Ryan Denham

UPDATED 11:50 a.m. | Hundreds of Unit 5 students were quarantined in the past week as McLean County faces a third wave in coronavirus cases, this time affecting more young people.

An advocate for those living in McLean County nursing homes says the vaccination campaign has been a huge success for residents—but she wishes more employees were taking their shot.

Four candidates won four open seats on the District 87 school board on Tuesday—although one of them received far fewer votes than the others.

Two familiar faces and one newcomer were headed toward election to the Heartland Community College Board of Trustees late Tuesday.

Three newcomers were elected to the Unit 5 school board on Tuesday.

UPDATED 12:55 p.m. | Mboka Mwilambwe claimed victory Tuesday night after defeating two less-experienced opponents in the Bloomington mayoral election. He will become the city's first Black mayor.

McLean County voters are choosing mayors, city council members, school board members, and township officials in Tuesday's local election. Polls closed at 7 p.m.

We’re nearing the end of a local election cycle unlike any other in recent history.

State Farm said Tuesday it will cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030, with plans to lean more on renewable energy, cut down on paper and fleet vehicles, and incentivize good behavior among its customers.

Illinois State University and other public higher education institutions want the Illinois Department of Public Health to require students be vaccinated for COVID-19 if they attend classes in the fall.

A group of Illinois car dealers has filed a lawsuit against Rivian and Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, alleging that plans to sell electric vehicles directly to consumers—without going through a dealer—are illegal.

One person was killed and another injured in a shooting late Friday outside a Peoria gas station. The injured man was later arrested on murder charges.

A former Logan County clerk has been chosen to fill out the rest of state Sen. Bill Brady's term.

The electric automaker Rivian has brought in another $2.65 billion in a new investment round as it prepares to begin production in Normal.

Members of the Illinois National Guard from units based in Peoria and Bloomington will be activated to help with next week's inauguration in Washington.

Commerce Bank says its employee-funded political action committee (PAC) will no longer give money to members of Congress who have "impeded the peaceful transfer of power."

U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood voted late Wednesday to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory, though he says he still has “concerns about irregularities in the presidential election.”

State Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington, who ran for governor three times and led Republicans in the Illinois Senate, has resigned.

UPDATED 5:20 p.m. | A 45-year-old Peoria Heights woman was found dead after a house fire late Wednesday, authorities said.

UPDATED 4:05 p.m. | A 17-year-old boy has been arrested on first-degree murder charges after a shooting late Wednesday in north Peoria.

You've traveled Highway 309 with us during this turbulent year. To say thanks, we'd like to gift you with an hourlong special called Holidays on Highway 309.

2020 was a blur. So many important things happened in the Tri-County area, from COVID-19 to racial justice protests to the recession. Oh, and a presidential election.

UPDATED 6:10 p.m. | One person was killed and a firefighter was injured in a house fire Sunday in Canton, authorities said.

Gov. JB Pritzker is expected to visit Peoria on Tuesday as OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center employees become the first in Illinois to receive the new COVID-19 vaccine.

There are 16,000 fewer jobs in the Peoria area than there was this time last year — a sign of just how large the pandemic looms over the local economy.

Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin cruised to re-election Tuesday, handily winning over four lesser-known challengers.

View live results for the 2020 U.S. presidential election, from NPR and The Associated Press.