Local News

PEORIA (25NewsNow) - The Peoria school board is scheduled to vote Monday, Nov. 9, on the future of Elite's Game Changer Safe School. Peoria Public Schools says the program at Trewyn School for sixth through eighth graders is facing challenges, including discipline issues and neighborhood violence. Peoria Public Schools...

PEKIN, Ill. - Pekin Mayor Mary Burress is seeking another term in office, announcing her reelection campaign Friday while highlighting infrastructure improvements, economic development and financial accountability. Burress said she wants to continue building on the city's progress while addressing ongoing challenges. &...

PEORIA COUNTY (25News Now) - In a tension-filled room Thursday night, the Peoria County Board approved a special use for the Four Creeks wind project 12 to 5. The Four Creeks, LLC wind project, developed by Repsol Renewables, would span four townships in northwestern Peoria County. There will be 113 turbines spanning 2...

Article Summary House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch issued a statement Thursday afternoon saying he will not seek another term as speaker. Twenty-six House Democrats signed a letter opposing another term of leadership for Welch. Several of the members told Capitol News Illinois they had concerns about his...

PEORIA (25News Now) - A familiar name is making a comeback in Peoria, just in time for the holiday shopping season. Toys "R" Us officially opened its doors at Northwoods Mall on Thursday, Nov. 5, bringing the iconic toy retailer back to the area after years away. The new store replaces the former Go! Games lo...

PEORIA (25News Now) - The Peoria Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois is calling on local elected officials and law enforcement leaders to publicly reaffirm their commitment to the Illinois Trust Act following reports of increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in Central Illinois. In...

PEKIN (25News Now) - Strata Clean Energy presented to the Tazewell County Zoning Board, looking for a special use permit to build an energy storage facility in Elm Grove Township. The plan is for a 300 megawatt storage facility that can hold excess energy when its not needed and put it back in the grid when there's hig...

PEORIA (25News Now) - A joint study by the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria and Jolt Harm Reduction found that housing insecurity, lack of reliable transportation and public stigma often lead people who use drugs in central Illinois to avoid health care. Researchers surveyed local participants about...

PEKIN (25News Now) - Pekin Public Schools District 108 is rethinking how it will pay for millions of dollars in building improvements after Tazewell County voters rejected a proposed 1% school facilities sales tax in Tuesday's election. Superintendent Leonard Ealey said he was disappointed by the results but respects t...

PEORIA (25News Now) - Peoria firefighters have received a new $10,000 training system donated by Peoria Industrial Piping Company, also known as PIPCO, to help prepare them for building emergencies. The Peoria Fire Training Academy recently conducted training on a portable standpipe system donated by the company. Stand...

EAST PEORIA, Ill. - One person was taken to the hospital Wednesday evening following a house fire in East Peoria. According to the East Peoria Fire Department, crews were dispatched to a home at 715 Meadow Avenue around 5:15 p.m. When firefighters arrived, they encountered heavy flames coming from the front and back of...

Article Summary JB Pritzker released a 200-point policy plan on Wednesday he wants the new Democrat-controlled Congress to take up. The plan is aimed at reversing many Trump administration policies that Pritzker believes harms Illinois. The plan's introduction comes as many political observers speculate Pritzker is con...

Article Summary Illinois' constitutional offices will all remain in Democratic hands, though the state will have a new U.S. senator and state comptroller. The party also expanded its majorities in the Illinois General Assembly, picking up races that were widely considered safely Republican. The state races were all ...

PEORIA (25News Now) - A 15-year-old boy will remain in the Juvenile Detention Center in connection with a shooting that injured another 15-year-old, according to the Peoria County State's Attorney's Office. Prosecutors said the teen is charged with reckless discharge of a firearm. Just before 5 p.m. on Halloween, Peori...

PEORIA COUNTY (25News Now) - An at-large Peoria City Council member is the apparent winner of an election to a judgeship once held by his uncle. Tuesday night, Democrat Mike Vespa had 52.6% of the vote, and Republican incumbent Tim Cusack had 47.4%. Vespa declared victory in a statement Tuesday night. "I just want...

PEORIA, Ill. - Voters across Central Illinois weighed in on several local ballot questions during Tuesday's general election, approving some proposals while rejecting others involving taxes, schools and public services. Tazewell County School Sales Tax Voters rejected a proposed one-percent sales tax intended to suppor...

PEORIA, Ill. - Democrats Rachael Parker and Randy Stevens have won two major Peoria County races in Tuesday's general election. Parker defeated Republican Kari Gabbert in the race for Peoria County Clerk and Recorder. According to unofficial election results, Parker received 33,397 votes, compared to Gabbert's 25,056. ...

MORTON, Ill. - Voters in Morton have approved a $4.8 million bond proposal for the Morton Park District. Unofficial results from Tuesday's election show 5,866 votes in favor of the measure, compared to 3,380 votes against it. That represents approximately 63 percent support for the proposal. The bond funding will suppo...

PEORIA, Ill. - Republican State Representative Ryan Spain has won reelection in Illinois' 73rd House District. According to unofficial results from Tuesday's general election, Spain received 23,968 votes, defeating Democratic challenger Nicole Dopler, who received 14,021 votes. Spain secured approximately 63 percent of...

TAZEWELL COUNTY - Voters in Tazewell County have rejected a proposed one-percent sales tax intended to support school facilities. According to unofficial results from Tuesday's general election, 27,173 voters opposed the measure, while 22,443 voted in favor. That means approximately 55 percent of voters rejected the pr...