Friday, April 25th, 2025

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Good morning, Peoria. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 25th of April.
CRIME NEWS
- ➤ Tazewell County coroner Charles Hanley said two Pekin men, Chase Rhodes and Dawson Reese, both 21, were killed in a shooting early Thursday morning in the 11000 block of Route 29 in South Pekin and that suspect Memphis S. Rue was taken into custody with a pending first-degree murder charge—autopsies are scheduled for Friday. WCBU
- ➤ Former Sangamon County deputy Sean Grayson, accused of first degree murder in the July death of Sonya Massey, is set to stand trial beginning October 20th in Peoria County—he will return for a pretrial hearing on June 6th after a venue change granted earlier this month. WMBD
- ➤ Tazewell County Sheriff Jeffrey Lower said a shooting near the Pekin Municipal Airport Thursday morning — around 4:50 a.m. off Route 29 in South Pekin — left two dead and one in custody; officers were called at 6 a.m. and the investigation is ongoing. WMBD
- ➤ Two 21-year-old men—Chase Rhodes of Pekin and Dawson Reese from rural Pekin—were fatally shot early Thursday morning in South Pekin, and 21-year-old Memphis Rue has been charged with first degree murder as autopsies for both victims are scheduled for today while investigators continue their probe. WMBD
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Holocaust Remembrance Day was observed with a talk from 91-year-old Holocaust survivor Renee Grobart at the Riverfront Museum on Wednesday evening. Grobart recounted her escape from German-occupied Poland during World War II and the loss of 6 million Jews (she continues to share her story so future generations remember the past). 25 News Now
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Three veteran Peoria police officers were promoted at a ceremony on April 4—Matthew Lane advanced from sergeant to lieutenant while officers James Hodges and Brittany Martzluf were elevated to sergeant. Peoria Journal Star
- ➤ Peoria-area Congressman Eric Sorensen visited the Midwest Food Bank on Thursday morning to address concerns over food insecurity and potential cuts to food programs. He toured the facility and met with its leaders to discuss protecting SNAP & keeping grocery stores open. WMBD
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Illinois health officials confirmed the first measles case of 2025 in Southern Illinois on April 23; the case involves an adult and poses a low risk to the public. Officials advise residents to get the MMR vaccine and stay home if sick to help prevent further spread—vaccination remains the best protection against this contagious virus. Pekin Daily Times
SHOP NEWS
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TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
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~ Warren Buffett
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