Illinois, Peoria County | featured news

CHICAGO — After tracking down a small alligator scurrying around in a baggage claim area at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, authorities are now hunting for its traveling companion.The Chicago Transit Authority has released a series of images showing a woman who they believe rode to the airport on a CTA Blue Line train with the 2-foot-long gator in the early morning hours of Nov. 1.Thanks to [...]

PEKIN — Sometime in the week before he caused a crash that killed his passenger, Brock Meerseman smoked marijuana and a replica of the drug.Meerseman, 20, of Pekin admitted that Tuesday when he pleaded guilty to aggravated DUI causing the death of Brandon Haley, also of Pekin. He’ll be sentenced to up to 14 years in prison on Feb. 13.Haley, 19, died instantly when Meerseman, after failing to heed a warning light and stop sign, drove his car [...]

PEORIA — A Peoria County grand jury Tuesday indicted a Peorian charged with shooting one man to death and wounding another in April after a fight broke out in the street.Michael D. Costic, 24, of 1614 W. Butler St. is charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery and mob action in the April 7 incident that killed TreyShawn Blakely and wounded Gerald Embrey. He faces 35 to 75 years behind bars if convicted.Prosecutors believe Costic shot Blakely, [...]

PEKIN — Like many Filipino-Americans, Alsred Aguilar was trying to contact family living in the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan left many homeless in the southeast Asian country.Communications in the Philippines have been crippled since the typhoon hit last weekend, but Aguilar finally got in touch with his wife's family through Facebook on Tuesday and learned the storm had wiped away their home.To help the relief effort, the Filipino-American Society [...]

PEORIA — Police are seeking a member of the Bomb Squad gang on several charges.Police on Tuesday said an arrest warrant has been issued for Demeres B. Dillard, 25, of 406 E. Virginia Ave. on three counts of aggravated assault, unlawful use of body armor, unlawful use of weapons, no firearm owner's identification card, and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon.According to a police report, a woman who knew Dillard let him into her sister's apartment [...]

PEORIA — Two air conditioning units at a construction company office were stripped of copper and aluminum parts worth $8,000 last weekend.An employee at Allied Construction Services at 2300 SW Adams St. reported two damaged Goodman brand air conditioners on the southwest side of the building in a fenced area. The employee said the air conditioners were damaged sometime between 10 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Monday, when the business was closed.

PEORIA — The apparent inexorable northward expansion of Peoria's boundaries has bad aspects, according to one City Council member. It also has good ones, according to the mayor.On Tuesday night, in one case, the council majority decided the good outweighed the bad.By a 10-1 vote, the council agreed to eventual city annexation of the 18-acre parcel along Illinois Route 91 that houses Apple Blossom Farm. The property is located on the west side of the [...]

BARTONVILLE — Three young men have been charged with a string of recent burglaries in Bartonville.Kabba Carter and Jordan Ogle-Thompson, both 18, of 100 Amsler St., and Timothy Jones Jr., 19, of 3306 W. Humboldt St., Peoria, were all arrested at the Bartonville police station at 11 p.m. Monday.Carter and Ogle-Thompson were each charged with four counts of residential burglary and four counts of vehicle burglary. Jones was charged with one count of [...]

PEORIA — Increasing gas prices have become an inevitable truth over the past decade.Ten years ago, gas prices averaged $1.59 a gallon, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Recently, the average price was $3.54 a gallon.But as of Tuesday afternoon, drivers have been seeing some good news on gas station signs. The sign at Harper Oil Co. station on Southwest Adams Street reads $2.98. At the Phillip's 66 on Airport Road, it's as low as $2.93. GasBuddy. [...]

PEORIA — Two teenagers who were warned by prosecutors as part of the Don't Shoot call-in to put down their guns or face the consequences were indicted Tuesday by a Peoria County grand jury on a rarely used charge aimed at gang members. Tovias D. Seiber, 17, 609 E. Illinois and Martell Perkins, 17, 2413 N. Missouri Ave., both are charged with being a street gang member in possession of a handgun and unlawful possession of a firearm, the latter count because of their [...]