WCBU Reports

For the first two decades Dan Conlin owned the Jukebox Comedy Club, the money from the previous week's shows pays for the next one. Shows, bills, another week, another show. Then came the pandemic.

U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen isn’t satisfied with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's answers about military layoffs in his Central Illinois district. Sorensen questioned Hegseth about the decision to cut up to 150 jobs at Rock Island Arsenal during a hearing held by the House Armed Services Committee on April 29.

The City of Peoria is considering a funding plan to help the Twin Towers Place condominiums pay for needed repairs and renovations.  But City Manager Patrick Urich points out that no money has been allocated quite yet. Rather, the city may look to establish a special service area to generate the funds.   Urich notes Peoria has used special service areas elsewhere in the city to assist with needed improvements or added services - such as around Junction City, the Louisville Slugger sports complex, and the Westlake and Grand Prairie shopping centers.  He says the Twin Towers condos may not have streets to maintain, but they are a "vertical neighborhood" that merits similar consideration for financial assistance.  Urich says any up-front money provided by the city would be paid back entirely over time ... and Peoria's financial risk would be minimal.  In part two of our latest regular interview, Urich tells reporter Joe Deacon how the special services area process would work for funding the Twin Towers renovations ... noting the buildings had a fire a number of years ago and had to exhaust all of their financial reserves.

A pending property sale that would see O'Brien Steel acquire land near the Illinois River from the Detweiller Trust has drawn scrutiny from community members over the potential loss of river access and green space. Last week, the Peoria Park District Board narrowly voted down a proposal tied to the sale that would expanded the right-of-way along the Rock Island Greenway Trail in the area.  Another potential aspect of the sale would see the City of Peoria vacate Caroline Street near the Detweiller Marina. As part of our regular interview series, Peoria City Manager Patrick Urich talks with reporter Joe Deacon about the city's possible involvement in the process.

The new Farm Bill that the U.S. House has approved faces an uncertain future in the Senate. Lawmakers remain at odds over food assistance and year-round use of ethanol in fuel. Republican U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood voted for the Farm Bill. In this interview with WCBU reporter Joe Deaon, LaHood says the measure was a necessary compromise.

Gas prices keep soaring as the U-S war in Iran shows no end in sight. In this interview with WCBU reporter Joe Deacon, Peoria-area Republican Congressman Darin LaHood says he's ready to see the Trump administration find a way out of this war -- to help bring down fuel prices soon.

Illinois has one of the highest number of data centers in the country. But as residents worry about their water and electricity use, state lawmakers are considering legislation to rein in new data center proposals.

Retiring Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria believes the department is in a better place than when he took the job five years ago. This is Part 2 of our interview with the retiring police chief.

Police Chief Eric Echevarria informed the city he will retire as of May 15, after serving nearly five years in the role. WCBU's Joe Deacon talks to Echevarria about his record and what's next.

An Illinois lawmaker has proposed a bill to require high schools to provide female manikins for CPR training. Women are 27% less likely to receive CPR from a bystander than men because of concerns of inappropriate touching, exposing of the chest or accusations of sexual assault, according to the Journal of the American Heart Association.  

It's been a long leadership transition for one of the area's largest employers. Michelle Conger has taken over as CEO of OSF HealthCare following the retirement of Bob Sehring. Those plans were announced in 2024. Conger, who was been with O-S-F for several decades, tells WCBU reporter Joe Deacon why they set up the transition that way.

Christina Harms is a union painter with Peoria-based Mid-Illinois Companies and Associated Constructors in Bloomington. She's also part of a cohort of apprentice ambassadors advocating for apprenticeship as a path toward a variety of careers.

The multi-year project to convert Adams Street and Jefferson Avenue to two-way traffic in downtown Peoria is on track to be completed by early summer, and Mayor Rita Ali is eager to see the anticipated benefits for the area.

