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It started with a police officer's intuition in a Central Peoria neighborhood just south of Northwoods Mall three days after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The Peoria officer noticed a car was being driven erratically and pulled it over. The driver had an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court 10 years before on another infraction, and offered to pay a cash bond on the spot, even reaching into a briefcase full of money. Something just didn't feel right, so the officer hauled the driver in on the warrant as well as the new traffic ticket. That everyday...

PEORIA - Retired four-star Gen. Wayne Downing, the former commander of the country’s special forces and the president’s point man for counterterrorism in the days after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, died Tuesday evening after a bout with meningitis, news outlets are reporting. MSNBC, whose newscasts Downing, 64, acted as a military advisor for, is reporting that he died after a brief bout with the bacterial infection. Peorian and Medal of Honor recipient, Hal Fritz said he heard from another Medal of Honor recipient that Downing had passed away. Fritz called Downing an unassuming man who never forgot his...

PHOENIX, April 13, 2007 – The Defense Department recognized the city of Peoria, Ariz., yesterday for its stalwart support of the military. Mayor Bob Barrett of Peoria, Ariz., right, accepts the Office of the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Public Service Award from Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for public liaison and internal communications, April 12. The city received the award for its support of servicemembers. Defense Dept. photo by Samantha L. Quigley  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Peoria Mayor Bob Barrett accepted the Office of the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Public Service Award on behalf of...

Joining the likes of Cardinals Arinze and O'Malley, my bishop now has his own podcast. For those who haven't had the pleasure before, you owe it you yourself to listen to a homily or two. I've often thought that Bishop Jenky would make a fantastic spokesman for the US Bishops. It's not often one hears a priest who so emphatically expresses what a joy it is to be Catholic through the way he preaches his homilies, not just his words, but the enthusiasm in his voice. Note for those who have never seen Bishop Jenky: just picture St. Nicholas...

Bradley University officials announced Friday morning that no mascot will be chosen to represent the athletic teams. In September, the university announced a campaign to pick a new mascot for the teams. The Bradley Bravehearts and the Squirrels were just a couple of the new mascot suggestions given to the search committee looking for a new name to represent the University. Bradley President David Broski said more than 5,000 alumni, students and friends of the school responded to the online survey featuring seven finalists. Dr. Broski says that after consulting with the committee, a decision was made to end the...

PEORIA -- The death of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein Friday night is getting strong reaction from people all over the world. And in Peoria, the spiritual leader of the city's 5,000 Muslims says their reaction is mixed. Imam Amr Elsamny says many in the community feel sorry for the former dictator. Others say he got what he deserved. But everyone he talked to agrees Hussein committed countless atrocities. They also say Hussein's trial was unfair, and many blame the U.S. government. "So many human rights organizations they have criticized the way how the trial went by. They called it...

Peoria man pleads guilty in diploma mill case Latest News more>> Truck pulling horse trailer full of illegals crashes SPOKANE, Wash. An Arizonan has reached a plea agreement with prosecutors for his role in a gigantic diploma mill operation. Richard John Novak pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Spokane, Washington, to conspiracy and violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Novak, who formerly lived in Spokane and now lives in Peoria, could face up to ten years in prison and (m) millions of dollars in fines. Novak is the second person to reach a plea agreement with the Justice Department...

No fear: Braves fight on to Sweet 16 The MVC has a second team in the Sweet 16. Bradley, Oakland's 13 seed, shocked Pitt Sunday to advance.

PEKIN, Ill. (AP) U.S. Sen. Barack Obama urged Congress Monday to end a two-year stalemate that has stifled production of ethanol, a corn-based fuel additive that he says could create more than 200,000 new jobs and ease the nation's dependance on foreign oil. The freshman Democrat says higher ethanol production targets should be broken out of a federal energy bill that has repeatedly stalled over disputes about drilling and liability for water supplies contaminated by the gasoline additive MTBE. Boosting ethanol production has broad, bipartisan congressional support, but has been ``held hostage'' by other concerns over the energy bill, Obama...

PEORIA - NASA is planning a another trip to the moon, and central Illinois is going along for the ride. President Bush's vision for the future of the space program is being led, in part, by two of the Peoria area's finest and Caterpillar Inc.

