Good morning, Peoria.

After retiring from the police force, East Peoria resident Darren Widdows turned to woodworking and now carves wooden statues like eagles, whales and Bigfoot, creating pieces daily and selling some through his social media (woodsbywidds).

Peoria paramedic Nicole Hughes has been named a 2026 Star of Life by the American Ambulance Association but will skip the Nov.

17 awards ceremony to provide medical care on a Greater Peoria Honor Flight for veterans.

Heart to Art is a free monthly gathering for adults to unplug and create on the second Friday of each month (6 to 8 p.m.) at United Presbyterian Church, where people can bring projects or use church materials, read, play games, or simply relax in an unstructured, nonreligious space.

The final section of Moss Avenue will reopen today at noon between North MacArthur Highway and North Sheridan Road, ending a $10.5 million, yearlong reconstruction that began in March 2025.

Traffic signals will return to normal and lane restrictions at MacArthur, Union, Douglas, Sheridan, and Garfield will be removed.

OSF HealthCare marked 150 years since the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis arrived in Peoria (Oct.

28, 1876) with a private Mass of Thanksgiving at Saint Francis Medical Center and says it will hold additional anniversary events and Masses across its regional ministries.

Ahead of Halloween, Peoria's Red Sneakers for Oakley urges residents to display a teal pumpkin or sign and offer non-food treats like stickers, pens + pencils so children with food allergies can trick-or-treat safely.