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Today’s edition · Thurs., Nov. 12

A Peoria paramedic picks Honor Flight over her national award ceremony

Plus, a Pekin school administrator will lead Galesburg's district.

The Daily Peoria team2 stories10 sources4 min read

CommunityTop story

Peoria paramedic Nicole Hughes wins a Star of Life award and picks the Honor Flight instead

1672026 Stars of Life honorees

Hughes is one of them.

Source: WCBU Peoria

If you know the , meet Nicole Hughes. The American Ambulance Association has awarded her a 2026 Star of Life, a national honor for EMS members, for her work with the flight. She's a quality and compliance manager, critical care paramedic and pre-hospital registered nurse with of Central Illinois.

Hughes is an Army veteran who helps coordinate medical staffing and emergency equipment for each flight. She's skipping the awards festivities to be on the next one.

“To me, it's more important to be there serving those who've served us rather than being recognized for something that I'm doing alongside a team.”

Nicole Hughes
  • AAA celebration for honorees: Nov. 16–18 in Washington, D.C.
  • Honor Flight mission to Washington: Nov. 17
  • On the team: AMT joined the flight's medical team two years ago

Hughes will be with veterans while honorees gather in Washington

  1. Oct. 29Hughes is reported as a 2026 Star of Life winner.
  2. Nov. 16–18The American Ambulance Association celebrates Stars of Life honorees in Washington, D.C.
  3. Nov. 17 makes its mission to Washington, with Hughes on board.

Sources: WCBU Peoria, wmbdradio.com

Asked

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Asked

Have you ever supported a veterans program in the Peoria area?

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Schools

A Pekin school administrator has been named Galesburg's first woman superintendent

Pekin's assistant superintendent of curriculum and personnel has been named superintendent of Galesburg Community Unit School District 205. Sheila Coussens-Martin will be the first woman to lead the district, and she starts July 1, 2027.

Coussens-Martin brings years of Illinois school experience to Galesburg

25+
years in Illinois public education
2019
year she became Pekin's assistant superintendent
1st
woman to lead District 205

Sources: OurQuadCities, Radio Monmouth, IL

Radio Monmouth reports she takes over after Superintendent John Asplund retires June 30, 2027. During her time at Pekin Community High School District 303, the district expanded career and technical education, dual credit, Advanced Placement and special education opportunities.

  • Roots: Avon High School graduate who grew up in St. Augustine
  • Plans: work-based learning, student achievement, achievement gaps
  • Degrees: bachelor's from Notre Dame; advanced degrees from Western Illinois

Galesburg's superintendent job changes hands in summer 2027

  1. 2019Coussens-Martin becomes assistant superintendent at Pekin Community High School District 303.
  2. June 2027Superintendent John Asplund retires from District 205.
  3. July 2027Coussens-Martin begins as District 205 superintendent.

Sources: OurQuadCities, Radio Monmouth, IL

News Notes

Northwoods

City officials are seeking a big redevelopment of the area around and inside Northwoods Mall. They hope to capitalize on a generous state program to re-envision the anchor mall. Peoria Journal Star

Schools

After Monday's vote to go with its in-house instead of Elite's Game Changers, Peoria Public Schools still has several unknowns for its at-risk middle schoolers. The specifics, including transportation, are still in the works. Central Illinois Proud

Twin Towers

A plan for a city-backed loan will help fund $2.5 million in needed repairs at Peoria's . Property taxes will be raised at the Downtown building. Peoria Journal Star

Bradley

Bradley University made Military Times' 2026 Best for Vets: Colleges list. It's one of 370 colleges and universities nationwide on the list. WEEK 25 News Now

Bradley ranked No. 13 in Illinois on Military Times' veterans list

Ranked amongBradley's spot
Illinois collegesNo. 13
Midwest collegesNo. 55
Private nonprofitsNo. 76

Source: WEEK 25 News Now

The Buy

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Home

Tackling a fall project? You already know you’ll find the tools, storage, outdoor essentials, and supplies you need at The Home Depot — but have you browsed Black Friday savings? Check out The Home Depot’s current deals and see what you can cross off your project list.

