PEORIA - A Far North Peoria house fire Saturday was caused by a child playing by a lighter, according to the Peoria Fire Department.

PEORIA - For the first time in decades, Peoria County Democrats will have to choose between two longtime and established attorneys for who will be the party's nominee to head the State's Attorney's Office.

One of the things I admire about U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is how openly she speaks about growing up with an alcoholic parent.

Some presidential years, with voters in so many other states going to the polls earlier, the Illinois primary has seemed like an afterthought.

SPRINGFIELD - The state commission that oversees higher education grants for low-income students detailed the diminishing buying power of state financial aid during a recent budget request hearing.