Category Archives: Local News
Insurance regulation bills clear General Assembly
Article Summary The House gave final passage Wednesday to bills giving the Illinois Department of Insurance authority to review and approve rates for homeowners and automobile insurance. Both bills pr...
May 28, 2026 Democratic Rep. Thaddeus Jones speaks on the House floor on his way to passing a pair of bills to regulate the homeowner and auto insurance industries. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jenna Schweikert)
Lawmakers approve bill to regulate e-bikes, scooters
Article Summary Illinois lawmakers are advancing a bill that would impose new regulations on electric bikes and scooters. The regulations include limits on where they can be driven, and for higher spe...
May 28, 2026 Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, presents her e-bike regulation bill in the Illinois House on May 27, 2026. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jenna Schweikert)
US judge won't block Trump's mail-in voting executive order for now
May 28 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Thursday declined to immediately block President Donald Trump's executive order tightening rules on mail-in voting, but left the door open for the Democratic Party t...
May 28, 2026 FILE PHOTO: "On Demand" absentee or mail-in ballots are time stamped after being filled out in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, U.S. October 31, 2022. REUTERS/Hannah Beier
West Nile virus found in Tazewell County
PEKIN, Ill. - Tazewell County's first case of West Nile Virus was discovered this week. The county health department says a mosquito pool collected on Tuesday in Pekin tested positive for the virus. T...
May 28, 2026 Tim Sheerman-Chase / CC
Illinois lawmakers pass landmark AI accountability bill
Article Summary Illinois House lawmakers passed a bill Wednesday that would regulate how the largest artificial intelligence companies report on the capabilities of their models. The bill, which passe...
May 28, 2026 Rep. Daniel Didech, D-Buffalo Grove, speaks on the House floor May 27. His bill would make Illinois the third state to regulate frontier AI models. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jenna Schweikert)
Durbin warns of deep divisions in farewell address to Illinois lawmakers
Article Summary U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin delivered a farewell address to the Illinois General Assembly, reflecting on his decades in public office and warning that today's political divisions pose a seri...
May 28, 2026 U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin delivers a farewell address to Illinois lawmakers on May 27, 2026. He reflected on his decades in public office and warning that today’s political divisions threaten democratic norms. (Capitol News Illinois photos by Jerry Nowicki)
Peoria County prepares to open Bicentennial Park
PEORIA, Ill. -- ArtsPartners of Central Illinois and Peoria County are hosting a First Fridays Amplified pop-up lunchtime celebration on Friday, June 5th, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m at Bicentennial Park. A ri...
May 28, 2026 The new Bicentennial Park in the courtyard of the Peoria County Courthouse features a family of Bison in a new water feature. (Choose Greater Peoria Facebook page)
Peoria and Peoria County energy costs expected to increase this summer
By Stace Keane PEORIA, Ill. - Get ready for a higher power bill this summer. Peoria City and County officials say electricity rates are rising across the board. Ameren customers will see the biggest i...
May 28, 2026 sbotas / Depositphotos.com
Mayor's Youth Program kicks off in Peoria on Friday
By Stace Keane PEORIA, Ill. - The City of Peoria's annual summer enrichment initiative for Peoria Public Schools students, the Mayor's Youth Program, will kick off at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 29, at the ...
May 28, 2026 (City of Peoria)
Peoria Heights hosts "Hot In The Heights" at Tower Park
PEORIA HEIGHTS, Ill. - What better way to officially kick off summer in the Heights than with some cold drinks? The Peoria Heights Chamber is hosting "Hot In The Heights" Thursday night at Tower Park....
May 28, 2026 Hot In The Heights is back on Thursday, May 28th at Tower Park. (Peoria Heights Chamber of Commerce Facebook)