Content marked with an * is advertising.

Asked

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Asked

Which weekend plan sounds best to you?

Be the first to answer.

Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Quoted

A house divided against itself cannot stand.

— Jesus, Mark 3:25

Things to Do

Things to Do

Peoria, IL

Thursday, Nov. 12

See every Peoria eventFeature your event

Jobs

Jobs

Submit your Job listing

Do you know just the position for our readers? Share it on our Jobs board.

The Buy

The Wrap

Picture the Grinch, Santa and FOLEPI all hanging out in one park. That's the plan for the Gifts Galore Shop & Stroll in East Peoria on Dec. 5, noon to 4 p.m. Levee Park is the hub, with free carriage rides and an ice skating rink. Shoppers can enter raffles for prizes, too. Sleigh bells optional.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Peoria schools switch to NOVA Academy; STAR bonds eyed for Northwoods

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Every source in this edition10 links · 9 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. WCBU Peoriawcbu.org
  3. wmbdradio.comwmbdradio.com
  4. OurQuadCitiesourquadcities.com
  5. Radio Monmouth, IL977wmoi.com
  6. Peoria Journal Starpjstar.com
  7. Central Illinois Proudcentralillinoisproud.com
  8. Peoria Journal Starpjstar.com
  9. WEEK 25 News Now25newsnow.com
  10. Peoria events calendardailypeoria.com

Past issues

  1. Wed., Nov. 11Peoria schools switch to NOVA Academy; STAR bonds eyed for Northwoods
  2. Tues., Nov. 10Peoria school board cuts ties with Elite, picks NOVA Academy
  3. Mon., Nov. 9Peoria Notre Dame wins its sixth boys soccer state title
  4. Sun., Nov. 8Notre Dame wins state soccer; Eureka, Elmwood-Brimfield win cross country
  5. Sat., Nov. 7Peoria County Board approves $1.5 billion wind farm
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Daily Peoriato me · Thurs., Nov. 126:00 a.m.

A Peoria paramedic picks Honor Flight over her national award ceremony

Plus, a Pekin school administrator will lead Galesburg's district.

The TLDR

  1. Peoria paramedic Nicole Hughes wins a 2026 Star of Life
  2. A Pekin administrator will lead Galesburg schools
  3. City eyes state funding to remake Northwoods Mall
Read this edition

More stories this week

From Daily Peoria’s other editions

All the news
SchoolsPeoria Public Schools will replace ELITE with its own NOVA Academy after a 4-3 votePeoria Public Schools is changing who runs its safe schools alternative for Grades 6-8. The Board of Education voted 4-3 Monday night to replace ELITE Community Outreach's Game Changer Safe School with a district-run NOVA Academy. Board member Sarah Howard said a deciding factor was meeting standards required by the Illinois Safe Schools Act.Wednesday’s editionRead City HallPeoria's City Council was asked to start a STAR Bond District around Northwoods MallThe council was asked Tuesday night to approve a measure that would begin creating a STAR Bond District around the mall property. City Manager Patrick Urich said it would make the master developer, mall owner Summit Properties USA, eligible to use state sales tax revenue to help with development costs. The district would overlay the mall's tax increment financing district created earlier this year, only on the mall footprint.Wednesday’s editionRead SchoolsPeoria's school board votes 4-3 to replace an Elite-run program with district-led NOVA AcademyPeoria Public Schools is moving on from Elite Community Outreach. The board voted 4-3 Monday night to pursue NOVA Academy, a district-led program for at-risk young people. Board members, the superintendent and the deputy superintendent said a July meeting was meant to extend an olive branch to Elite, but communication broke down. The NAACP and Elite dispute that account.Tuesday’s editionRead

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