Episodes

  • New book profiles the ‘greatest central Illinois native you never heard of’

    New book profiles the ‘greatest central Illinois native you never heard of’
    Jan 18 2024
    William Engelbrecht says that Elmwood native Nelson Dean Jay may be the best-kept secret in central Illinois.

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    8 mins
  • A Toulon insurance agent says this is the hardest market in 40 years. Here's why

    A Toulon insurance agent says this is the hardest market in 40 years. Here's why
    Jan 18 2024
    John Leezer has been selling insurance since 1982 when he joined his father’s independent insurance agency in Toulon, the Stark County town some 40 miles northwest of Peoria.

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    8 mins
  • Goodwill CEO: ‘No one should be throwing clothing away’

    Goodwill CEO: ‘No one should be throwing clothing away’
    Jan 18 2024
    Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois has seen remarkable growth in recent years. Don Johnson, the organization’s CEO since 2016, says the reason for that is convenience.

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    9 mins
  • Betty Friedan, who initially saw Peoria as vaudeville joke, later said hometown inspired her

    Betty Friedan, who initially saw Peoria as vaudeville joke, later said hometown inspired her
    Jan 10 2024
    Friedan became one of the leaders of the women’s movement, a cause she fought for throughout her life. Friedan died in 2006 at the age of 85.

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    7 mins
  • Colleen Callahan: 'Warm, down to earth and knows her stuff'

    Colleen Callahan: 'Warm, down to earth and knows her stuff'
    Aug 2 2023
    It doesn't matter if you lived on a farm or not, if you’ve lived in central Illinois for any length of time, you’re probably familiar with Colleen Callahan.

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    8 mins
  • Erik Reader keeps his eye on downtowns

    Erik Reader keeps his eye on downtowns
    Jul 21 2023
    Erik Reader has a thing about downtowns. It doesn’t matter if they’re small or mid-sized or if they’re on a river or surrounded by cornfields, Reader wants to see them get ahead.

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    9 mins
  • WTVP operations manager talks about changes over 37 years

    WTVP operations manager talks about changes over 37 years
    Jun 5 2023
    Jackie Luebcke can recall her first day on the job at WTVP-TV Channel 47, Peoria’s public television outlet.

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    5 mins
  • Turning ‘Forgottonia’ into ‘Unforgettable’

    Turning ‘Forgottonia’ into ‘Unforgettable’
    May 9 2023
    As executive director of the Macomb Convention & Visitors Bureau, Hedblade wants to alert the public about the attractions and advantages of a section of the state that, in the past, felt neglected.

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    7 mins