🌱 Patch AM: What new data reveal about Peoria County’s American Indian students

Cheers Peoria! We’re back, helping you stay up to date with what’s happening. Let's take on the day together! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• What new data reveal about Peoria County’s American Indian students
• Why a Peoria judge refused to release this teen before trial
• How $200K in toys is brightening Peoria kids’ holidays

Also on today's calendar: Tuba Christmas Peoria 2025 and 6 more events.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Peoria? Post it to Peoria photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: The doctor told me to drink carrot juice after a hot bath. - Did it help? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Freezing fog in the morning, with a high of 37 and low of 34 degrees.
• Thursday: Rain and a thunderstorm, temps: high: 49, low: 13. ⛄️ Brr!
• Friday: Partly sunny and much colder, with a high of 29 and low of 24 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Peoria County Education: 60 American Indian students enrolled in school districts in 2024-25 school year (peoriastandard.com) — New state data show 60 American Indian students enrolled in Peoria County schools for 2024-25, including 36 in Peoria School District 150. They represent a small but growing share of the county’s 27,000-plus students, as Illinois boosts overall K–12 funding in its 2025 budget.
   

2. Peoria teen to be held on murder charges in 'senseless' fatal shooting (pjstar.com) — A Peoria 18-year-old will stay in Peoria County Jail while facing first-degree murder charges in the October shooting death of a 20-year-old man on North Isabell Avenue. Prosecutors say phone evidence, shell casings, and prior cases in Peoria, including an aggravated DUI fatality, convinced a judge that releasing him before trial would endanger the community.
   

3. Peoria Salvation Army distributes $200K in toys to families (centralillinoisproud.com) — Hundreds of Peoria families lined up today at the local Salvation Army as Toys for Tots distributed more than $200,000 in gifts to over 3,000 children. With record demand for toys, food boxes, and rent help, organizers say community donations are more critical than ever, even as they pause to celebrate this year’s impact.
   

4. East Peoria man federally charged with allegedly stealing identities and wire fraud (1049thewolf.com) — Federal prosecutors in Peoria say a 35-year-old East Peoria man has been indicted on 11 counts tied to an alleged years-long wire fraud and identity theft scheme. Authorities allege he used a fake tech business to access homes and devices, stole data from millions, and now faces potentially decades in prison if convicted.
   

5. A look at Archbishop Fulton Sheen's Central Illinois roots and rise in the Catholic Church (25newsnow.com) — Peoria’s Catholic community is highlighting Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s deep local roots, from his ordination at St. Mary’s Cathedral to a free downtown museum honoring his life. The diocese is now transforming the former Spalding Institute into an immersive Fulton Sheen Experience, slated to open in 2027 and expand how visitors connect with his legacy.
   

📸 Around Peoria

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Peoria

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Thursday December 18

• Primary Concert
  Pleasant Valley Elementary School , 4623 W Redbud Dr , Peoria
  1:30 pm
• Peoria Housing Authority Board Meeting
  Peoria, IL Calendar , Peoria Housing Authority 100 S. Richard Pryor Place/Multi Purpose Room , Peoria
  4:30 pm
• 7/8 Boys Basketball @ Hollis
  Pleasant Valley SD 62 , 5624 W Tuscarora Rd , Peoria
  5:00 pm
• YPGP Ugly Holiday Sweater Party
  Kelleher's Irish Pub & Eatery , 619 SW Water Street , Peoria
  5:30 pm
• A Jolly Holiday Adventure
  Peoria Players Theatre , 4300 N. University , Peoria
  7:30 pm

Friday December 19

• Quarter 2 Grading Period Ends
  Peoria SD 150 Peoria, IL 61603
• Last Day Before Winter Break 1 hr. Early Dismissal
  Peoria SD 150 Peoria, IL 61603
• End of 2nd Grading Period
  Pleasant Valley SD 62 Peoria, IL 61604

Sunday December 21

• Tuba Christmas Peoria 2025
  Redeemer Lutheran Church , 6801 N Allen Rd , Peoria
  3:30 pm

📣 Peoria Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Wednesday December 17

• Historic Preservation Commission Meeting
  Peoria, IL Calendar , City Hall 419 Fulton Street, Conf. Room 400 , Peoria
  8:30 am
• Fire Department Foreign Fire Tax Board Meeting
  Peoria, IL Calendar , Central Fire Station 505 NE Monroe , Peoria
  9:00 am
• 7/8 Boys Basketball vs Peoria Heights Grade School
  Pleasant Valley SD 62 , 3314 W Richwoods Blvd , Peoria
  4:30 pm

Thursday December 18

• Primary Concert
  Pleasant Valley Elementary School , 4623 W Redbud Dr , Peoria
  1:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation Presents $15,000 Grant to Heartland Health Services —Molina Healthcare Illinois Read on Patch
• Rep. Spain’s Annual Holiday Diaper Drive Spreads Cheer to Families in Need —IL House Read on Patch

• I want to get a bookshelf built along a wall - all wood, white, 10 ft x 7 ft x 1.
  5 ft. Is there a qualified carpenter here experienced with such a project? (Nextdoor Willow Lake Village)
• I love our neighborhood because of the continued support from the neighbors and clients who have shown us love over time.
  We truly appreciate everyone who has supported Garage on Wheels Fix & Finish and allowed us to live our dream while we navigate starting up our… (Nextdoor Timberlane)

• It's been a challenging year for farmers across Illinois. 25 News in Peoria recently spoke with Charlie Hensley of the Peoria County Farm Bureau... (X: AFSPIL)
• As the year winds down, we’re taking a look back at stories from our Communications Division that put a spotlight on city operations. From January... (X: CityofPeoria_IL)

• Sam's Club posted a job opening for Meat Cutter and Wrapper in Peoria. Apply here.
• LaborMAX posted a job opening for Landfill Clean-up Worker in Peoria. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Peoria here.

Ok Peoria! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I can never finish drinking the hot bath!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook