Category Archives: Local News
Report: Illinois stalls in efforts to expand preschool compared to other states
Article Summary A 2025 nationwide report on statewide early childhood education found that Illinois stalled in efforts to expand preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds. Recent governor-led initiatives aimed...
Apr 22, 2026 Students are pictured at a Rochester Elementary School pre-K classroom. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Campbell)
Spain, Illinois House GOP come out against state redistricting constitutional amendment
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Illinois House Republicans are accusing the other side of the aisle of using a proposed constitutional amendment for gerrymandering. On Tuesday, State Representative and Deputy Min...
Apr 22, 2026 Rep. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria, speaks during debate over a bill reforming public transit in northeastern Chicago in the early house of Oct. 31. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Adams)
OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois to open pediatric specialty care center
PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) - OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois in Peoria is expanding with a new facility designed to make appointments faster and easier for families. Opening next spring, the OSF Healt...
Apr 22, 2026 OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois unveiled plans Tuesday for a Pediatric Specialty Care Center, set to open next spring. (25 News)
Pritzker executive order bars state employees from using insider info in prediction markets
Article Summary JB Pritzker signed an executive order Tuesday barring state employees and elected officials from using information obtained in their official capacity to place bets on prediction marke...
Apr 22, 2026 Prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi allow users the ability to bet on real-world events such as the outcome of elections or whether the Bears will leave Illinois. (Capitol News Illinois screenshot by Maggie Dougherty)
OSF HealthCare and law enforcement promote Drug Take Back Day
PEORIA, Ill. - OSF HealthCare is partnering with Peoria Police for Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday. Sandy Salverson tells WMBD's "Greg and Dan" that prescriptions can be dropped off at O...
Apr 22, 2026 (Drug Enforcement Agency)
Illinois House unveils new version of Bears' megaprojects bill
Article Summary House lawmakers met for several hours behind closed doors Tuesday to discuss the latest amendment to a bill aimed at keeping the Chicago Bears in Illinois. The bill's House sponsor say...
Apr 22, 2026 Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, updates reporters about a megaprojects bill
aimed at incentivizing the Chicago Bears to build a domed stadium in Arlington Heights.
(Capitol News Illinois photo by Ben Szalinski)
Peoria looking for vendors to develop housing at Expo Gardens
PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) -The City of Peoria has unveiled plans for the former Expo Gardens property, having bought the site last year. The property, located on West Northmoor Road, was originally purch...
Apr 22, 2026 (Expo Gardens)
PCAPS introduces initiatives to help lost pets be safe before returning home
PEORIA COUNTY, Ill. - New initiatives by Peoria County Animal Protective Service are aiming to keep lost pets safe and sound until they return home. The first is the establishment of two microchip sca...
Apr 21, 2026 (Village of Peoria Heights)
Bill would give Illinois EPA greater oversight of manufacturers' plastic pellet runoff
Article Summary A bill that cleared the Illinois House would give the state's EPA emergency rulemaking powers to address plastic pellet spills and their affect on stormwater runoff. Plastic pellets ar...
Apr 21, 2026 Lightweight plastic pellets can be seen between seedlings at Chicago’s Wild Mile, a floating garden park at the north branch of the Chicago river. (Medill Illinois News Bureau photo by Gabriel Castilho)
Washington aldermen hear proposal on cannabis dispensary
WASHINGTON, Ill. - Aldermen in Washington are scheduled to take a vote next month on a proposed cannabis dispensary, the first in the city. On Monday night, a discussion topic was held on the proposal...
Apr 21, 2026 (T.J. Carson/1470 & 100.3 WMBD)
