Good morning, Peoria.

The Partnership for a Healthy Community’s HEAL Action Team is hosting the 5th annual Tri-County Hunger Walk at Peoria’s Donovan Park this Saturday, Sept.

26, starting at 9 a.m. Participants must donate one healthy, shelf-stable canned food item per walker to benefit food pantries in Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford Counties.

Peoria native Jakaiden Rynearson, fatally shot in 2024 while helping a neighbor, was posthumously honored with the Carnegie Medal by the Carnegie Hero Fund — one of 16 recent North American recipients for civilian heroism.

Peoria nonprofit Cafe Distilled, created by Community Workplace and Training Center and Distillery Labs, nears its first anniversary while offering hands-on job training for adults with disabilities (operating Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 3215 N University St.).

TNT’s Sports Bar and Grill at 3304 Meadow Ave. is available for sale as its owner prepares to retire.

The business will soon offer a limited menu after a week of full options, inviting serious buyers to carry on its legacy.

Pilgrims visiting the Sheen museum and tomb at the Cathedral of St. Mary will boost tourism if about 25,000 of the 50,000 beatification visitors from St. Louis tour the site (estimated impact: $3.6 million).

A 1968 photo shows Fulton J.

Sheen arriving in Peoria for St. Patrick’s Catholic Church’s 100th anniversary—this central Illinois native became a noted televangelist, lecturer and educator whose legacy is celebrated in local exhibits.

Hundreds of parishioners from St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Peoria Heights and students from Peoria Notre Dame are traveling to St. Louis today for Archbishop Fulton J.

Sheen's beatification (tickets sold out quickly) as organizers coordinated travel details to keep families together.

Peoria residents can enjoy a busy weekend with comedy at the Civic Center on Friday, a seasonal market, literary event and pet fair on Saturday, plus the 64th annual Art Guild Fine Art Fair continuing into Sunday.

Local venues host these activities — check details for tickets and times.

Monarch butterflies are migrating through the region as fall begins, with adults, caterpillars and chrysalises spotted at Tawny Oaks Visitors Center in Edelstein.

The insects will continue their journey to Mexico before colder weather sets in.

Peoria's city council approved the Tourism Improvement District to help attract major events by imposing a 1.5% sales tax on hotel stays starting November 1 (backed by 12 hotel owners), while one councilman opposed the measure.

Local ice cream stands are closing seasonally.

Emo’s Dairy Mart at the corner of War Memorial & North Prospect and The Ice Cream Shack at 2313 NE Adams finish operations Sunday as other stands plan closures later this month across Peoria, East Peoria, Pekin and Bartonville.

City Council approved revised plans for a $5.9 million mixed-use project at 906-910 SW Adams St.—nearly tripling loft apartments while reducing commercial space to 2,100 sqft—to better meet the growing residential demand in the Warehouse District.

The adjustments may open a conversation on future grocery options.