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EAST PEORIA - High winds, possibly a tornado, damaged several city neighborhoods Sunday but no major injuries were reported.A tornado, possibly the same one, hit both Pekin and Washington with devastating results. Dozens of people were injured and hundreds of homes have been destroyed.Mayor Dave Mingus said there was a path of damage through several neighborhoods, starting at the intersection of Pinecrest Drive and East Muller Road and going north to Harvest [...]

CHANNAHON — For Scott Slocum, the storms that damaged Illinois on Sunday hit a bit too close to home.Or, more accurately, both of his homes.In the backyard of his Channahon residence and in areas adjacent to it, the East Peoria native found evidence of the destruction wreaked by the tornado that swept through Washington — almost 100 miles to the southwest. [...]

WASHINGTON — At least one tornado hit portions of Washington and another touched down in Pekin on Sunday, authorities confirmed.Authorites erected a shelter at Cherry Tree Shopping Center, and those injured were being taken to the Washington Fire Department.Georgetown Commons apartment complex was severely damaged and other areas were hit hard. Authorities were doing a house-to-house search.U.S. Route 24 at Cummings [...]

CHICAGO – A number of Midwestern states are awakening to the threat of a high risk of severe thunderstorms.The National Weather Service says parts of Illinois, Indiana, southern Michigan and western Ohio are at the greatest risk of seeing tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds Sunday.The agency says strong winds and atmospheric instability will sweep across the Central Plaines during the day before [...]

Geez, could it finally be happening? Could the General Assembly really be about to vote on pension reform?Lawmakers were advised to keep their schedules open for the first week in December for a possible return to Springfield. The directive came from House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, who doesn't do things like that just for fun.No reason for the return was given, but the belief is lawmakers would be asked to deal with pension reform. Of the other [...]

Illinois’ horse racing industry appears to be coming down to the wire in efforts to avoid a drastic cut in racing dates next year that would further damage the already ailing industry.The Illinois Racing Board needs lawmakers to approve an additional $725,000 and extend the state’s law allowing for advance deposit wagering by the end of January or the board won’t have the resources to allow for a full slate of racing next year.The board has [...]

An East Peoria police chase ending in a crash outside the RiverWest apartment complex Thursday afternoon led to the driver’s arrest on felony charges.Corey C. Wilder, 26, of 816 W. McBean St. was arrested by the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office at 5:15 p.m. Thursday on charges of aggravated fleeing and eluding, burglary and retail theft, according to county authorities.Wilder also was cited with four traffic violations related to the incident, [...]

PEORIA — The attempted invasion of a police officer’s home Wednesday fits the description of recent incidents in Northwest Peoria.About 11 p.m. Wednesday, two men tried to open the back patio door of Peoria police Officer Daniel Duncan’s home in the 2800 block of Briarcliff Lane while he and his wife were inside. Duncan told officers he was sleeping in the basement when he heard his wife call out their daughter’s name several times. [...]

PEKIN — One juror’s refusal to convict him gave a Creve Coeur man too little hope that he could avoid a guilty verdict in a second trial on a charge he destroyed his girlfriend’s home by arson.John O’Neill, 48, chose instead Friday to accept a 10-year prison term offered for his guilty plea. He also was ordered to pay about $5,450 to his victim.Kathy Bressler will have to wait at least four years before she sees the first of that [...]

Peoria —  A small house fire caused by an overheated electrical cord was quickly extinguished by Peoria firefighters Friday morning. Just after 3 a.m., firefighters arrived at 105 E. Archer St. By then, all residents were out of the house. The fire was contained to a single bedroom on the first floor and was put out in four minutes, firefighters said. Water and smoke damage was estimated at $500.