Mike Smith
CorrespondentMike Smith is an correspondent with WCBU in Peoria. He joined the station in 2023.
He graduated from Illinois State University in 2019, majoring in journalism and minoring in political science. He had previously worked for the Vidette student newspaper as a news reporter and for TV-10 News as a news/sports reporter/producer.
He graduated from the University of Illinois at Springfield in 2020 with a master’s degree in the Public Affairs Reporting program. During that time, he was a graduate intern at NPR Illinois for the spring 2020 legislative session.
Afterward, he worked as the executive digital producer for CiProud.com, WMBD, and WYZZ between June 2020 and November 2022. He then worked as a regional digital content producer for Nexstar Media Group between 2022 and 2023.
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Commissioners voted unanimously to amend zoning regulations and allow a limited number of East Peorians to own backyard chickens.
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A nearly $6 million federal grant enabled PPS to purchase 15 new electric school buses. Energy solutions company Veregy submitted the grant proposal on behalf of the school district.
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In a 5-1 vote Monday Night, the board of education denied Quest Charter’s request for a five-year renewal after it failed to meet "several mutually agreed" educational goals."
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The sheriff’s office recommended hiring two new deputies and purchasing two new cab trucks fitted with cages to safely transport animals, among other patrol equipment.
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Students, faculty, and the administration at Quest Charter Academy in Peoria made their case for renewing its agreement on Monday evening at Peoria Public Schools’ District 150 meeting.
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In a 3-2 vote, the city of East Peoria approved a proposal allowing a special use permit for a short-term rental property at 108 Carroll Street. This came after neighbors of the rental property expressed concerns for safety and noise levels, along with privacy.