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The former Saint Bernard’s Catholic Church in Peoria’s East Bluff neighborhood soon will be home to a new ministry. Centerpoint Community Church Pastor Brian Russell hopes to carry Saint Bernard’s spiritual legacy forward. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eureka-Goodfield EMS will be the first service in Illinois to offer a pre-hospital blood transfusion program. Two ambulances will now carry two units of O-positive red blood cells and two units of plasma. Dr. Matthew Jackson, medical director of pre-hospital and EMS at OSF HealthCare, tells student reporter Ben Howell why this area of patient care has been growing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OSF HealthCare has added a new member to its OB-GYN training team. “Victoria” is a high-tech birthing simulator that can replicate a variety of birth emergencies, including rare, high-risk complications. An addition to the mobile maternity care unit, “Victoria” provides advanced practice providers [APPs] with the skillset to effectively prepare for any situation they come across on the road. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The four Republican Party candidates for governor of Illinois told a Central Illinois audience Thursday evening they favor property tax caps, pension reform, ending Illinois' status as a "sanctuary state," and rolling back the SAFE-T criminal justice reform act which ended cash bail. About 500 people heard from former state Sen. Darren Bailey, the party’s 2022 gubernatorial nominee; Ted Dabrowski, former president of conservative think tank Wirepoints; two-term DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick; and Barrington Hills real estate developer and Gold Rush Gaming owner Rick Heidner. The Tazewell County GOP hosted the forum in Washington, Illinois. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Veteran Warriors hockey team touts itself as the only sports program in Central Illinois dedicated to rehabilitation and therapy for disabled veterans. They strive to provide a buddy-check support system and an experience for veterans suffering from PTSD, substance abuse, or other issues. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria President Chris Kaergard speaks to WCBU reporter Joe Deacon about Monday night's “Refuse to be Silenced” teach-in speaking engagement, featuring five area leaders discussing the possible local impacts from the “Big Beautiful Bill” and other federal policies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Grayeb’s last regular Peoria City Council meeting is Tuesday, as his 24-year tenure is drawing to a close. Grayeb originally served three terms as an at-large council member, and now has spent the last 12 years as the District 2 representative. Heading into his final weeks as a council member, Grayeb spoke to WCBU reporter Joe Deacon to reflect on his years of service. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amid recent calls to host a town hall meeting with constituents, U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood said he frequently makes himself available to the public. “I come back every single weekend to my district. I meet with any constituent that wants to meet with me. I’ve had numerous telephone town halls. In the past, I’ve had lots of town halls throughout my district,” said LaHood. The Dunlap Republican did not commit one way or another to holding a town hall. Earlier this month, the National Republican Congressional Committee discouraged House Republicans from holding in-person town halls to avoid confrontations. “Anybody that wants to meet with me, I will meet with them,” said LaHood, whose 16th District includes parts of Peoria, McLean, Tazewell and Woodford counties visited the Peoria area Wednesday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A popular, decades-old Woodford County eatery is fully reopened after a November fire led to a prolonged closure. Busy Corner in Goodfield started welcoming customers back into the building Thursday, four months to the day after the overnight blaze caused significant interior damage. For owner Derek Vollmer, the timing could not have worked out much better. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Among the agencies targeted for staff reductions by the Trump Administration are the National Weather Service and its parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford says the cuts will have wide-ranging detrimental effects. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Waible is nearly four months into his new position as the president and CEO of Peoria's non-profit Downtown Development Corporation.  The Peoria native is back in his hometown after spending the past four years working in real estate business development in Wisconsin. He takes over leadership of the DDC from Michael Freilinger, the organization's original president and CEO who retired after 11 years.  Waible joins the challenge to restore vibrancy to Peoria's downtown amid a glut of vacant office space and a need for reinvestment. He explains why that's an opportunity he's eager to tackle. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Peoria City leaders continue to explore possible opportunities to restore vibrancy to the downtown area. Last fall, the city purchased the PNC Bank building, also known as the Tower on Adams complex, in hopes of attracting a private developer to pursue a mixed use, commercial and residential development. Meanwhile, the Riverview Plaza tower commonly known as the Chase Bank building remains shut down due to code violations that remain unresolved. City Manager Patrick Urich discusses how Peoria is eager to find ways to bring more people to the central business district. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Trump Administration’s plans sweeping cuts to curtail federal spending have put the U.S. Department of Education in the crosshairs. How much of an impact could a potential dissolution of the federal Education Department have on public schools in Peoria County? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lengthy career in the finance world has taken Omar Yunus from Peoria to Europe and now back, as he works to grow a startup aimed at helping nonprofit organizations find sustainable funding. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The dangers of air pollution from the smoke generated by West Coast wildfires can be more widespread and long-term, potentially impacting Central Illinois. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.