WCBU Reports

As Illinois enters a new fiscal year, a new state agency is officially taking charge of a wide range of programs for infants, toddlers and their families. The Illinois Department of Early Childhood officially takes over as the agency in charge of programs ranging from in-home visits for newborns and their mothers to licensing and regulating childcare facilities and funding preschools. You'll hear from the agency's first director.

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A Morton farmer faces a potential $250,000 fine by the Illinois Department of Agriculture for allegedly applying pesticides on a farm near the Bethel Lutheran School while the school hosted an outdoor event.

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U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says a housing bill is likely to become law even though President Trump is holding it hostage. The president is refusing sign what's called the 21st Century Road to Housing Act until Congress acts on his voting security bill. During a stop in Central Illinois, Durbin told reporters the threat will not kill the measure that has elements even the president supports. During questioning by reporter Charlie Schlenker, Durbin noted the housing package received strong bipartisan support.

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An East Peoria woman got a last-minute opportunity to take part the 250th July Fourth celebration, running a leg of Relay for America's non-stop flag carry from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

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Girl Scouts of Central Illinois has landed a competitive three-year, $90,000 grant from Girl Scouts of the USA that will send girls facing financial and social barriers to overnight summer camp — man, if not all, for the first time.

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Incoming Peoria Public Schools Superintendent Jerry Bell said he wants District 150 to work hand-in-hand with the business community in preparing students to meet evolving workforce needs. WCBU's Joe Deacon reports.

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Illinois is leading the country in tornadoes this year and many of them have touched down in the state’s central region. Through a combination of fluctuating temperatures and a lot of precipitation, the National Weather Service [NWS] reports Illinois has seen 172 confirmed tornadoes this severe weather season. That's an all-time record for the state. Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford said that is also at least twice the number of any other state.

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The Peoria Riverfront Museum will represent Illinois with a pavilion on the National Mall as part of the upcoming Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence. WCBU's Joe Deacon reports.

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OSF Strive is expanding access to trauma-informed mental health services for victims and witnesses of violent crime in Peoria. WCBU's Rich Draeger reports.

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The national average time to be seen by an emergency room doctor was two hours and 42 minutes. The longest in Illinois was over five hours. Hopedale Medical Center had an average wait time of only 50 minutes. WCBU's Tim Rosenberger reports.

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