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Group of unsheltered people in Bloomington forced to leave encampment by city
BLOOMINGTON (25News Now) - Ordered by the city, 19 unsheltered people had to pack up camp and leave Constitution Trail near South Gridley Street in Bloomington Wednesday. The camp had been there for a few months, and after residents raised safety concerns, city officials decided to have them removed from the area.
Storm-damage brush collection happening in Central Illinois
(25News Now) - Residents in East Peoria and Morton with storm-damage brush will not have to see it for much longer. In East Peoria, city officials said a special citywide collection is set for Aug. 5 through Aug. 9. on normal garbage pick-up times. Residents should know the special collection...
East Peoria bridge to see month-long closure
EAST PEORIA (25News Now) - The bridge carrying Veterans Drive in East Peoria will be closed for 30 days, starting July 22, for needed bridge work. No vehicle traffic will be allowed on the bridge, but the bike trail and pedestrian access will remain available. There is no detour route....
East Peoria’s 2024 Springfield Road garage sales canceled
EAST PEORIA (25News Now) - Organizers have canceled the 2024 Springfield Road garage sales Thursday afternoon. According to a Facebook post, the cancelation comes after months of construction delays on Springfield Road, leading to several issues regarding scheduling, parking, and safety. Organizers cited the potential of additional construction delays as...
Civil rights lawsuit filed against Washington landlord
PEORIA, Ill. – A Washington landlord is accused of sexually harassing female tenants and housing applicants. The U.S. Justice Department outlined the charges against Michael DeWitte in a civil rights lawsuit filed in Federal Court in Peoria. The lawsuit alleges that since at least 2002 DeWitte subjected female tenants...
Update on services using Crowdstrike in Central Illinois
(25News Now) - A botched security update from a cybersecurity firm has caused a far-reaching technology outage across the world. The Associated Press reports the faulty update grounded flights, knocked out banks and took systems used by media outlets offline and more, highlighting the fragility of a digitized world dependent on just a handful of providers.
Indiana Road Closure: U.S. 36 Near Morton to Shut Down for Repairs
PUTNAM COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has announced a temporary road closure affecting U.S. 36 just west of Morton. Starting Monday, July 22, crews will close U.S. 36 between County Road 600 W and County Road 775 W to replace a small structure in the area. The closure is expected to last until late August, though the timeline may change based on weather conditions.
'Extensive repairs' and a crumbling parking garage: Peoria building faces code violations
Extensive repairs to both the fire system and an eroding parking garage are still needed at Peoria's shuddered Riverview Plaza Building as the prominent downtown high rise approaches its fifth month of being shut down. Documents obtained by the Journal Star via a Freedom of Information Act request show, in detail, the...
Morton Dist. #709 superintendent announces retirement, replacement announced
MORTON, Ill. – Morton District #709 Superintendent Dr. Craig Smock has announced his retirement at the end of the 2024-25 school year. In 2007, Smock accepted the position of Assistant Superintendent of Morton C.U.S.D. 709. He remained in that position until he accepted the superintendent position in 2022. Smock...
Tree service businesses swamped cleaning up after Monday’s storm
CENTRAL ILLINOIS (25News Now) - Central Illinois is still littered with debris after Monday night’s storm and tornadoes, and tree service company owners said they will be cleaning it up for weeks to come. Owner of The Tree Surgeon in Peoria, William Ray, said companies have been slammed with...
Crews continue to clean up across central Illinois following storm
EAST PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Public works crews across central Illinois continue to clean up following the storm that swept through the area Monday. Crews have been working to clean up debris and reopen roadways that were closed. In East Peoria, according to the Superintendent of Streets Rick Semonski,...
Out gay city council member runs for Bloomington mayor
BLOOMINGTON – Ward 6 City Council Member Cody Hendricks announced on Tuesday that he is running for Mayor of Bloomington. Hendricks would be the first out gay mayor of the city, and only the second out LGBTQ+ person to run for the position in recent history after Jackie Gunderson in 2021. He was a Peoria City Councilor from 2011- 2015. Currently, in addition to his service on the City Council Hendricks teaches social studies at Olympia High School in Stanford.
New deputy city manager is a familiar face in Bloomington
Bloomington City Manager Jeff Jurgens has a new deputy. Sue McLaughlin returns to Bloomington as Jurgens' number two along with current deputy Billy Tyus. McLaughlin was interim assistant city manager for the City of Bloomington 10 years ago and most recently served as city manager of Farmer City, a town of about 1,800 people located in northeast DeWitt County. McLaughlin has additional experience as city manager for Lincoln, Mattoon, North Aurora and Byron, Illinois.
One Peoria event helps parents and their children prepare for new school year
PEORIA, Ill. – The new school year is around the corner, and a pair of state legislators are helping Peoria families get ready. State Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth and State Senator Dave Koehler hosted the One Peoria Back to School and Health Fair Wednesday at Glen Oak Park. Families received...
Two have announced plans to run for Peoria mayor next year
Editor's note: Rita Ali was the first Black woman elected to an at-large council seat in Peoria. An earlier version of this story contained incorrect information. Peoria Mayor Rita Ali is running for reelection and will have at least one opponent from within the Peoria City Council. ...
CSO Control Project Year 3 Public Meeting Set for Wednesday, July 24
The City of Peoria Department of Public Works will host an informational meeting regarding the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Year 3 Control Project at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, July 24, at Elise Ford Allen Academy, 1704 W. Aiken Ave. The public is encouraged to attend to learn more about the...
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