It's been one year since James Shadid took over as its 13th president at Bradley University. Shadid tells WCBU reporter Joe Deacon the first year on campus has been a "whirlwind."

An Illinois lawmaker from Bloomington wants to limit corporate money in elections, but it could face legal challenges. Democratic state Rep. Sharon Chung, who represents parts of Bloomington-Normal and Peoria plus rural areas along Interstate 74, has introduced a bill that would change the definition of corporation powers in the law by stating corporations cannot engage in activities related to primaries or elections. WCBU's Evan Holden reports.

A Republican state lawmaker has joined Central Illinois law enforcement in calling for changes to the state's landmark criminal justice reform bill called the SAFE-T Act, but Democrats want to wait for more data before making a decision.  

An annual report released this month by the Peoria County State's Attorney's Office offers a statistical look at criminal justice in 2025. Highlights include charges filed in all 12 of the year's homicides, a 40% decrease in drug charges, and more than 350 juvenile cases filed. State's Attorney Jodi Hoos says it's the first time her office has produced a snapshot look at their side of the local legal system. WCBU reporter Joe Deacon talks with Hoos about what she views as the successes of her department in the past year.

Several local governments in Central Illinois are looking to create their own data center regulations as Illinois lawmakers have yet to take action regulating this emerging industry. Data centers are seen as key to fueling an AI revolution. Critics worry they could drain water and electricity supplies that are needed to power them. WCBU's Evan Holden reports.

The bald eagle used to be a rare sight in Illinois. Now, there are more than 3,000 that spend the winter here. IPR's Jess Savage reports.

Two Illinois lawmakers have introduced a bill that would remove the two-year foreign language requirement for high school. The requirement was signed into law in 2021 but does not go into effect until 2028. High school students will need to have completed the requirement to graduate. State Rep. Travis Weaver, representing a rural area between Peoria and the Quad Cities, is the Republican sponsor of the bill to have the requirement dropped.  

The City of Peoria is getting closer to unveiling redevelopment plans for the downtown block anchored by PNC Bank Building. City Manager Patrick Urich says they received proposals from three developers, and they've been in talks with the one of them about the desired vision for the three properties currently owned by the city. WCBU reporter Joe Deacon talks with Urich about a range of other topics, including the latest on plans for the block.

U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen said the partial government shutdown, now in its fifth day, is the only way to force Republicans to the negotiating table. WCBU's Lauren Warnecke spoke with Sorensen.

Several Illinois municipalities are trying to implement ranked choice voting, but confusion about Illinois election law has slowed the implementation process. Several lawmakers are trying to change that. WCBU state capitol correspondent Evan Holden reports.  

In an interview with WCBU and WGLT, U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood is expressing some concerns about vaccine policy but is not breaking with the Trump administration’s broader approach, emphasizing the importance of vaccines while also calling for transparency and public trust.

The former Saint Bernard’s Catholic Church in Peoria’s East Bluff neighborhood soon will be home to a new ministry. Centerpoint Community Church Pastor Brian Russell hopes to carry Saint Bernard’s spiritual legacy forward.

Eureka-Goodfield EMS will be the first service in Illinois to offer a pre-hospital blood transfusion program. Two ambulances will now carry two units of O-positive red blood cells and two units of plasma. Dr. Matthew Jackson, medical director of pre-hospital and EMS at OSF HealthCare, tells student reporter Ben Howell why this area of patient care has been growing.

OSF HealthCare has added a new member to its OB-GYN training team. “Victoria” is a high-tech birthing simulator that can replicate a variety of birth emergencies, including rare, high-risk complications. An addition to the mobile maternity care unit, “Victoria” provides advanced practice providers [APPs] with the skillset to effectively prepare for any situation they come across on the road.

