Category Archives: Local News
Man impersonating Peoria County Sheriff's deputy arrested
PEORIA COUNTY, Ill. - A man impersonating a Peoria County Sheriff's deputy has been arrested. Sheriff Chris Watkins says 43-year-old Dennis Walker, who also goes by Josh Coats, was arrested on Tuesday...
Jun 02, 2026 (Peoria County Sheriff's Office)
Cell-phone ban, loosening foreign language requirements among education bills to pass
Article Summary Several educations measures were among the hundreds of bills that cleared the General Assembly before it adjourned on June 1. Schools will have to adopt policies next year banning cell...
Jun 02, 2026 Most public school students in Illinois will no longer be allowed to use their cell phones in school next year under legislation that Gov. JB Pritzker says he intends to sign. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Peter Hancock)
Peoria woman arrested after violent domestic dispute
PEORIA, Ill. - A violent domestic dispute in Peoria over the weekend led to a woman's arrest. Peoria Police say it happened Sunday afternoon on Sleepy Hollow Road. A man was stabbed in the stomach dur...
Jun 02, 2026 23-year-old Makiah Baker. (Peoria County Jail)
PPS teams up with local groups to provide free meals this summer
By Imani McClay PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) -Community organizations are partnering with Peoria Public Schools and the Illinois State Board of Education to provide kids free breakfast and lunch over the su...
Jun 02, 2026 Local organizations are partnering with Peoria Public Schools this summer to make sure kids are being fed. (25 News)
Outdoor burning leads to garage fire in Peoria
PEORIA, Ill. - If you're going to burn trash in your backyard, don't walk away from it. The Peoria Fire Department says that's exactly what caused a garage fire Monday afternoon on W. Wiswall Street. ...
Jun 02, 2026 (Midwest Communications)
Republican challenger to Gov. Pritzker says latest state budget is "tax and spend"
PEORIA, Ill. - The Republican challenger for Illinois governor says the latest state budget continues a "tax and spend" strategy by Democrats. "Over the last eight years of Pritzker, it's just been ta...
Jun 01, 2026 Republican nominee for governor Darren Bailey speaks to reporters following a Republican Party breakfast in Naperville on March 18, 2026. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Ben Szalinski)
'We didn't have time': Pritzker, leaders defend adjourning without Bears deal
Article Summary JB Pritzker acknowledged Monday that the Chicago Bears may be on their way to Indiana. But he and Democratic leaders defended their decision not to move a bill incentivizing them to st...
Jun 01, 2026 Gov. JB Pritzker responds to reporters’ questions at a morning news conference on June 1. Pritzker said a Bears deal is not off the table, but still a long way from fruition. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jenna Schweikert)
Arrest made in connection to Memorial Day robbery at Peoria Campustown eatery
PEORIA, Ill. - A man has been arrested in connection to an attempted armed robbery of a Peoria Campustown restaurant one week ago. Peoria Police says 45-year-old Aaron Cook is charged with Attempted A...
Jun 01, 2026 (Peoria County Sheriff's Office)
Schools to get funding increase, but less than some had urged
Article Summary Illinois lawmakers approved a budget after 4 a.m. Monday that includes the full $350 million increase in Evidence-Based Funding for public schools. The budget calls for just over $10.8...
Jun 01, 2026 Sen Elgie Sims, D-Chicago, debates Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Cherry Valley, on the Senate floor before the chamber approved the fiscal year 2027 budget. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
Rideshare drivers could unionize in Illinois under bill passed by General Assembly
Article Summary The General Assembly passed a bill early Monday that would give rideshare drivers the right to form a union. Drivers for companies like Uber and Lyft could elect union representatives ...
Jun 01, 2026 Supporters of the rideshare union bill celebrate in the Senate gallery after the bill passed on the floor. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jenna Schweikert.)
