Category Archives: Local News
GOP governor candidate Darren Bailey moves into Chicago apartment
Article Summary Republican gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey has moved into an apartment in Chicago as he seeks to improve his outreach to voters in the state's most populous region. Bailey lived in...
Apr 15, 2026 Darren Bailey speaks to reporters at a Springfield hotel on March 17, 2026, after winning the Republican nomination for governor for a second time. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Peter Hancock)
Amid artificial intelligence explosion, lawmakers debate best path to regulate
Article Summary While artificial intelligence industry donors spent big in Illinois primary elections, lawmakers continue debating the best way to regulate the industry. Previous bills and hearings su...
Apr 15, 2026 State Sen. Mary Edly-Allen on the Senate floor. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
Tazewell County Coroner rules out remains belonging to missing woman
TAZEWELL COUNTY, Ill. - An investigation into the discovery of a human skull on Sunday in East Peoria continues. But the Tazewell County Coroner says the remains are not those of a woman missing for n...
Apr 15, 2026
Pekin to start enforcing rules limiting public comments at council meetings
By Angeles Ponpa PEKIN, Ill. (25 News) - Pekin will begin enforcement of an ordinance limiting public comments at city council meetings that many times last more than two hours. In fact, Monday night'...
Apr 15, 2026 (City of Pekin)
Peoria street named after singer Liv Warfield
By Liz Lape PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) - City leaders, family, and friends gathered near Peoria Stadium on Tuesday to help officially name a street after Peoria-born singer-songwriter, Liv Warfield. Warfi...
Apr 15, 2026 A street in Peoria was named after Peoria-born singer-songwriter Liv Warfield on Tuesday. (25 News)
7th Circuit orders release, new trial for two 'ComEd Four' defendants
Article Summary Just hours after their lawyers argued to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday, the three-judge panel ordered the release of longtime Springfield lobbyist Mike McClain and former...
Apr 15, 2026 Longtime Springfield lobbyist Mike McClain and former Commonwealth Edison CEO Anne Pramaggiore leave Chicago’s Dirksen Federal Courthouse on their separate sentencing dates in July after both were sentenced to two years in prison in connection to a bribery scheme centered on former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. (Capitol News Illinois photos by Andrew Adams)
Costs of state employee health benefits continue steep rise
Article Summary State employee health care costs have been rising steadily for several years due to growth in the state's workforce and general health care inflation. Next year's projected increase wi...
Apr 14, 2026 Officials from the Department of Central Management Services testify before the legislative Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability about expected cost increases next year in the state employee group health insurance system. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Peter Hancock)
Peoria man detained after allegedly beating girlfriend over several hours
PEORIA, Ill. - A man must remain in the Peoria County Jail after allegedly beating his girlfriend over the course of several hours. The Peoria County State's Attorney's Office says 21-year-old Johnnie...
Apr 14, 2026 (Peoria County Sheriff's Office)
Grand jury indicts man who allegedly beat mother in Peoria motel room
PEORIA, Ill. - A man who allegedly beat his elderly mother in a Peoria motel room has been indicted by a grand jury. 49-year-old Matthew Howarter was indicted on three counts of Aggravated Domestic Ba...
Apr 14, 2026 courtroom gavel
Lawmakers grill Department of Corrections after audit shows dozens of failures
Article Summary Illinois lawmakers say the Illinois Department of Corrections must fix a slew of errors that were revealed in a recent audit. The audit found the department allows people to take a vac...
Apr 14, 2026 Illinois Department of Corrections Director LaToya Hughes was confirmed as department director in October and has led it since 2023. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Peter Hancock)
