vote on issuing up to $45 million dollars in bonds for the Bass Pro Shop project.  A potion of that money will pay for some costs in the Camp Street Redevelopment area.  The city expects to pay for the bonds in revenues and taxes gained by the

A power outage at the main Illinois Central College in East Peoria has forced the cancellation of classes and activities scheduled before 500pm Tuesday.  The library, bookstore and registration office at the East Peoria campus only are also are closed.  Classes remain in session Tuesdayafternoon at ICC North, Downtown and South campuses.  College for Kids at the East Peoria campus...More

If you miss live TV coverage of the Peoria District 150 school board meetings, you'll be without them until at least November. Board members decided Monday to continue tape-delayed coverage of meetings with the public comment portion edited out. Board member Jim Stowell claims the same few people are dominating the dialogue and that takes away from the board's business. "This is the...more

A panel of local health experts will talks about pain management Wednesday. Warning signs, medical treatments and strategies for managing pain will be talked about. The discussion will be hosted by State Representative Jehan Gordon, who tells WMBD's Greg and Dan her father suffers from arthritis. Gordon says the seminar is meant to talk about strategies and treatments for managing pain while also...more

(From Illinois Statehouse News) - Robert Blagojevich on Monday testified that he was his brother’s “(score)keeper,” but that was where his involvement ended in 2008, according to his defense. “I was a scorekeeper, I kept track of money coming in and out (of the campaign fund),” he told jurors in the federal corruption trial of former Illinois Gov. Rod...more

Peoria School District 150 will encourage, but not require, new hires to live within the district's boundaries. That was a consensus decision of the school board meeting Monday as a Committee of the Whole. Board member Rachael Parker is the latest to recommend such a change. And it she says it could still happen. Parker says the district was established as a charter district in 1869. That...more

Generous monetary gifts given by Par-A-Dice Casino and parent company Boyd Gaming have both Quest Charter Academy and Peoria Promise inching closer to their fundraising goals for this school year.  Par-A-Dice announced Monday it's contributed $25,000 to each educational program.  Vice President and General Manager Loren Gill of the Casino says the gifts are representative of Boyd ...More

Two suspects are in custody after a Sunday morning shooting that results in the city's 17th homicide of the year. Peoria police find three people shot around 10:00 Sunday morning outside a house in the 1200 block of North Frink. One of the victims, identifed by the Peoria County Coroner's office as 43-year old Anthony Johnson, died in the emergency room at OSF Saint Francis Medical...more

(From WEEK News 25) - It was a violent morning in the River City. Just before 10am Sunday, police received calls of shots fired on Frink street. Upon arrival, officers found three victims and a bystander frantically trying to save a man's life. "I just heard gun shots, I heard like four or five gunshots just back to back to back," said witness Latisha Coates. "An all too...more

Peoria police have made an arrest in connection with the city's third homicide of the year. Abdllaah Kuttoum was shot and killed inside the Peoria Food Mart on Frye in March. 18-year old Keith Little Jr. has been charged with first degree murder, armed violence and armed robbery. Little was one of three people arrested following a police chase on May third - charged with possessing a handgun...more

Peoria police are looking for two suspects in connection with an armed robbery. Police say the suspects, one armed with a gun, held up a person outside the McDonald's on Knoxville. It happened just before 7:30 Sunday morning. One suspect fled on foot, the other...more

No injuries are reported from a Peoria house fire. The blaze was centered in the back room of a house at 2206 NE Madison. Fire fighters were called to the scene around 10:30 Saturday night. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Bring back the live TV coverage of the Peoria District 150 school board meetings. Board members have been hearing that during public comment since May when the meetings started to be shown on a one-week delay - with the audience participation edited out. It was believed the district would save around $25,000 a year in manpower not to mention the need to buy new equipment. Plus, the board felt...more

(From WEEK News 25) - Come on in. That's the message directors at OSF St. Francis Medical Center are sending to the public this weekend, and people are taking full advantage. Over the course of the day, organizers say thousands in Central Illinois had the chance to see the OSF's new Children's Hospital of Illinois. The public open house gives visitors a tour of seven of the new building's eight...more

A monumental day for OSF in Peoria. There were two dedications of the OSF Milestone Project.  The first was a Friday morning ribbon cutting and blessing of the OSF St. Francis Medical Center addition which houses the new Children's Hospital of Illinois under one roof and includes an adult heart treatment floor and the new ER.  Friday night was the second dedication, this time for the...More

Peoria fire crews are called to a vacant home at 2120 West Butler shortly after midnight Saturday morning.  The bathroom of the single story structure was on fire....More 

