A plan to use a charitable gift to develop an $11 million amphitheater along the Illinois River in Peoria has gained enthusiastic support from city leaders.

East Peoria Community Foundation President Sue Portscheller joined a host of other community and civic leaders for a soft opening and ribbon cutting at Levee Park.

Students at the Valeska Hinton Early Childhood Education Center on Peoria’s South Side soon will have an opportunity to grow through outdoor activities as the school develops its new nature-based play and learning space.

The 61-year-old organic grower, who survived a catastrophic tractor accident last year, returns to predawn harvests and Saturday markets.

As many Peoria residents cope with skyrocketing electricity bills, city leaders are seeking an explanation for the summer’s surging energy prices.

A donation celebrating two 100-year anniversaries is bringing water softening equipment to Peoria’s South Side Mission.

A Facebook group providing frequent reports on weather events in Central Illinois has gained traction.

Illinois American Water hopes to reassure Peoria residents and city leaders that the utility company is working diligently to replace lead service lines.

John Ackerman of Ackerman Family Farms is gearing up for another big fall of offering a wide variety of pumpkins and family-friendly activities for visitors to their 30-acre site just east of Morton. But this season will be a little different, after Ackerman announced the farm will close its public side after this year.

Peoria city leaders seem receptive to the notion of using small dwellings as temporary housing for unsheltered individuals, but they want more details before moving forward with necessary changes to building and zoning codes.