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Community Spotlight: Community Foundation of East-Central Illinois
CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — The Community Foundation of East-Central Illinois is a foundation that provides grants to nonprofit organizations in nine counties in Central Illinois. The grants can be used for any durable goods — anything that is hard and durable. Allison Winters, the President and CEO of the Community Foundation, came on The Morning […]
DNC notebook: Moore takes a (hot dog) stand, Warnock recalls his Baltimore days
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker engage in a different type of dog fight, and Sen. Raphael Warnock shows off his Baltimore bona fides in a speech to the Maryland delegation at the DNC.
Unemployment rate rises in Illinois despite more jobs added
SPRINGFIELD (25News Now) - Unemployment rose across all 14 of Illinois’ metropolitan areas, even as more jobs were added to the economy. The latest economic report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed the Peoria metropolitan area saw the unemployment rate rise to 6.1%, nearly a whole percent point higher than where it was in July of 2023, which was 5.2%. Additionally, non-farm employment in July stayed the same from a year ago with 170,400 jobs.
Sweet Corn Circus returns to Normal
This weekend uptown Normal will once again be filled with the smell of hot sweet corn and the presence of youthful vibes as the Sweet Corn Circus returns. . The two-day event, which is free to all, is a celebration both of the Bloomington-Normal area’s agricultural roots and its circus history. The Gamma Phi Circus is the longest running collegiate circus in the country, dating back to 1929. On Saturday and Sunday, its acrobats, aerialists, clowns and dancers will join with professional wrestlers and other attractions.
Farmer City firefighters retire after 25, 40 years of service
FARMER CITY, Ill. (WCIA) — After decades of service, two Farmer City Fire Department members are retiring from active roster service. Chief Dan Warren posted on Facebook that 1st Assistant Chief Rick Hardesty and Lieutenant Casey Hardesty have retired from active service after 40 and 25 years of service, respectively. In the case of Chief […]
25 Sports Tour- Bloomington Central Catholic
PEORIA (25News Now) -The Bloomington Central Catholic Saints bring back lots of experience and talent from last year’s undefeated Illini Prairie Conference champs. You can watch 25News - any newscast, anywhere - streaming LIVE on 25NewsNow.com, our 25News mobile app, and on our WEEK 25News SmartTV streaming app. Learn more about how you can get connected to 25News streaming live news here.
Titans Assist in Relaunch of West Bloomington Barbershop Program
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — A program benefiting child literacy on Bloomington’s west side was recently revitalized through efforts from members of the Illinois Wesleyan University community. The West Bloomington Revitalization Project (WBRP) created the Barbers with Books program in 2019, offering young readers the chance to read a book...
Ugandan pastor with Central Illinois ties is building hope for his native country
WASHINGTON (25News Now) - Father Julius Turyatoranwa faced humble beginnings, growing up in poverty in Uganda. He moved to Bloomington-Normal in 2007 to enroll at Illinois State University, where he earned a Ph.D. in Educational Administration. In 2019, the St. Patrick Nursery and Primary Boarding School opened in Uganda, which...
Federals funds secured for Bloomington road project
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — Congressman Darin LaHood visited Bloomington on Thursday as the city prepares for another project. After more than 25 years in the making, Bloomington leaders said they’re ready for the Hamilton Road Project. It’s part of a bigger concept, the southern transportation corridor, which is...
Peoria leaders worry state pension requirement will drain city finances
PEORIA (25News Now) - The City of Peoria is not on track to meet the state’s requirement of being fully funded in pensions for police and firefighters, forcing leaders to consider raising taxes. Illinois law states municipal cities, like Peoria, must have both fire and police pensions 90% funded...
One injured after Friday night shooting
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — A 17-year-old was taken to a local hospital after a shooting in Peoria on Friday. According to Peoria Police spokeswoman Semone Roth, officers were dispatched on a report of a person being shot at approximately 9:49 p.m. When officers arrived, they learned a teen was transported to a local hospital with a gunshot wound to the chest.
Customers react to sale of Metro Centre
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — A new era for the Metro Centre. On Aug. 12, ownership changed hands for $15.2 million, and customers are hopeful for the future of their beloved shopping plaza. “I hope they revitalize it, make it what it was once before,” said Dave Kaiser, a Metro...
U of I YMCA hosting annual ‘Dump and Run’ sale this weekend
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — The University of Illinois YMCA is hosting its annual Dump & Run Big Sale this weekend as students return to campus. The Dump & Run program has been a campus staple for over 20 years. It collects unwanted but usable goods that can be used by college students, including furniture, electronics, […]
A breakdown of the WIU layoffs by department
This month’s layoffs at Western Illinois University affected departments across the campus, though some were hit harder than others. The administration provided the information through a Freedom of Information Act request filed by Community News Brief, which shared the details with TSPR. Unit A (Tenured and tenure-track) Faculty --...
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