Governor candidates discuss estate tax, trade policies during ag forum in Central Illinois

Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker and Republican challenger Darren Bailey sounded off on issues important to farmers Monday during a visit to McLean County. The Illinois Agricultural Legislative Roundtable [IALR] hosted an agricultural forum at Funk Farms Trust in Shirley. Pritzker and Bailey talked abou…

Jamonica Rolle looks to build on foundation, community ties as new Illinois Central College president

Fall classes at Illinois Central College begin next week, and new president Jamonica Rolle says it’s a moment she's been waiting for since starting her position in July. In an extended interview, Rolle details what attracted her to ICC.

Surgical safety invention dreamed up by OSF nurses is reducing surgery cancellation rates

DeviceWise, a program that helps hospital staff prepare patients with medical implants for surgery, has been in development for more than eight years. It's reduced cancellations in Peoria by 10%.

Voting rights ‘Day of Action’ on Peoria’s South Side seeks to boost election participation

With the November general election approaching, several Peoria organizations are coming together for a push to get more people involved in the process, particularly on the city's South Side. “The initial thing is to get them registered, then educate them and then hopefully spur participation,” said…

Taking a look at Caterpillar's $10M pledge to bolster Illinois' manufacturing workforce

Caterpillar is making a $10 million workforce development pledge to boost manufacturing careers in Illinois, as part of a broader five-year, $100 million “Building the Future Workforce Initiative” global commitment the company launched in 2025.

Stone & Snow returns to Central Illinois stomping grounds after a trip to the Great American State Fair

A Cincinnati-based Americana duo which used to call Bloomington-Normal home is returning to its stomping grounds, playing a trio of shows in Central Illinois next week. Stone & Snow's upcoming appearance in Peoria Heights is on the heels of an unexpected invitation to perform at the Great American …

Peoria's architecture changed when Caterpillar didn't build its new headquarters Downtown

In the past, Peoria built things that could only have been built here — Victorian mansions on the bluffs, a sandstone city hall once voted the best in the country, a hillside of mid-century modern homes designed by local architects. But the buildings going up in the Peoria area lately tend to look …

Weatherman-turned-congressman Eric Sorensen wants to guide weather preparedness from DC

Eric Sorensen is the only meteorologist serving in Congress. The former television weatherman is looking to use that experience to help shape federal policy to help keep Americans safe from weather disasters. Sorensen found a Republican colleague, U.S. Rep. Mike Flood of Nebraska — another former b…

Illinois Head Start Association shares stories of how immigration enforcement has impacted kids at their childcare centers

Immigration enforcement is ramping up again in Illinois. The Illinois Head Start Association recently released a report sharing anonymous community stories about how Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, activity has affected children at Head Start centers. IPR's Peter Medlin sat down with I…

Silos are disappearing from the farm landscape. One woman wants to track them down before they do

Silos — tower-like structures on farms that hold fermented feed for livestock — have dotted the Midwestern landscape for 150 years. But they’re threatened by development and old age. One “silo hunter” in northern Illinois has been tracking down silos her grandfather built before they disappear.