The only interest Alexandra Polier had in U.S. Sen. John Kerry was for a job reference, her Peoria grandmother said Monday. Busting open the American-media floodgates on the story Monday, Polier, 27, issued a statement denying rumors she had an affair with the Democratic presidential candidate. That denial was repeated later by her paternal grandmother, Dorothy Polier, who lives on the far north side of Peoria. "There's nothing to all of this," Dorothy Polier said in an irritated tone to the Journal Star. Alexandra Polier's parents, Terry and Donna Polier, live in Malvern, Pa. Terry Polier grew up in central...

Revelations in the Peoria Journal Star earlier this week that the Peoria/Champaign area is one of seven in the United States on a terrorist “circuit” were frightening. “Terrorists enter the United States in San Francisco and Los Angeles, then move to Phoenix, then Denver," reported Phil Luciano of the PJS. "From there some head to Peoria and Champaign. Some terrorists remain in those communities, while others head on to New York City" (emphasis added). Luciano was provided this information by Peoria County Sheriff Mike McCoy, who received it at a recent FBI conference held in Springfield. Names of larger cities...

Peoria County sheriff says Champaign also among 7 stopovers Former West Peorian Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri has been locked up as an enemy combatant, but his terrorist comrades continue to work in central Illinois. Peoria and Champaign are part of a seven-city "circuit" that moves and disperses terrorists to specific sites across the nation, says Peoria County Sheriff Mike McCoy. McCoy got that information at a recent FBI conference in Springfield. He shares that snippet of intelligence not to panic central Illinois, but to stress what the FBI told police at the conference: America, including much of its law-enforcement community,...

Former West Peorian Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri has been locked up as an enemy combatant, but his terrorist comrades continue to work in central Illinois. Peoria and Champaign are part of a seven-city "circuit" that moves and disperses terrorists to specific sites across the nation, says Peoria County Sheriff Mike McCoy. McCoy got that information at a recent FBI conference in Springfield. He shares that snippet of intelligence not to panic central Illinois, but to stress what the FBI told police at the conference: America, including much of its law-enforcement community, has not taken seriously enough the threat of al-Qaida...

Former West Peorian Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri has been locked up as an enemy combatant, but his terrorist comrades continue to work in central Illinois. Peoria and Champaign are part of a seven-city "circuit" that moves and disperses terrorists to specific sites across the nation, says Peoria County Sheriff Mike McCoy. McCoy got that information at a recent FBI conference in Springfield. He shares that snippet of intelligence not to panic central Illinois, but to stress what the FBI told police at the conference: America, including much of its law-enforcement community, has not taken seriously enough the threat of al-Qaida...

PEORIA, Ill. (CNS) -- In a passionate call to defend the faith that drew sustained applause at an outdoor Mass on Peoria's riverfront Aug. 24, Bishop Daniel R. Jenky declared contemporary culture is "at war with Jesus Christ" and asked Catholics, "What will it take to finally get us mad?" "Will you tolerate the holiest things of our religion on a daily basis being mocked and ridiculed on TV, in the press and in the movies?" he asked the crowd of 800 worshipping under a tent on the grounds of the city's annual Irish festival. Noting that "even the most...

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) _ A Roman Catholic priest allowed the so-called date-rape drug to be made in his church rectory, according to court records. The records also show that church officials sent the Rev. Jeffery Joseph Windy to drug rehabilitation. Windy, 31, of Sheffield, Ill., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute gamma hydroxybutyric acid, also known as GHB, on May 22. He will be sentenced on Oct. 25, along with five co-defendants, in federal court in Davenport. Windy has been suspended from his duties at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Sheffield, Ill., and St. Margaret Mary's in Wyanet,...

Newark bishop off abuse panel Myers left a 'mess' in Peoria, insider says Thursday, September 19, 2002By The Associated Press  CHICAGO - The archbishop of Newark is leaving a panel formed to implement the church's new sex abuse rules, a newspaper reported yesterday.Newark Archbishop John J. Myers, formerly bishop of Peoria, is the latest member to leave the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Assault, which drafted a policy to punish and expel abusers, the Chicago Tribune reported. It was previously announced that Auxiliary Bishop A. James Quinn of Cleveland and Bishop John McCormack of Manchester, N.H., would leave the...

PEORIA -- The grim news spilling from this central Illinois river town in recent weeks has carried all the hallmarks of the American Catholic Church's present nightmare: Priests ousted from the ministry after allegations of sexual misconduct. Apologies to angry victims. The belated creation of a committee that includes lay professionals to better deal with abusive pastors. Lost in the familiarity, though, is the fact that the man who until recently led those priests and victims is now one of eight prelates charged with mapping a way out of the church's crisis. John J. Myers, who was promoted last year...