🌱 World War II Vets Honored In Peoria + Postal Worker Robbed

Hello, Peoria! In today's Patch guide to the latest local headlines:

• A mail carrier was robbed at gunpoint Monday.
• The Archdiocese of Peoria responds to an investigation report on decades of sex abuse in the Catholic church across Illinois.
• Discounted gas will be offered today at select stations.

But first, today's weather: Mostly sunny and cooler. High: 73 Low: 47.

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Here are the top stories today in Peoria:

1. A Peoria postal worker was robbed at gunpoint Monday afternoon in the 1800 block of West Ayres Avenue. The victim told police two male juveniles pointed a gun at him and stole his mailbox keys. (WMBD)

2. More than 450 priests and brothers are named in a new report on sex abuse in the Catholic church, Patch reports. A five-year investigation reveals the clergy “abused 1,997 children across all six Catholic dioceses in Illinois.” Attorney General Kwame Raoul said the intention of the report published Tuesday “is to provide a public accounting and a measure of healing to survivors who have long suffered in silence." (Patch)

3. The Archdiocese of Peoria reacted to the attorney general’s report this week. “To the Diocese’s knowledge, there is not a single priest of the Diocese with a substantiated allegation who is currently in ministry or who has not been reported to authorities,” a statement issued Tuesday reads. (25NN)

4. More than 70 veterans, including three from World War II, took part in the Greater Peoria Honor Flight this week. They visited Washington, D.C. and were greeted at General Wayne A. Downing International Airport upon return. (25NN)

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Today in Peoria:

• Tour the Pettengill-Morron House. (10 a.m.)
• Crafted DIY Studio hosts Crafts & Cocktails. (4:30 p.m.)
• The Peoria Art Guild hosts a Sculpture Walk Sip & Stroll. (5:30 p.m.)
• It’s Miller Lite Throwback Thursday at Dozer Park as the Chiefs take on the Great Lakes Loons. (6:35 p.m.)
• Head to Fox Pub for Trivia Night. (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Circle K will offer discounted gas this afternoon at select locations. (Yahoo)
• This weekend’s Murder Mystery event at Peoria Zoo has been canceled. (Park District)
• Save the date: the Peoria Police Department is planning a Free Bikes for Kids event May 31 at the Gateway Building. (PPD)
• Peoria Riverfront Museum will host artist Alfred Conteh this weekend. (Museum)

That's all for today! See you Saturday for another edition.

— Georgi Presecky

About me: Georgi is a Chicago-based 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 feature articles have been recognized with awards from the 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.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Peoria Patch newsletter? Contact me at georgi.presecky@patch.com.