Author Archives: Rick Hirschmann

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed the fiscal year 2021 operating budget. The budget spends $42.9 billion. Of that, $38 billion comes from the general fund. This is approximately $4 bi...

WMBD, WIRL, WPBG, WXCL, WKZF and WSWT Fathers Day Giveaway Contest Rules 06-08 thru 06-19-2020 (1)

WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 13.3% in May from 14.7%, and 2.5 million jobs were added - a surprisingly positive reading in the midst of a recession that has paralyzed the econo...

PEORIA, Ill. -- It looks as though the JCPenney at Northwoods Mall has been spared from closure, at least for now. The corporation on Thursday night released a list of the first 154 stores it plans to...

WASHINGTON (AP) - Nearly 1.9 million people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, the ninth straight decline since applications spiked in mid-March, a sign that the gradual reopening of bu...

PEORIA, Ill. -- A man is dead after an apparent Wednesday night homicide in Peoria's West Bluff. Peoria Police responded to the 1700 block of N. Bigelow St. just before 11:30 on a ShotSpotter alert of...

PEORIA, Ill. -- Things may be slowly progressing back to where they were pre-COVID, but "slowly" is the operative, as was evidenced Wednesday night. For the second time, comedian Bert Kreischer's show...

PEORIA, Ill. -- Summer vacation has kicked off, but talks for what classes will look like in the fall continue for Bradley University. One change made to the fall semester: there will not be a fall br...

PEORIA, Ill. -- Despite the blows brought on by COVID-19, the first flight from Peoria to Nashville is a go. The inaugural Allegiant service is still scheduled to run Thursday night at 10:15, a nonsto...

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minneapolis police officer charged with killing George Floyd has been hit with an upgraded charge. Derek Chauvin has now been charged with second degree murder. He had been facing a...