WCBU Reports

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.

Thousands of insect species use vibrations to communicate. Now, in part because of the foundational research of a Midwestern biology professor, more researchers are exploring insect vibrational communication to ward against pests and understand climate change.

District 150’s chronic absentee rate was 39.4% during the 2023-24 school year, compared to the state average of 26.3%. That's according to the latest state report card.

Greater Peoria’s LGBTQ community is anxious about what Donald Trump’s second presidency will mean for them.

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.

The need for mental healthcare services is constant. In some places, particularly rural areas, it can be a struggle to find a provider.

The construction of Peoria County's third landfill is back on track, even if it is coming later than anyone expected. But if you ask any member of the deliberation group who hammered out the latest agreement on Landfill Three, the end was nowhere in sight just a few short months ago.

You might have an image of a farmer in their tractor or with a bucket feeding livestock. The reality is farmers can often be found in office cubicles, driving school buses or stocking shelves.

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.

The most recent hire for the position says he's prepared to bring some stability.

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.

The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is the core of a major flyway for migrating birds and one of the most visited refuges in the U.S. Anglers and outdoor enthusiasts saved it from being drained 100 years ago, but the next century brings new challenges.

Fueled by interest rate cuts and rising consumer confidence, home sales in the Peoria market seem to be turning a corner.

This year's inductees for the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame include an archer with an incredible resume tucked into his quiver.

On election day, you may take just a few minutes to go to your nearest polling place, make sure your registration is in order and cast your ballot. A handful of students from a Bradley University government class will be spending their entire day there to make that process go smoothly.

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.