Cat Visitors Center will play big part in state tourism

Coming off a record year in 2011, the Illinois Office of Tourism had a lot to crow about when it made a stop in Peoria on Wednesday.

Still, it was understandable why state tourism officials would be excited about what it yet to come in Peoria — the new Caterpillar Visitors Center and Peoria Riverfront Museum, both scheduled to open Oct. 20.

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Hiring Our Heroes draws veterans, bring Cat investment

Military veterans and those in National Guard and Reserves units were singled out Thursday and were given hope that jobs exist for them and their spouses here and elsewhere.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce brought its Hiring Our Heroes program, now in its second year, to the Peoria Civic Center on Thursday and nearly 80 employers and organizations were there to advise and guide them on what skills are needed and how they can attain those...

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Federal grant to boost fetal alcohol research at UICOMP

Research into fetal alcohol spectrum disorders at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria has received a $1.7 million shot in the arm.

The five-year grant from the National Institute of Health's National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism will enable the research headed by Dr. Shao-yu Chen and aimed at treating and preventing birth defects from fetal alcohol exposure to get underway. The goal of the research is...

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LISC launches neighborhoods reclamation effort

An effort to improve conditions in poverty-stricken area of Peoria will start with the South Side and East Bluff, officials announced Thursday during block parties at venues in each area.

The parties were planned to celebrate and kick off the work by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation to "mark its commitment to neighborhood rebuilding," officials said in the announcement.

Announcements were made at block parties at Harrison...

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Cat to receive Freedom Award; changes afoot at Goodwill

Caterpillar Inc. has always prided itself on supporting its employees who are members of the Guard and Reserve. The company recently was awarded for that support.

Caterpillar was one of only 15 companies nationwide to be given the 2012 Support Freedom Award, the nation's highest honor presented by the U.S. Department of Defense. The formal presentation will be in September. The Department of Defense said there were 3,236 nominations for...

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His Art Speaks for Him

Preston Jackson expresses his beliefs in his work

It seems almost silly to ask Preston Jackson about his politics, especially if you have spent any time at all studying his work.

Yet, he isn't wild about talking about his politics, his beliefs, his innermost feelings. That's why he has art; his works that are so prevalent along Peoria's riverfront do most of his talking for him.

Those works speak...

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Home sales continued to improve in Q2

 
Home sales in the Peoria area continued to improve in the second quarter, a further indication the area economy is improving, according to the Peoria Area Association of Realtors.

In a report release Tuesday the association said 1,350 single family homes and condominiums were sold during the second quarter, an increase of 10.7 percent from the second quarter of 2011, when 1,219 sales were recorded. The association said that...

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Remembering Now May Save Lives in the Future

Whitney's Walk For Life aims to prevent teen suicide

When a teen-aged Brimfield girl took her own life eight years ago, the grief felt by her family and friends was nearly matched by the misunderstanding of the act itself.

They wanted other families to learn the signs of depression and possible ways to prevent them from experiencing the pain and questions that accompany teen suicide, the third highest cause...

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