PEORIA HIGH VS MANUAL – Manual’s Terrance Paige (24), Reggie Postlewaite, far right, and Dietrich Richardson (11) try to stop Peoria High’s Spencer Russell in the first half of their high school basketball game Friday, Jan. 3, 2025 at Manual High School. The Rams defeated the Lions 47-43.
PEORIA HIGH VS MANUAL – Peoria High’s Fenix Foy (15) and Spencer Russell (1) stop Manual’s Demarion Richardson in the first half of their high school basketball game Friday, Jan. 3, 2025 at Manual High School. The Rams defeated the Lions 47-43.
RIVS VS MARKSMEN – Peoria’s Frankie Trazzera, left, shoves Fayetteville’s Tyler Love as they chase the puck in the third period of their SPHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 3, 2025 at Carver Arena. The Rivermen shut out the Marksmen 3-0.
RIVS VS MARKSMEN – Peoria’s Chase Spencer, facing, and his teammates celebrate Spencer’s goal against Fayetteville in the second period of their SPHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 3, 2025 at Carver Arena. The Rivermen shut out the Marksmen 3-0.
RIVS VS MARKSMEN – Peoria’s Cole Crowder (61) gets a shot on the pad of Fayetteville goaltender Mason Beaupit in the second period of their SPHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 3, 2025 at Carver Arena. The Rivermen shut out the Marksmen 3-0.
RIVS VS MARKSMEN – The Rivermen celebrate a goal against Fayetteville in the third period of their SPHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 3, 2025 at Carver Arena. The Rivermen shut out the Marksmen 3-0.
SNOWFALL – Denver Harper, 7, sticks out her tongue to catch some snow as she and big sister Currencii, 9, sled down a hill Monday, Jan. 6, 2025 at Bradley Park in Peoria. Much of the Peoria area was spared the blizzard conditions predicted overnight Sunday, but about two inches of snow was good enough for a little sledding.
SNOWFALL – A flock of gulls take flight over the icy Illinois river Monday, Jan. 6, 2025 on the riverfront in Pekin.
WASHINGTON VS DUNLAP – Washington’s Dani Guedet, left, and Ainsley Redlingshafer, right, defend against Dunlap’s Keniya Todd in the first half of their high school basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 at Washington Community High School. The Panthers rallied to defeat the Eagles 57-52.
WASHINGTON VS DUNLAP – The Washington Pantherettes dance team performs at halftime of a high school basketball game against Dunlap on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 at Washington Community High School. The Panthers rallied to defeat the Eagles 57-52.
WASHINGTON VS DUNLAP – Washington’s Dani Guedet (25) celebrates a score against Dunlap and a foul on teammate Becca McDougall in the second half of their high school basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 at Washington Community High School. The Panthers rallied to defeat the Eagles 57-52.
BRADLEY VS DRAKE – Bradley’s Duke Deen reacts to an official’s no-call against Drake late in the second half of their Missouri Valley Conference basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 at Carver Arena in Peoria. The Braves fell to the Bulldogs 64-57.
BRADLEY VS DRAKE – The Bradley Bravettes perform at halftime as the Braves battle Drake in a Missouri Valley Conference basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 at Carver Arena. The Braves fell to the Bulldogs 64-57.
BRADLEY VS DRAKE – Bradley’s Jaquan Johnson runs into a wall of Drake defenders on a move to the basket in the first half of their Missouri Valley Conference basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 at Carver Arena. Johnson drew a foul on the play. The Braves fell to the Bulldogs 64-57.
LIMESTONE VS RICHWOODS – Limestone’s Alec Williams (33) battles for a rebound with Richwoods’ in the first Marlon Herron Jr., bottom, and Terrill Rickmon Jr. in the first half of their high school basketball game Friday, Jan. 10, 2025 in Bartonville. The Knights defeated the Rockets 50-45.
