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Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nearly 180 new United States citizens naturalized in Peoria ceremony
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — The United States gained around 180 new citizens on Friday through a ceremony across the street from the Federal courthouse at the downtown Peoria public library. In the auditorium situated in the lower level of the library, there sat around 90 people from Mexico, the Philippines, India and 30 other countries eagerly waiting to finally call themselves citizens. Marco Sanchez moved to the United States from Mexico in 1996, but the choice to become a citizen nearly 30 years later was simply a calling he felt. 'Your voice really counts,' Sanchez said. 'Especially for voting… It's time to help out, and maybe we can help with the future of the country.' Rosevita Muiruri moved to the U.S. in 2013 from Kenya, and to walk the stage after all of the hard work it took to get here, it's a proud moment for her. 'It was quite difficult. That's what I would say. But now and it's been a journey, quite a long journey, and now this is the end. This means I got it,' Muiruri said, waving a small American flag. Health care leaders featured at Eggs and Issues event In the back of the room, the families of those waiting to cross the stage sat, some with tears in their eyes. The mid-morning ceremony began with a loud hammering of the gavel from court clerk Shig Yasunaga. Yasunaga opened the ceremony by introducing the presiding Judge, the Honorable Ronald L. Hanna. A representative from the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration Services officer Samantha Brewer granted the motion to move forward and approve citizenship for everyone present. After this, everyone in the room stood up, placed their right hand over their heart and said the Pledge of Allegiance in unison. Judge Hanna introduced the guests to his right, took off his glasses and gazed upon the 90 soon-to-be citizens with honor. He gave a brief speech about what it means to be an American. He talked about the long, arduous process that a lot of these people endured to get to where they were. After his speech, Hannah had the representatives from each country stand until all 89 total people from 33 countries were standing, as one. With all 89 people standing side by side with American flags in hand, Judge Hanna asked them to raise their right hand, and repeat the oath of allegiance. Another ceremony was held in the afternoon, which brought the total of new citizens naturalized in Peoria today to nearly 180. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Health care leaders featured at Eggs and Issues event
EAST PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — More than 160 people gathered for the East Peoria Chamber of Commerce Eggs and Issues series on health care Friday morning at the Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino. Health care is the region's single largest jobs sector, employing more than 31,100 people in 715 facilities in 2023, according to the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council and JobsEQ. Those are the latest regional statistics broken down by sector. The featured speakers at the Eggs and Issues included Dr. Meenakshy Aiyer, the regional dean at University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria (UICOMP); OSF Healthcare President Michelle Conger and Carle Health Greater Peoria Regional President Dr. Keith Knepp. Medical professional recruitment, retention, research and creative revenue solutions in the changing funding landscape were some the topics each health care system leader detailed. Aiyer said UICOMP is one of the largest medical schools in the country, with about 660 students, residents and fellows at any one time. That means it functions as the pipeline for the region's next health care providers. Conger and Knepp spoke to the many ways the medical care continuum is advancing. The topic for this event in the Eggs and Issues series covered one of a trio of economic drivers in Greater Peoria. Those drivers include healthcare broadly, business and industry, ag and agribusiness. Those areas are in no particular order, as some economists suggest these sectors of the regional economy are too interdependent to be ranked. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Fish Tagging Program at Wildlife Prairie Park
HANNA CITY, Ill. (WMBD) — Over the weekend, Illinois fishers can fish without a license. According to the Department of Natural Resources, free fishing days in Illinois are an opportunity to introduce the activity to children and get new people to discover the fun in fishing. One place to go fishing is in Hanna City. The Wildlife Prairie Park is using this year to highlight its fishing lakes with its 'Fish Tagging Program.' The park has 7 lakes that allow fishing, but only 6 have tagged hybrid striped bass. North Lake Turtle Pond Taylor Lake Deep Lake Beaver Lake East Horseshoe Lake Fish can be found with red, white, or blue tags. Colored tags can be redeemed at the Visitor Center for prizes. Red tags can be traded in for a $25 gift certificate. White tags can be traded in for a choice of prizes, including a private animal meet and greet, a laser tag party, or a kayak party. Blue tags are the grand prize, which can get people the choice of a private animal feeding and encounter, a year-long membership, or a 2-night stay in Megan's Lodge. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
CI Road Trip: Wildlife Prairie Park
HANNA CITY, Ill. (WMBD) — Chief Meteorologist Chris Yates was in Hanna City on Friday for our CI Road Trip. Chris was visiting Wildlife Prairie Park for its Wild Nights event. During the event, the park stays open until 8:30 p.m. every Friday in June, July and August. Some of the extra events that will be happening at the park will include the 2025 Wildfire Concert series and the Jr. Naturalist Classes. While learning about the event, Chris got to watch some wolves beat the heat with a blood popsicle. He also got to visit with a western hog-nosed snake. More information is available on the Wildlife Prairie Park website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
Peoria teen ordered held in custody pending trial on racketeering charges
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — An alleged member of a notorious street gang was ordered held in custody Friday pending the outcome of his case. Kendal E. Patterson, 18, was indicted Tuesday for violating the state's anti-racketeering laws as well as aggravated discharge of a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon, the latter charge alleged they possessed a loaded machine gun. He was initially scheduled to appear on Thursday, but his attorney asked for a delay of one day to prepare for the hearing, which is allowed under the state's SAFE-T Act. Two more alleged members of the 'Snakes' indicted for RICO violations Patterson is accused in connection with incidents on Feb. 24, 2023, in the 800 block of Gift Avenue, also in Peoria. His prosecution is part of an effort by the Peoria County State's Attorney's Office to combat street violence. Last fall, State's Attorney Jodi Hoos filed the RICO counts against 10 people under the state's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act which alleges they were affiliated with the 'Snakes' street gang, which prosecutors said is linked to a 'rash of violence that has plagued the area.' At the time, six of the 10 were minors, and Hoos said she planned to ask a judge to transfer the case from the juvenile division to the adult division. Patterson's case was moved to adult court late last month. Of the other nine people, all their cases are still pending. Patterson's trial is set for early July. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
