Illinois, Peoria County | featured news

Buddy Guy is a spry, energetic man of 76 years. He likes to swear and he likes to smile. Watch his 90-minute stage show and you will feel like a richer person than you were before he started. 

Afghan officials say there was an explosion outside the Afghan defense ministry causing multiple casualties, as U.S. defense secretary Chuck Hagel visits the country.

Two house fires a week apart last month have investigators following evidence trails that apparently point to arson.

As President Barack Obama and lawmakers spar over huge federal deficits, they're confronted by a classic contradiction: Most Americans want government austerity, a survey shows, but they also want increased spending on a host of popular programs: education, crime fighting, health care, Social Security, the environment and more. Less for defense, space and foreign aid.

After a surprising string of victories last fall, Democrats now face a challenging terrain as they look to hold onto their Senate majority in 2014 and prevent Republicans from gaining full control of Congress during President Barack Obama's final two years. His party must defend a hefty 21 seats, including seven in largely rural states that the president lost last fall.

The best start in NHL history is over. The Chicago Blackhawks finally left the ice without a point.

The Blackhawks were stunned 6-2 by the struggling Colorado Avalanche on Friday night. It was their first loss in regulation and ended a remarkable run in which they earned at least one point in their first 24 games, an NHL record.

Marco Belinelli took a deep breath and exhaled as a grateful Carlos Boozer gave him a big hug.

This was one big shot for the Chicago Bulls.

Belinelli made a 3-pointer with 5.9 seconds left to lift the Bulls to an important 89-88 victory over the Utah Jazz on Friday night.

The CEFCU credit union warns customers to be aware of a possible telephone scam that may be under way.

While the Illinois Legislature tries to fix an underfunded state pension system, the pension program for local government employees remains fully funded and healthy.
 

However, for Tazewell County and other local governments, the annual cost to fund pensions has increased significantly during the past 10 years.

U.S. citizens seeking passport information and applying for passports can attend a passport fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.