LIMESTONE VS RICHWOODS – Richwoods’ Marlon Herron Jr., bottom, and Limestone’s Logan Sprout fall on a loose ball in the second half of their high school basketball game Friday, Jan. 10, 2025 in Bartonville. The Knights defeated the Rockets 50-45.
LIMESTONE VS RICHWOODS – Limestone’s Kavion Graham (5) gets a hand on a shot by Richwoods’ Marlon Herron Jr. in the second half of their high school basketball game Friday, Jan. 10, 2025 in Bartonville. The Knights defeated the Rockets 50-45.
LIMESTONE VS RICHWOODS – Richwoods’ Amir Muhammad-Williams (15) and Marlon Herron Jr. (22) overshoot Limestone’s Preston Quine in the second half of their high school basketball game Friday, Jan. 10, 2025 in Bartonville. The Knights defeated the Rockets 50-45.
BRADLEY VS INDIAN STATE – The Bradley starters anticipate a three-pointer from their bench in the closing minutes of the Braves 118-65 blowout win over Indiana State on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 at Carver Arena in Peoria.
BRADLEY VS INDIAN STATE – The Bradley cheerleaders entertain the crowd at halftime of an MVC college basketball game between the Braves and the Indiana State Sycamores on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 at Carver Arena in Peoria. The Braves routed the Sycamores 118-65.
BRADLEY VS INDIAN STATE – Bradley’s Jaquan Johnson stretches for a lose ball against Indiana State in the first half of their MVC college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 at Carver Arena in Peoria. The Braves routed the Sycamores 118-65.
BRIMFIELD VS ILLINI BLUFFS – Brimfield cheerleaders watch Illini Bluffs’ Toby Cooper, top, and Brimfield’s Cleveland Bizosky fall to the court in the second half of their ICAC Tournament semifinal basketball game Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025 at Williamsfield High School. The IB Tigers defeated the Brimfield Indians 39-24.
BRIMFIELD VS ILLINI BLUFFS – Illini Bluffs’ Justus Dugger (32) and Brimfield’s Cleveland Bizosky battle for a rebound in the second half of their ICAC Tournament semifinal basketball game Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025 at Williamsfield High School. The IB Tigers defeated the Brimfield Indians 39-24.
BRIMFIELD VS ILLINI BLUFFS – Brimfield’s Cleveland Bizosky, bottom, and Illini Bluffs’ Cole McCoy struggle for a loose ball in the first half of their ICAC Tournament semifinal basketball game Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025 at Williamsfield High School. The IB Tigers defeated the Brimfield Indians 39-24.
BRIMFIELD VS ILLINI BLUFFS – Illini Bluffs’ Devon White snags a rebound from Brimfield in the first half of their ICAC Tournament semifinal basketball game Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025 at Williamsfield High School. The IB Tigers defeated the Brimfield Indians 39-24.
BRIMFIELD VS ILLINI BLUFFS – Brimfield’s Brady Johnson, bottom, knocks the ball away from Illini Bluffs’ Justus Dugger (32) while falling down in the first half of their ICAC Tournament semifinal basketball game Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025 at Williamsfield High School. The IB Tigers defeated the Brimfield Indians 39-24.
CARDINALS CARAVAN – Hudson Gibbs, 6, of Williamsfield poses a question during the Cardinals Caravan on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 at the Embassy Suites in East Peoria. The annual event drew several hundred to see current St. Louis Cardinals players Pedro Pagés, Michael Siani, José Fermín and Ryan Loutos, plus veteran player Xavier Scruggs and emcee Ricky Horton.
CARDINALS CARAVAN – St. Louis Cardinals infielder José Fermin signs a T-shirt for a young fan during the Cardinals Caravan on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 at the Embassy Suites in East Peoria.
CARDINALS CARAVAN – St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Michael Siani smiles for the camera as he poses with a young autograph-seeker during the Cardinals Caravan on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 at the Embassy Suites in East Peoria.
