Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How a $5 million gift transforms student access to Peoria’s museum
Coming up on the Peoria Patch calendar: Fire and Police Commission Meeting
Hey hey Peoria! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How a $5 million gift transforms student access to Peoria's museum
- How Pleasant Valley 62 administrator pay stacks up across Illinois
- Which Peoria ZIP codes drove the sharp rise in Medicaid lab costs?
Today's riddle: What is the 1 way to guarantee winning a small fortune at the casino? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Tuesday: Sunny and very hot, with a high of 97 and low of 72 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
- Wednesday: Near-record temperatures, temps: high: 97, low: 71.
- Thursday: Hot, with a high of 96 and low of 72 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Peoria Riverfront Museum receives largest donation in its history (bluewaterhealthyliving.com) — A $5 million gift from the Barton Family Foundation will permanently fund the Peoria Riverfront Museum's Every Student Initiative, ensuring thousands of local students can visit for free each year. The new Glen and Polly Barton Educational Endowment Fund is described as one of the largest museum gifts for a student-focused program nationwide, strengthening Peoria's cultural and educational offerings. 
• Analysis: Pleasant Valley School District 62 administrators rank 370th highest in state for average salary in 2025 (peoriastandard.com) — Administrators in Pleasant Valley School District 62, based in Peoria and Peoria County, earned an average of $116,240 in 2025, up 7.2% from 2024 but still below the state average. With 412 students and a 137-to-1 student‑administrator ratio, the district reflects broader statewide trends in rising pay and ongoing educator shortages.
• Peoria sees $48,484 in Medicaid payments for pathology and lab services in 2024 (peoriastandard.com) — Medicaid spending on pathology and lab services in Peoria jumped 47.4% in 2024, with nearly all payments coming from ZIP codes 61603 and 61614. The report breaks down which medical tests drove the $48,484 total and shows how this category compares with other Medicaid-funded services in the city and across Illinois.
📸 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!
- Fire and Police Commission Meeting →
Peoria, IL Calendar, 419 Fulton Street, Suite 404, Peoria
8:30 am - Construction Commission Meeting (as needed basis) →
Peoria, IL Calendar, City Hall 419 Fulton St., Room 404, Peoria
2:00 pm - Council Member Andre W. Allen's "Coffee with Constituents" →
Peoria, IL Calendar, Panera Bread 2515 W. Lake Ave., Peoria
7:00 am - Planning and Zoning Commission →
Peoria, IL Calendar, 419 Fulton Street Room 400 (Council Chambers), Peoria
1:00 pm - Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting →
Peoria, IL Calendar, 419 Fulton Street, Room 400, Peoria
1:00 pm - Mid-Quarter Grades Issued
Pleasant Valley SD 62 Peoria, IL 61604 - Half Day IS 11:05am, PS 11:50am
Pleasant Valley SD 62 Peoria, IL 61604
11:05 am - NO SCHOOL - Labor Day
Pleasant Valley SD 62 Peoria, IL 61604
Wednesday September 2
Thursday September 3
Friday September 4
Monday September 7
📣 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
- PUFAB Regular Meeting →
Peoria, IL Calendar, 3505 N Dries Ln, Peoria
12:00 pm - JH Softball VS Georgetown MS (Away)
Peoria Heights CUSD 325 Sandrock Sports Park, S Main St, Pekin, IL 61554, USA
4:30 pm - JV/V Volleyball VS Williamsfield High School (Home)
Peoria Heights CUSD 325 Roger Bergia Gym
6:00 pm - JH Baseball VS Oak Grove Gs (Away)
Peoria Heights CUSD 325 Oak Grove School District #68, 6018 W Lancaster Rd, Bartonville\
4:30 pm
Tuesday September 1
Wednesday September 2
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
🪧 Patch Classifieds
- Scott Ford Burial Information
Looking for anyone who knew Scott Ford of Glenview IL, and any information on where he was laid to rest. Due to his wife withholding information... (More info)
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Reminder: Food Pantries Open Mondays
***** MONDAY Christ Alive! Community Church 9320 W. Route 150, Edwards (Kickapoo) 309-693-2393 Food pantry open 1st and 3rd Monday of each month… (Nextdoor Bournedale) - OK everybody!!
the forecast for the next 7+ days is for 90+ %. That means the high use of your AC and in turn high electric bill. If you want to get ahead of or… (Nextdoor Altmont)
- David's Bridal, Inc. posted a job opening for Seasonal Alterations Specialist in Peoria. Apply here.
- Parker Hannifin Corporation posted a job opening for Quality Mgr in Peoria. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Peoria here.
🗞 Nearby News
Peoria Heights
- Bicyclist hospitalized after being struck by semi in Peoria Heights (bluewaterhealthyliving.com)
- 50,000 cans of PBR vanish in beer heist (auburnpub.com)
- State Police nab offenders in Peoria area for not registering (chronicleillinois.com)
East Peoria
- East Peoria Medicaid spending on National Codes Established for State Medicaid Agencies reaches $19,291 in 2024 (peoriastandard.com)
- Vietnam War Memorial Wall replica will travel to Tremont next year (wcbu.org)
- Pritzker pledges to stay on 'Team Fight' as he asks Illinois voters for 3rd term (wmbdradio.com)
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: By starting with a large fortune. (Thank you Kourtney Z. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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