Peoria's Biotechnology Research Development Center will benefit from 3.5 million dollars in the latest federal appropriations funding bill.  Senator Dick Durbin announced Thursday the legislation passed in committee.  The house and senate still need to approve the plan.  Ag lab CEO and President Dr. Grant Brewen says he is appreciative of Senator Durbin's effort, along with ..More

The new task force formed by Peoria Police got off to a fast start Thursday night. Lt. Tom Burke says 30 officers and Illinois State Police troopers teamed up and moved into what was deemed the hot zone for the recent rash of shootings in the city. Lt. Burke says 81 traffic stops resulted in 18 arrests the recovery of two loaded revolvers, one B.B. pistol, 3.1 grams of crack cocaine and 19 grams...More

Two local state representatives and two fellow Republican hopefuls are calling on Governor Pat Quinn to rescind recent pay raises given out to executive staff.  Legislators' Bill Mitchell and Dave Leitch will introduce legislation Friday imposing future limitiations on how much of a pay increase the Governor can give.  The 87th and 73rd District representatives were joined by state...More

(From Illinois Statehouse News) - Stoicism is an increasingly rare trait in the days of reality television and tell-all books. And it is seldom associated with a certain Serbian surname–Rod Blagojevich, after all, did both following his arrest on corruption charges in 2008. But the former Illinois governor’s brother, Robert, appears to embody the term. He is standing side-by-side...more

(From WEEK News 25) - Those traveling between Dunlap and Peoria with have a more direct route to travel. Thursday night the city of Peoria held an open house at Charter Oak school to educate residents on the Orange Prairie Extension. Residents were able to see the preliminary plans to extend the road, which currently runs from Charter Oak to the Shoppes at Grand Prairie all the way to...more

If you are looking to start a business a competition later this year could help you get started. The Launch Business Idea Competition begins in September for the second year. Those with ideas for businesses can present their ideas from September 28th to the 30th during preliminary rounds of competition, with the finals on October 13th. Ken Klotz, the Director of the Turner Center for...More

(From WEEK News 25 ) - Pekin's Avanti's Dome- formerly the Dragon's Dome- is getting a much needed face-lift less than two weeks before the National Girl's Fast Pitch Tournament. The East Side Center is coordinating the tournament and has asked the Avanti's Dome to lend their diamonds. "They looked at having a tournament out here last year. When they saw the conditions at the time- even of...more

The Diocese of Peoria will have a special opportunity to host relics of Blessed Mother Teresa. The relics - including her sandals, rosary and even a vial of her blood - will be venerated during a Mass at Noon Friday at St. Mary's Cathedral. Afterward, the Cathedral will be open for several hours so people can pray before the relics. Mother Teresa visited Peoria in 1995 but Monsignor Paul...more

No injuries are reported during a fire at the Dew Drop Inn on Main Street in Glasford. Fire fighters were called to the scene just after 4:00 this morning and had the fire extinguished within an hour. Early reports indicated the fire was centered in the ceiling. No cause...more

(From Illinois Statehouse News) - The federal government had three months to prove former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich guilty of 24 counts of corruption. Prosecutors seem to think it only took five weeks, but that will be up for the jury to decide. The prosecution on Tuesday rested its case, and defense attorneys will start presenting witnesses on Monday. The jury so far has been inundated with...more

One of the possible ways for the city of Peoria to cut into the 2011 budget deficit is to institute a pay-as-you-go landscape waste program.  The city currently funds yard waste pick-up through the solid waste contract.  By switching to a user fee system, one million dollars could be saved in the operating budget.  However, the city council said no to the option last year....More

Peoria's Police Chief is asking for your help as authorities step up efforts to curb the recent gun violence in the city. Chief Steve Settingsgaard says even with a task force of 16 additional officers and two sergeants hitting the troubled areas, police need information from everyone to stop these shootings.

