New Tazewell County Board chair Grimm strives to get members ‘moving in the same direction’

Brett Grimm is only a few weeks into his new role as chairman of the Tazewell County Board, adapting to the requirements of the position. The former county auditor is eager to guide Tazewell County in the years ahead. But he's also not planning to rush into making major changes.

East Peoria Mayor Kahl addresses possibility of casino relocation: ‘I’ve not moved from my stance’

With owner Boyd Gaming preparing plans for a new gambling facility, Peoria city leaders have taken steps to make sure any land-based casino is located within their city’s boundaries. But what does this mean for East Peoria?

Struggling Peorians find a place to call home through city rent assistance program

A City of Peoria program is helping unhoused people overcome the last few barriers between them and a home.

Wild rice dwindled in parts of the Upper Midwest. Now efforts are underway to bring it back

Wild rice grows in shallow waterways in the Great Lakes region and parts of Canada. It’s a plant that holds important ecological and cultural significance, but it’s been on the decline since the early 1900s.

Meet the 3 candidates running to replace Chuck Grayeb in Peoria City Council District 2

Three candidates want to represent the district that includes downtown, much of the West and Center Bluffs, and a swath of Central Peoria that runs up to Glen Ave. That area also includes major higher ed institutions like Illinois Central College and Bradley University.

Midwest builders are using wood in a new way to construct high rises. And it's climate-friendly

A wood building material can be used in high-rise structures, giving it the potential to replace materials that are bad for the climate, while also locking carbon into buildings for decades.

WCBU Reports 12-5-24

What’s next for Peoria’s unhoused residents, advocates following the city’s ban on public campsites?

Anxious. Uncertain. Fearful. These are just a few of the emotions Peoria’s unsheltered residents and advocacy groups are feeling in the aftermath of the city’s recently approved public encampment ban.

New reads coming to the Peoria Public Library in December

WCBU Reports airs weekdays with an in-depth local news story from the WCBU Peoria Public Radio newsroom. New features are available every weekday by 5 a.m. WCBU Reports is also available wherever you get your podcasts.

Central Illinois’ student journalists snag bylines in local papers

Access to news in rural communities is dwindling, as newspaper staffs shrink and publications shutter. For these communities, some reports are coming from unexpected places.