Howard Packowitz

3 days ago | 25newsnow.com | Howard Packowitz

PEORIA (25News Now) - A decision made last month will stand to continue taxing shoppers for groceries in Peoria. At-large Council member Zach Oyler’s motion to reconsider the vote died for a lack of a second. Only council members who voted for the measure at the April 22 meeting could have seconded Oyler’s motion. At-large council members Denis Cyr and John Kelly were not at that meeting, and District 2 representative Alex Carmona wasn’t sworn in yet.

3 days ago | 25newsnow.com | Howard Packowitz

(25News Now) - State Farm Insurance is being allowed to impose a 17% emergency rate increase for California homeowners to help the Bloomington-based company overcome financial losses from disastrous wildfires. California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said Tuesday he’s going along with an administrative law judge’s recommendation to raise premiums 17% on an interim basis, which is lower than State Farm’s 22% rate hike request.

3 days ago | 25newsnow.com | Howard Packowitz

PEORIA (25News Now) - A jury has found a Peoria man guilty of first-degree murder for fatally shooting a 14-year-old boy after the teen’s cousin gave an eyewitness account of the slaying. The shooting happened on the night of June 26, 2023, at the intersection of Richwoods and Molleck in Peoria. Omarius Gates was found lying face down and was unresponsive, according to authorities. During the two-day trial, the boy’s cousin identified Tramier Pate, 25, of Peoria, as the man who shot Gates.

4 days ago | 25newsnow.com | Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON (25News Now) - Bloomington city leaders voiced approval Monday night for a cabin village called “The Bridge” for unhoused people who might otherwise stay outside during extreme weather conditions. The council unanimously passed a resolution encouraging Connect Transit to sell the East Oakland Avenue property near Downtown Bloomington to Home Sweet Home Ministries. The nonprofit plans to build a village with 40 single and eight double cabins to accommodate up to 56 adults.

4 days ago | 25newsnow.com | Howard Packowitz

TROY, NY (25News Now) - Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe has returned to his alma mater to share lessons he’s learned from failures while creating the company that makes electric vehicles in Normal. Scaringe on Saturday received an honorary doctorate degree in engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. “With each failure, with each roadblock, I realized I was learning and growing,” Scaringe said in a commencement address to the RPI’s Class of 2025.