🌱 Kids Arrested For Stolen Car Crash + Colleges React To Court Ruling

Hello, Peoria! Let's get to today's top stories, including:

• Peoria Public Schools has a new board president.
• IDOT is suspending some lane closures during holiday travel.
• Peoria is celebrating July 4 weekend with fireworks, baseball, "summer screams" and more.

But first, today's weather: A t-storm or two; not as warm. High: 81 Low: 68.

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Here are the top 5 stories today in Peoria:

1. Seven juveniles were arrested earlier this week for driving stolen vehicles around Peoria, according to police. One of the cars was involved in a crash Wednesday at War Memorial Drive and Knoxville Avenue. (25NN)

2. Bradley University and Eureka College officials told WCBU the new Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action “will not impact their enrollment processes.” Bradley’s Teri Lucie Thomspon said, “We do not use race as a factor in our admissions process.” Eureka College President Jamel Wright wrote in a statement the school “values students’ diverse experience and backgrounds.” (WCBU)

3. The Illinois Department of Transportation is suspending construction lane closures this holiday weekend, according to a WMBD report. “Non-emergency closures will be suspended” through 11:59 p.m. on July 4. (WMBD)

4. Mike Murphy will serve as the next president of the Peoria Public Schools board of education, WCBU reports. He was unanimously selected at a reorganizational meeting Friday. (WCBU)

5. More than 200,000 people are expected to attend this weekend’s “Red White and Boom” celebration on the Peoria Riverfront. The free annual event is held by Carle Health and other sponsors, featuring live music in two locations. (Carle Health)

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Today in Peoria:

• See the "Flowers for Ukraine" exhibit at the Contemporary Art Center of Peoria. (11 a.m.)
• Watch post-game fireworks after the Chiefs take on the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Dozer Park. (6:35 p.m.)
• The Peoria State Hospital Museum presents "Midsummer Night Screams." (7 p.m.)
• A production of "Calendar Girls" takes the stage at the Corn Stock Theatre. (7:30 p.m.)
• Hear live music at the Pourbros Taproom's Courtyard Concert Series. (8 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The Peoria Park District will launch fireworks July 3 at Glen Oak Park. The event includes live music and food. (Park District)
• Peoria Zoo will celebrate the 50th birthday of its spider monkey Butch with a “birthday bash” today. (Paid source: Journal Star)
• Several government facilities will be closed Tuesday in observance of the Fourth of July. (County)

That's all for July 1, Peoria!

I’m sad to say this is my last day curating the Peoria Patch newsletter. It was a privilege to write your digest every week, and I hope to see you down the road.

Have a safe and healthy holiday weekend.

— Georgi Presecky

About me: Georgi is a newsletter writer and partner content curator. She spent five years on the entertainment beat for FF2 Media covering film festivals across the U.S. Her writing has been recognized with awards from the Ernest Hemingway Foundation, Illinois Women's Press Association and National Federation of Press Women. As editor-in-chief of the Lewis University newspaper, she and her staff earned honors from the Associated Collegiate Press and American Scholastic Press Associations. She began working for Patch in 2019.