Joe Deacon
ReporterContact Joe at jdeacon@ilstu.edu.
Joe Deacon is a reporter at WCBU, joining in 2020 after one year as a correspondent for Bloomington-Normal sister station WGLT.
An Illinois State University graduate, Joe previously spent 18 years with The Pantagraph in Bloomington in various roles ranging from copy editor to sports reporter and assistant sports editor. He transitioned to radio with eight months as a reporter for WSOY in Decatur.
Joe was born and raised in the southwest suburbs of Chicago and is an avid White Sox fan. He also enjoys movies and video games (still, even at his age).
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Early intervention providers and advocates are calling for increased state funding to help infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities.
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Peoria is on track to create two new tax increment financing districts aimed at facilitating economic growth, after language in one of the proposals was modified to address environmental concerns.
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It's been more than two months since the Peoria Fire Department closed the Riverview Plaza high-rise downtown. Many tenants have since moved out of the building, and city officials still aren't sure when repairs might get done.
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The Illinois Gaming Board reports the industry generated $1.5 billion in tax revenue for the state and local communities in 2023. However, research shows more than 1.1 million residents have either developed a gambling addiction or are at risk.
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The Illinois Department of Transportation marked National Work Zone Awareness Week, calling attention to the risks workers face as the road construction season swings into gear.
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The Peoria Civic Center continues to work on upgrades and renovations throughout the venue, a little more than a year since the city approved a $20 million funding plan for capital improvements.
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Pekin High School athletic director Cole Stoner has been reinstated from administrative leave after a March arrest for drinking alcohol while driving with his child as a passenger.
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Greater Peoria has become a hotbed for the growing sport of disc golf in recent years, and one mark of validation comes later this month with the arrival of a major professional disc golf tournament.
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A grant-funded partnership between Illinois Central College, Bradley University and Eureka College is helping people get the IT skills they need for jobs in the sector, and the two-year-old program is already exceeding goals.
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The city council on Tuesday unanimously approved $122.3 million in appropriations for the 2024-25 fiscal year, along with a working cash budget of $93.7 million in revenue.