AWARD WINNER – Illinois State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders, far right, joins a group of Lincoln Grade School students to form a sign indicating the amount of money granted to the winner of the prestigious Milken Educator Award during a ceremony Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 at the Washington school. First-grade teacher Jessica Wentz won the award in a surprise announcement.
AWARD WINNER – First-grade teacher Jessica Wentz, facing, embraces Milken Educator Awards vice-president Jennifer Fuller after being announced as the winner of a $25,000 Milken Educator Award during a school assembly Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 at Lincoln Grade School in Washington. The award came as a complete surprise to Wentz, who was watching the ceremony with students and teachers in the school gym.
Streamers fly as Peoria County officials cut a set of ribbons to officially open the new $22 million Health and Human Services Center during a ceremony Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025 at 2116 N. Sheridan Road in Peoria.
TOP PERSONAL TRAINER – Anytime Fitness trainer Lexi Hoerr leads a class called Stronger Than a Stroke for stroke survivors at the center’s facility in Germantown Hills. Hoerr was voted by readers as the top personal trainer in the Peoria area for the Community’s Choice Awards.
TOP PERSONAL TRAINER – Anytime Fitness trainer Lexi Hoerr has been voted the top personal trainer in the Peoria area for the annual Community’s Choice Awards.
Metamora’s Matthew Zobrist (5) and his teammates celebrate his three-pointer against Evanston in the final seconds of the second half of their high basketball game Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 in Metamora. The score gave the Redbirds a 61-58 win.
BRADLEY VS ISU – Bradley’s mascot Kaboom! does a little “bird-watching” during player introductions before the start of the MVC rivalry game between Bradley and Illinois State on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 at Carver Arena in Peoria. The Braves defeated their I-74 rivals 61-57.
BRADLEY VS ISU – The crowd cheers as Bradley’s Zek Montgomery signals three points after a three-pointer against Illinois State in the second half of their MVC basketball game Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 at Carver Arena in Peoria. The Braves defeated their I-74 rivals 61-57.
BRADLEY VS ISU – Bradley’s Christian Davis (5) takes a foul on a move to the basket against Illinois State’s Caden Boser (33) and Jordan Davis in the first half of their MVC basketball game Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 at Carver Arena in Peoria.
BRADLEY VS ISU – ISU’s Dalton Banks, middle, gets caught between Bradley’s Ahmet Jonovic, left, and Duke Deen in the first half of their MVC basketball game Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 at Carver Arena in Peoria. The Braves defeated their I-74 rivals 61-57.
BRADLEY VS UIC – Frustration starts to show as the Bradley Braves fall far behind the UIC Flames late in the second half of their MVC basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025 at Carver Arena in Peoria. The Braves fell 93-70 to the Flames.
BRADLEY VS UIC – UIC’s Tyem Freeman (8) and Javon Jackson (22) pressure Bradley’s Darius Hannah in the second half of their MVC basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025 at Carver Arena in Peoria. The Braves fell 93-70 to the Flames.
BRADLEY VS UIC – Bradley’s Zek Montgomery, left, celebrates his three-pointer over UIC’s Jordan Mason in the first half of their MVC basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025 at Carver Arena in Peoria. The Braves fell 93-70 to the Flames.
BRADLEY VS UIC – Bradley’s Connor Dillon, right, defends against UIC’s Javon Jackson in the first half of their MVC basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025 at Carver Arena in Peoria. The Braves fell 93-70 to the Flames.
BRADLEY VS UIC – Bradley’s Zek Montgomery (3) shoots over the UIC defense in the first half of their MVC basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025 at Carver Arena in Peoria. The Braves fell 93-70 to the Flames.
Country music legend Lee Greenwood performs Friday, Jan. 31, 2025 in the Caterpillar Performing Arts Center at Five Points Washington. Greenwoods is on tour celebrating the 40th anniversary of his hit song “God Bless the USA.”
