Good morning, Peoria.

Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria has challenged local men to meet him at Manual High School at 6:45 a.m. today—urging them to support students after a violent week that included a shooting which damaged the school and another incident where a student was injured, with a 15-year-old suspect now held on firearm charges.

Peoria's annual Irish Fest showcased Irish music, dancing, food, and cultural exhibits at the Riverfront and drew nearly 10,000 visitors, continuing a tradition that began in 1981.

The festival, organized by the St. Patrick Society of Peoria and the Peoria Park District, also featured sheep herding for a second year — marking it as the largest Irish festival in Illinois outside Chicago.

Crews will block the right lane on the McClugage Bridge at 6 a.m. today for two weeks of painting a new arch while resurfacing starts on Glasford Road from Route 24 to Main Street and pavement repair begins on Route 136 west of Havana and Route 78/97 in Fulton County.

The intersection of Smith—Steubenville will close at 7 a.m. Tuesday for the Combined Sewer Overflow Year 3 Control Project as traffic is controlled by flaggers or a stop sign.

Peoria-area high schools will compete in Week 1 of the IHSA football season with nonconference games scheduled on Friday and Saturday at set times—such as 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The schedule covers several conferences including Big 12, Mid-Illini, Tri-County and Central Illinois and features match-ups like Peoria High at Champaign Centennial.

Today, the Illinois High School Association celebrates its 125th school year by posting 125 important moments from its long history on its website.

Historian Scott Johnson, who worked at the IHSA from 2001 to 2019, said the list covers events from 1905 to the move from Chicago to Bloomington and shows key parts of high school sports and activities.

South Bend Cubs at Peoria Chiefs

6:35-8:05 p.m. — Dozer Park — Cost info not specified — Watch a thrilling Minor League Baseball matchup between local rivals.

6 Week Wheel Throwing Class

6:30-8:30 p.m. — The Clay Den — $275 — Unleash your creativity with hands-on pottery techniques in this engaging course for all skill levels.

Peoria Blues & Heritage Music Festival

Aug 29-30 — Peoria Riverfront Park — Tickets available — Celebrate blues music with notable artists like Gov't Mule and Ruthie Foster at this 35-year tradition.

Bob Ross Wet-on-Wet Oil Painting: Blue River

9 AM – 12 PM — Art at the Bodega — Supplies included — Learn Bob Ross techniques and create a serene masterpiece while enjoying a calming atmosphere.

Teacup and Saucer Hand Building Class

1-2:30 p.m. — The Clay Den — All materials included — Create your whimsical teacup and saucer with step-by-step guidance at this enchanting clay workshop.

Tic-Tac-Toe Ceramic Art Class

1-2:30 p.m. — The Clay Den — All materials included — Unleash creativity in a fun hand-building class to design your own tic-tac-toe board and pieces.

Whisper and Shout: Open Mic for Poetry

8-10 p.m. — Peoria RiverFront Market — $3-$12 — Engage with diverse poets in a vibrant open mic atmosphere.

Textured Pumpkin Clay Hand Building Class

5:30-7:30 p.m. — The Clay Den — Cost included — Create your own unique ceramic pumpkin with various textures just in time for fall.

Pie Pan Clay Hand Building Class

5:30-7:30 p.m. — The Clay Den — $45.00 — Create a unique ceramic pie pan and choose your glaze before it’s fired for your next gathering.

Clay Hand Built Beer Steins Workshop

1-3 p.m. — The Clay Den — All materials provided — Craft a custom beer stein and unleash your creativity in this fun workshop.