Good morning, Peoria.

The Health Department now offers a Community Kitchen for food entrepreneurs to prepare, store and handle their products, available Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 2116 North Sheridan Road (fees are $30 per hour or $75 for three hours and free for 501(c)(3) nonprofits).

Three people were displaced by an electrical house fire in East Peoria Sunday afternoon when heavy smoke forced a safe evacuation; firefighters brought the blaze under control in about 30 minutes while crews secured live power lines and police managed traffic as the Red Cross began assisting the residents.

Broadway in Peoria announced that planned performances of Disney’s The Lion King at the Prairie Home Alliance Theater have been canceled — the show’s 25-year North American tour is set to conclude in summer and a redesigned production is planned — while other series shows remain scheduled.

Drivers in Peoria are paying over 40 cents more for gas this week with prices averaging $4.54 per gallon after surges linked to global disruptions — survey data shows prices vary from $4.38 to $4.69.

National tensions and refinery shutdowns continue to push prices higher.

Illinois regulators held the first battery storage procurement event to secure 600 MW, needed to decarbonize the power grid and hold down ratepayer bills — a critical step toward reaching 3,000 MW by 2030.

Experts expect future cycles to allow paired solar and storage projects to build on this progress.

On Monday, Sept. 14, a hearing took place on a proposed 40,000-acre wind farm with 113 turbines and a cost of $1.5 billion.

County officials, landowners, and attorneys argued over notification issues as further hearings + discussions are planned over the next two weeks.

State environmental officials detected elevated levels of forever chemicals in drinking water from Illinois American Water’s system serving several communities in Peoria County.

Notifications were sent to six satellite systems and Peoria Heights after tests measured 4.6 ppt versus a 4.0 ppt limit — residents may consider appropriate precautions.

Just under 10% of restaurants, bars + mobile units in Peoria County achieved perfect food safety inspections in August, with BrightSide Kitchen at 106 E.

McClure Ave earning a flawless report through consistent team effort.