Washington Police Department

The owners of the Cherry Tree shopping center will get their $50,000 Washington business property improvement grant in equal installments if they meet the city's requirements.

The City of Washington has awarded a $2,500 tourism grant to the committee that's organizing this year's Sept. 11 Remembrance Ceremony. The grant will help offset the cost of bringing in the guest speaker.

Washington plans to join the crowd when it comes to creating a Business Development District. Several area towns including East Peoria, Morton and Pekin have the economic development tool in place.

With a few dozen of his neighbors looking on, Washington resident Al Ponto was honored Monday by the city for his actions awakening neighbors whose home was on fire.

Washington Plaza is getting a makeover, fueled by an estimated $500,000 investment by the City of Washington. A quarter-acre green space and parking lot resurfacing are among the highlights.

Six civilians and a firefighter-paramedic from the Washington Fire Department were honored Monday for their life-saving actions during two major fires within an 11-hour span late last month.

In the aftermath of two major fires over the weekend where lives were saved and pets were rescued, Washington officials praised first responders, community members and neighboring fire departments.

A troublesome 700-foot water main under Bondurant Street just west of Washington Community High School will be replaced this summer. The Washington City Council approved a low bid of about $270,000.

Washington is the latest Greater Peoria community to ban the sale of kratom. But in Washington's case, the sale of synthetic kratom is no longer allowed while a natural kratom product can be sold, after lab testing.

Catastrophic engine failure has taken the Washington Police Department's current canine vehicle out of commission, perhaps forever. The Washington City Council came to the rescue this week.