Uniforms are required for Peoria Public School primary and middle school students. But the requirement will not be extended to the high schools at least for now. District 150 school board member Martha Ross says the word from students to her Parent-Teacher Advisory Committee is they can take care of it themselves. "This year we are going to try to do it their way," says Ross...more

The rash of shootings in Peoria means more enforcement is heading to the streets. Peoria Police Chief Steve Settingsgaard was joined by officials from several nearby agencies to announce Tuesday plans to add 16 officers to patrol the shooting hot zones in the south end of town from 6pm to 4am. Two sergeants will also be added to that shift. He says officers are going to go and look for those...More

Another step towards changing the dynamic of Washington Street to help development got the OK from the Peoria City Council Tuesday night.  A 10-0 vote sends a formal request to IDOT to relocate U-S Route 24 and Illinois Route 29 to the other side of the Illinois River.  If approved by the state and ultimately again by the council,  Washington Street would be a city...More 

(From WEEK News 25) - About 50 residents filled the East Peoria city council chambers for a public forum on Bass Pro Shop and plans to bring the outdoor sporting goods and wildlife store to the riverfront. Many of those who stood at the podium Tuesday evening had concerns about the viability of the mega-store local officials have been raving about. In addition, Presley's Outdoors owner Tim...more

(From Illinois Statehouse News) - The federal government on Tuesday rested its case in the corruption trial of Rod Blagojevich, but the former Illinois governor's attorneys are doing anything but, as they try to reverse the picture of the power and money-hungry politician drawn by the prosecution. Prosecutors spent five weeks playing wiretaps and questioning some of Blagojevich's closest...more

A 21 year old Peoria man was indicted Tuesday on charges of shooting several people in June.  Dione Alexander is being held on a total $850,000 bond for separate  incidents.  Alexander is the man, who as a 15 year old shot a handgun in a crowded hallway in Woodruff High School.  He left prison last year.  Alexander is charged with 3 counts of aggravated battery with a...More

CHICAGO (AP) - Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn says if you can't beat Asian carp, then you eat them.  Quinn has announced an agreement with a Chinese meat processing company and an Illinois fishery to catch the fish and ship them to China where they are a delicacy.  Quinn says the idea is to harvest the invasive fish from Illinois rivers before they get into the Great Lakes. The plan is to...More

A cause of death is still pending for a 5 month old boy who was pronounced dead in the ER Monday morning.  Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll says an autopsy performed Tuesday on Rashaad Thompson-Watkins shows no sign of trauma.  Emergency crews were called to 210 Hancock, Apartment 275 to the report of an unresponsive baby. The infant was transported to OSF Saint Francis...More

(AP) - The federal judge presiding over former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's corruption case says he will delay the trial for one week if prosecutors rest on Tuesday. Judge James Zagel made the statement in court Tuesday. Defense attorneys have asked for a recess of at least one week before starting their case. They say the prosecution has moved ahead so fast with the government's case that...more

A Pekin man is dead following a Tazewell County motorcycle crash. The Tazewell County Coroner's office says it appears 45-year old Todd Pomerenke was operating is motorcycle in the 4500 block of Allentown Road when the cycle left the roadway. An area resident walking to the mailbox spotted the crash just after 5:00 this morning. An autopsy...more

Thousands of rubber ducks will float along Peoria's riverfront during the 22nd annual Center for Prevention of Abuse Duck Race to Stop Abuse. The Center's Executive Director Martha Herm hopes there will be 25,000 ducks to be exact. Herm says the fundraiser is more crucial this year because of federal and state grant cuts while the need for services grows. "We have seniors who have been...more

A standoff that lasts over four hours ends peacefully as a Peoria man surrenders to authorities. Police responded to reports of suicidal man holed up in a house at Western and Martin with a rifle about 7:15 Monday night. The man was finally lured out of the house with tear gas about 11:45 with no injuries. Peoria police chief Steve Settingsgaard says it was believed a family member called police...more

Longtime discussions between the city of Peoria and IDOT might result in approval by the Peoria City Council tonight(Tuesday) to remove Washington Street as a U-S highway designation.  Washington has doubled as U-S Route 24 in the city for years.  Officials have conducted a feasibility study for awhile, which would put control of Washington back to total city jurisdiction.  City...more

(From Illinois Statehouse News) - Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s defense team brought a dictionary to federal court on Monday, but his attorneys did not need Merriam-Webster to define “filibuster." And a defense motion revealed the former governor on trial for corruption is aiming pretty high in his witness list. Blagojevich’s attorneys are asking the judge for a...more

Peoria Public Schools Superintendent Grenita Lathan says he wants to bring back vocational education programs. She would also like to reinstate some adult education programs. But, Lathan says it's all about money and the lack of it – especially when it comes to state aid payments. Members of the public plead for the return of those programs and Lathan responded. "We are going to look...more

A five-month old boy was pronounced dead at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center ER about 1115am Monday morning after being found unresponsive earlier at an apartment in the Taft Homes.  Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll identifies the infant as Rashaad Thompson-Watkins.  Ingersoll say the baby was co-sleeping with a nine year old sister at 210 Hancock, apartment 275.  The Coroner...More