2020 was a blur. So many important things happened in the Tri-County area, from COVID-19 to racial justice protests to the recession. Oh, and a presidential election.
Here is a look at the Top 10 most-read stories from 2020 on WCBU.org.
1. Galesburg Man Charged With Inciting Riots in Chicago, Minneapolis
In the wake of George Floyd’s death in Minnesota, a 28-year-old Galesburg man faced federal charges for allegedly inciting riots in Chicago and Minneapolis. There were also incidents of vandalism and looting throughout Peoria and many other communities in early June, part of a larger nationwide civil unrest tied to Floyd’s death. "What's happening in our city, our state, and our nation, is beyond horrendous and repulsive," said Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis.
2. In Pekin, Violating the Stay-At-Home Order May Mean a $750 Fine
Enforcement of the state’s COVID-19 restrictions has been one of the thorniest issues of 2020, sparking pleas for compliance from public health officials and lawsuits from their opponents. Early on during the pandemic, the Pekin City Council passed an ordinance allowing police to fine citizens or businesses for violating Gov. J.B. Pritzker's stay-at-home order. That was just the tip of the enforcement iceberg, however, as mask-wearing and indoor service rules went into effect.
3. This Pekin Doctor Survived COVID-19. Here's What He Wants You To Know
Health care professionals faced a challenge like none other in 2020. And in addition to their patients, many fought COVID-19 themselves, including Thomas Luft, a doctor of internal medicine at UnityPoint Health Pekin East. He tested positive for COVID over the summer. He told WCBU’s Tim Shelley that resisting "COVID fatigue" and continuing to exercise vigilance were the key lessons he took away from his own experiences.
4. Peoria Schnucks Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19
In the first month of the pandemic, COVID cases were still relatively rare in the Peoria area -- at least compared to what we experienced on and after Thanksgiving. That made confirmed cases at stores like Schnucks and Dollar General newsworthy to many of our readers and listeners.
5. Drive-in Movie Ritual Returns in Peoria
The drive-in era has come and gone in Peoria, but the pandemic gave new life to the concept of watching a movie in the privacy of one’s car. As WCBU correspondent Steve Tarter reported with a dash of nostalgia, Peoria developer Katie Kim provided a drive-in film series this summer at the Keller Station location at Knoxville and Northmoor avenues.
6. Something To Carp About: New Efforts To Remove Invasive Fish From Illinois River Underway
For many years there have been a number of fruitless efforts to remove the invasive Asian carp from the Illinois River. But WCBU correspondent Tory Dahlhoff reported a renewed sense of excitement with a new initiative that opened this summer along the riverbank in East Peoria.
7. COVID-19 Outbreak Confirmed At Bradley University
The coronavirus arrived on many college campuses this fall, sometimes even before the full student body. An early outbreak hit Bradley University’s campus orientation program in July. “It was a semester like none other, for sure and challenging in many ways for the world, not just for us. But I feel good about where we're at,” BU President Steve Standifird told WCBU in December.
8. Peoria Officials: Region Teetering On Brink of Renewed COVID-19 Restrictions
Many times over the past nine months, public health officials and policymakers have had to step in front of a podium and urge people to take COVID seriously. That happened after the Fourth of July holiday, when Peoria-area officials warned the region was veering into dangerous waters on its COVID-19 mitigation efforts. "We're not doing so good. We're slipping. We're forgetting the most basic, common things,” said Peoria County Board Chairman Andrew Rand.
9. Peoria County Coroner Warns of Deadly ‘Designer Drug’ Emergence
At the start of the year, Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood warned the public of three deadly "designer drugs" he said were appearing locally. At that time three people had died from three different emerging psychoactive substances. "These three drugs that have been discovered are game changers in the fight against opioid and opioid related drug deaths,” Harwood told WCBU.
10. Here's Where You Can Buy Legal Pot on New Year's Day
2020 has been such a whirlwind that’s easy to forget it was also the year when recreational cannabis became legal in Illinois. Just as the new law went into effect Jan. 1, WCBU had this rundown on three Central Illinois dispensaries that were ready and willing to serve the first customers.
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