EAST PEORIA — The city of East Peoria is widely believed by its residents to have adequate commercial and retail developments and by a majority of those same people to be not particularly walkable city for pedestrians.

Residents of East Peoria’s Richland Neighborhood on Thursday were the first to hear the results of a community revitalization survey that was the joint work of the city of East Peoria and the Illinois Housing Development Authority.

The results of the survey, taken and submitted by 420 East Peoria residents, will be incorporated into a yearlong study that will result in analysis and recommendations about improving the housing stock in the city. On Thursday, Richland residents weighed in about housing.

“No one wants big apartment buildings down here,” said Belinda Young, of th...

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The partial shutdown of the federal government over funding for a border wall on the United States-Mexican border will enter its 17th day Monday and appears poised to last even longer.

The shutdown affects about a quarter of the federal government, with many “non-essential” government workers furloughed and government agencies shuttered.

The pain is not evenly distributed, however. With less exposure to the federal government than other regions of the country, central Illinois and the state at large appear to be weathering the storm better than others.

Locally in Peoria, the largest number of workers affected by the shutdown are at the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research...

PEORIA, Il. – "We’ve seen over the past few years People are gearing towards grabbing a gun instead of fist fighting,” said Peoria Police Chief Loren Marion.

Peoria’s 2018 criminal homicide rate has doubled that of 2017. As of Wednesday, 22 people have been killed that’s more than the last two years combined. Marion still believes the city is safe as the department continues to investigate.

“At this time we don’t see any connection in it,” said Marion. He explained, “We definitely want to get a hold of the situation and prevent any retaliatory shooting form happening. “

To sweep violence off of the streets members of Peoria Community Against Violence hope to help kids in schools, guiding children’s decisions and enhancing life goals for those in need.

“We would like to see the churches, co...

PEORIA, Il. – Peoria City Council’s methods for combating a budget deficit are raising questions throughout the community, and a new parcel fee has raised concerns in the community. The new fee will bill homeowners a one time payment of $25 to $30, depending on the size of structure. Money from that added fee will go towards public service pension needs and is expected to raise $1.2 million.

Councilman Chuck Grayeb was one of 6 council members who voted to approve the new parcel pension fee.

“I have to be concerned about codes and maintaining real estate values that the damn Peoria Association of Realtors know nothing about,” said Grayeb. He add, “They keep steering people up north because they get bigger commissions.”

Despite receiving criticism from realtors, Grayeb is asking people to c...

The time that Springfield Housing Authority executives will devote to oversee management of a similar housing agency in Peoria won’t cause services for low-income tenants to suffer in the capital city, SHA’s executive director says.

“We will certainly not compromise either housing authority,” Jackie Newman told The State Journal-Register.

Newman, 52, a Springfield native and executive director of the SHA for almost 13 years, said she will spend at least one day a week in Peoria as part of a management agreement unanimously approved by the boards of both federally funded units of local government.

The Peoria Housing Authority will pay up to $168,000 over the next 12 months for Newman, as well as the SHA’s deputy director and director of finance, to provide management consulting services to ...

Peoria, IL – According to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois, a brand new 40,000 square foot Ronald McDonald House is coming to Peoria.

It’ll give families with hospitalized children a close place to stay at no cost.

The new House will be located in the heart of the Peoria medical district on the corner of Spalding and Monroe and stand 4.5 stories with 22 bedrooms.

According to a press release, based on a medical feasibility study completed in the region, the new House will serve over 700 families annually and provide hundreds of volunteer opportunities for the community as well as a dozen or more new jobs.

”The new Peoria Ronald McDonald House will continue to build and expand Peoria’s growing medical district services,” stated Mayor Jim Ardis...

These transactions, recorded the week of May 25, are compiled from information on file with the respective counties. They represent sales of $78,000 or more.

PEORIA COUNTY

3505 W. Willow Knolls Road, Unit 3D, Peoria, Mark Wiltz to Susan L. Jasinski, $80,000.

416 W. Albany Ave., Peoria, Anita M. Escamilla to Jared Hirschy, $84,000.

3907 W. Farmington Road, Peoria, Billy D. and Sandra M. Randle to State of Illinois Department of Transportation, $91,000.

326 E. Elmhurst Ave., Peoria, Justin S. Jones to Amanda L. Nauman, $91,500.

1420 N. Idaho St., West Peoria, Gabriel and Valerie Tongate to Justin D. Garza, $92,000.

4307 W. Castleton Road, Peoria, Susan Stoner to Kyle J. Schuster and Tasha L. Harris, $97,500.

2509 N. Wilson Drive, Peoria, Kristy L...

Good morning, troops. It’s Tuesday, May 8.

The Peoria-area residential real estate market is stable, according to relatively recent reports. Uncertainty related to Caterpillar Inc.’s decision last year to move its headquarters from Peoria didn’t seem to depress the market all that much.

Total transactions in 2017 were about the same as 2016, but fourth-quarter sales were up more than 10 percent.

Now, a financial technology company has calculated Peoria County is among the best in Illinois in which to buy a residence, rather than rent.

SmartAsset ranks Peoria County fourth in a top-10 Illinois list it released Tuesday morning. The firm’s study compares average rent and home prices to find where buying makes the most sense, according to a news release.

The key metric appears to be the shorte...

PEORIA, Il. – The past six months have all led up to the next three games. The puck dropped in game one of the SPHL finals Wednesday night in Peoria, the Huntsville Havoc taking on the Peoria Rivermen in a best of three series.

The Havoc is trying to win its first President’s Cup since 2010, but it didn’t take long for the team to fall behind in game one. Three minutes into the first period, Peoria on a power play, winger Joe Kalisz to connects on a one timer for a 1-0 lead. Huntsville would later tie the game on a power play goal of its own from Derek Perl, but the Rivermen would score two more times and lead 3-1 at the first intermission.

Peoria would score the first goal of the second period, but after that, the Havoc offense exploded...

A Peoria real estate agent was fired after mocking comedian Patton Oswalt’s deceased wife during a Twitter exchange gone sour Monday night.

The Peoria Journal Star reports that Oswalt put out a humorous tweet praising former acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates, who was fired by President Donald Trump after she instructed the Justice Department not to defend his recent executive order temporarily banning non-U.S. citizens from seven countries in Africa and the Middle East from entering the United States.

Oswalt tweeted: “Trump: ‘You leave this White House now!’ Sally Yates rides bus to city. Becomes a taxi dancer. Leads dance revolt against pimp. Triumphs.”

Trump: "You leave this White House now!" Sally Yates rides bus to city. Becomes a taxi dancer. Leads dance revolt against pimp...