The four Republican Party candidates for governor of Illinois told a Central Illinois audience Thursday evening they favor property tax caps, pension reform, ending Illinois' status as a "sanctuary state," and rolling back the SAFE-T criminal justice reform act which ended cash bail. About 500 people heard from former state Sen. Darren Bailey, the party’s 2022 gubernatorial nominee; Ted Dabrowski, former president of conservative think tank Wirepoints; two-term DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick; and Barrington Hills real estate developer and Gold Rush Gaming owner Rick Heidner. The Tazewell County GOP hosted the forum in Washington, Illinois.

The Veteran Warriors hockey team touts itself as the only sports program in Central Illinois dedicated to rehabilitation and therapy for disabled veterans. They strive to provide a buddy-check support system and an experience for veterans suffering from PTSD, substance abuse, or other issues.

League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria President Chris Kaergard speaks to WCBU reporter Joe Deacon about Monday night's “Refuse to be Silenced” teach-in speaking engagement, featuring five area leaders discussing the possible local impacts from the “Big Beautiful Bill” and other federal policies.

Chuck Grayeb’s last regular Peoria City Council meeting is Tuesday, as his 24-year tenure is drawing to a close. Grayeb originally served three terms as an at-large council member, and now has spent the last 12 years as the District 2 representative. Heading into his final weeks as a council member, Grayeb spoke to WCBU reporter Joe Deacon to reflect on his years of service.

Amid recent calls to host a town hall meeting with constituents, U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood said he frequently makes himself available to the public. “I come back every single weekend to my district. I meet with any constituent that wants to meet with me. I’ve had numerous telephone town halls. In the past, I’ve had lots of town halls throughout my district,” said LaHood. The Dunlap Republican did not commit one way or another to holding a town hall. Earlier this month, the National Republican Congressional Committee discouraged House Republicans from holding in-person town halls to avoid confrontations. “Anybody that wants to meet with me, I will meet with them,” said LaHood, whose 16th District includes parts of Peoria, McLean, Tazewell and Woodford counties visited the Peoria area Wednesday.

A popular, decades-old Woodford County eatery is fully reopened after a November fire led to a prolonged closure. Busy Corner in Goodfield started welcoming customers back into the building Thursday, four months to the day after the overnight blaze caused significant interior damage. For owner Derek Vollmer, the timing could not have worked out much better.

Among the agencies targeted for staff reductions by the Trump Administration are the National Weather Service and its parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford says the cuts will have wide-ranging detrimental effects.

Chris Waible is nearly four months into his new position as the president and CEO of Peoria's non-profit Downtown Development Corporation.  The Peoria native is back in his hometown after spending the past four years working in real estate business development in Wisconsin. He takes over leadership of the DDC from Michael Freilinger, the organization's original president and CEO who retired after 11 years.  Waible joins the challenge to restore vibrancy to Peoria's downtown amid a glut of vacant office space and a need for reinvestment. He explains why that's an opportunity he's eager to tackle.

Peoria City leaders continue to explore possible opportunities to restore vibrancy to the downtown area. Last fall, the city purchased the PNC Bank building, also known as the Tower on Adams complex, in hopes of attracting a private developer to pursue a mixed use, commercial and residential development. Meanwhile, the Riverview Plaza tower commonly known as the Chase Bank building remains shut down due to code violations that remain unresolved. City Manager Patrick Urich discusses how Peoria is eager to find ways to bring more people to the central business district.

The Trump Administration’s plans sweeping cuts to curtail federal spending have put the U.S. Department of Education in the crosshairs. How much of an impact could a potential dissolution of the federal Education Department have on public schools in Peoria County?

A lengthy career in the finance world has taken Omar Yunus from Peoria to Europe and now back, as he works to grow a startup aimed at helping nonprofit organizations find sustainable funding.

The dangers of air pollution from the smoke generated by West Coast wildfires can be more widespread and long-term, potentially impacting Central Illinois.

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?

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The pumpkin pie Americans enjoy each Thanksgiving often comes from pumpkins grown near Morton, Illinois. The region accounts for more than 95% of canned pumpkin in the U.S.

Peoria Public Schools currently has 326 children identified as homeless.