WCBU Reports

Zoo Director Yvonne Strode says that, like many other businesses, they did not have much warning when closures were announced—but the staff came together to devise an action plan.

Mike Reno is the head groundskeeper at Dozer Park, home of the Peoria Chiefs and Bradley University baseball teams. Last month, he served on the grounds crew for Super Bowl LVI at So-Fi Stadium, where the Rams won the title on their home field.

On today’s episode, you’ll hear how head groundskeeper for Peoria's Dozer Park Mike Reno was on the grounds crew at the Super Bowl. WCBU’s Joe Deacon talks to Reno about his multiple gigs at various Super Bowls over the past few decades. And WCBU correspondent Mike Rundle goes to the Peoria Zoo and learns what the pandemic has been like to the zoo animals and the zookeepers. Plus, WCBU’s Tim Shelley’s in-depth conversation with Western Illinois University's Dean Alexander on the increasing violence against democratic governments worldwide.

hough some of the council’s strategic goals for the city’s previous five-year plan went unmet due to the effects of the Covid pandemic, Morton EDC CEO Leigh Ann Brown presented an optimistic outlook for a strong and sustainable local economy over the next five years.

After 20 years of moving between temporary locations, The Artistic Community Theatre of Pekin (ACT) has finally secured a permanent home.

On today’s episode, Nona Buster, treasurer of the Artistic Community Theatre of Pekin, talks to WCBU’s Jody Holtz about the ACT's new downtown Pekin location. And WCBU correspondent Tim Alexander goes to the 2022 Morton Economic Development Council Symposium... to speak with Morton EDC CEO Leigh Ann Brown about the "Mission Morton" plan. Plus, WCBU’s Steve Tarter learns about the history of Internet data privacy and what comes next, in a conversation with Bradley University interactive media professor Ed Lamoureux.

On today’s episode, assistant producer Hannah Rea of The African American Midwest, talks about how and why the digital history hub is documenting Midwestern racially-motivated killings. And WCBU’s Joe Deacon explores whether or not Black History Month actually limits acknowledgement of Black achievements, through conversations with Peoria Mayor Rita Ali, Bradley University Athletic Director Chris Reynolds, and Everley Davis of the Peoria Riverfront Museum. Plus, you’ll hear about a theatrical production commissioned on the life of the late U-S Senator and Pekin Native, Everett Dirksen.

The Peoria Historical Society's Corey Curtis spent the last year and a half researching the Underground Railroad in Peoria.

On today’s episode, Hannah Alani explores Peoria’s significant role in the Underground Railroad with Corey Curtis of the Peoria Historical Society. And you’ll learn about Peoria businesswoman, inventor, and philanthropist Annie Malone during another installment of WCBU’s history series Postmark Peoria with correspondent Steve Tarter. Plus, during Out and About, host Jenn Gordon of Arts Partners of Central Illinois talks to event organizer Jerry Kolb about The Accidentals unique upcoming songwriters concert, “Time Out.”

Russia's invasion of Ukraine could signify the largest military unrest in Europe since World War II.