Illinois

Illinois lawmakers have not officially met for a full legislative session day since late May — more than 200 days ago.

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.

While more than 17,000 people in the Tri-County Area have recovered from COVID-19 and the number of people in home isolation dropped by more than 5,000, the region’s death toll continues to climb.

A Peoria man faces aggravated arson charges after a fire at the Sterling Towers high-rise last week.

Lawyers for a Kane County restaurant are asking the Illinois Supreme Court to overturn an appellate court decision that found the governor’s indoor dining ban was lawfully imposed.

Shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic surged last March, Peoria resident Kelli Martin decided to help the community as best she could.

First District Peoria City Council candidate Denise Jackson says the conversation around the city's potential plans for the former Save-A-Lot grocery store on Western Avenue are flawed.

Central Illinois residents should expect fluctuating temperatures over the next few months, but maybe not as much snow as usual.

The November COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans’ home has killed a 34th resident, the facility reported Friday — just as attorneys for four families of dead residents announced forthcoming lawsuits against the state.

UPDATED 6:10 p.m. | One person was killed and a firefighter was injured in a house fire Sunday in Canton, authorities said.

This week, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced $700 million in cuts to the current fiscal year's state budget; a special investigating committee looking into House Speaker Michael Madigan's involvement in the ComEd bribery scandal wrapped up with no action; and Pritzker continues to weather criticism of his administration's handling of the deadly COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans' Home.

Tony Arnold of WBEZ and Rick Pearson of the Chicago Tribune join the panel this week.

Sixty Tri-County residents have succumbed to COVID-19 complications in the past two weeks following the addition of six more deaths announced on Friday.

2020 is forcing all of us to spend more time at home. Some are using those extra hours stuck indoors to pick up a new skill or practice. Making art of any kind -- whether it be painting, sewing, or crafting -- has proven to be a creative outlet for many.

Trisha Yocum is owner of Art at the Bodega in Washington. She says hands-on artistic activities help alleviate some of the stresses and worries this year has brought.

This week on Out and About, Maestro George Stelluto talks with Jenn Gordon about the Peoria Symphony Orchestra’s December Concert: A Season of Hope. The concert combines select musical offerings with inspirational messages from religious leaders in our community. A free performance will be broadcast on WTVP’s Create station 47.4 on Saturday, December 19 at 8PM.

Peoria Police Chief Loren Marion III announced earlier this week that he will retire on Jan. 22, capping a 26-year career with the Peoria Police Department and nearly three years as its leader. Marion recently reflected on his tenure with WCBU reporter Joe Deacon.

On this episode of Statewide, the Bergner's chain liquidated in 2018, the final chapter in a retail history that dated back to the 1800s.  For some communities, Bergner's was a an anchor store in a shopping mall.  In Peoria, where it all began, the name meant a lot more.  We'll talk with a Peoria journalist about Bergner's -- from its start through its heyday -- and how it all ended.

We'll also recall the holiday shopping traditions at the former Marshall Field's in Chicago. 

And we'll look back on the year in Springfield with various community leaders and their hopes for 2021 in the capital city.  

The first COVID-19 vaccines could begin arriving at long-term care facilities in the Peoria area later this month.

Emphasizing diversity, equity and inclusion and educating the workforce remain among the Greater Peoria area’s key needs, according to a summary of this year’s virtual Big Table discussions presented Thursday.

Four Tazewell County residents are the latest individuals from the Tri-County area to succumb to complications from COVID-19 as the region’s case count continues to escalate.

A pandemic, a civil rights uprising, economic turmoil, an historic election – this year has brought many hardships. It has made the inequalities and divisions in our society clearer. It’s also been a time for reflection and change.

Former Hotel Pere Marquette developers Gary Matthews and Monte Brannan were indicted Tuesday on 21 federal felony counts of money laundering, consipracy to commit money laundering, mail fraud, and concealment of bankruptcy assets.

This is a Christmas season like no other, and we are here to help you celebrate the season. One of the best times of year to be a Disney fan is during Christmas. Craig, Brett and Vanessa give you all the ways that Disney helps them enjoy this time of year.

The first Central Illinois UnityPoint health workers have received their COVID-19 vaccinations.

The generosity of billionaire MacKenzie Scott has reached Peoria, as Goodwill of Central Illinois and Easterseals Central Illinois are among the recipients of her nearly $4.2 billion in donations.

Tri-County health officials reported nine new deaths linked to COVID-19 on Wednesday, while Peoria-area hospitals are treating nearly 60 more coronavirus patients than the day before.

The state has been advised it will receive roughly half of the shipment of COVID-19 vaccinations that it originally expected from the federal government for the next two weeks, Gov. JB Pritzker announced Wednesday.