WCBU Newscasts - 3:04pm 6-18-2026

Thanks. From the WCBU Newsroom, I'm Charles Schlanker. The Washington Plaza Shopping Center is getting a makeover with a half-million dollar investment. Washington's City Council has approved a development agreement with owner Sam Tejabali. The pact includes adding a quarter acre of green space and resurfacing the pothole-filled parking lot. Alderperson Bobby Martin III chairs the city's Economic Development Commission. He says Teobali could be convinced to return the plaza to its original name Sunnyland Plaza. I think he's open to it, but as of right now, he calls it the Washington Plaza. He's open to almost anything. The city will maintain the green space. In addition to fixing the parking lot, Washington Plaza Management will install exterior security cameras. Illinois is hoping to prevent gaps left by federal cuts to Medicaid. Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed a bill aiming at maintaining access to health care for Illinois Medicaid recipients. The bill includes roughly $110 million in state spending to expand Medicaid services, support safety net hospitals, and invest in long-term care programs. Saturday night brings the last summer before the summer solstice. And if the skies are clear, it could be a great night for stargazing at the century-old Northmoor Observatory in Donovan Park. The Peoria Astronomical Society is in its 71st season of hosting Saturday public viewings throughout the summer. Program chair Chris Schmidt says they have many options for seeing stars and planets. We've got the little building that the dome is in, and then we've got scope. outside we also have a pair of binoculars and you can do naked eye observing gatherings start at sunset and typically last into the 11 o'clock hour Some government offices will be closed tomorrow in observance of the Juneteenth holiday, though others remain open. Peoria City Hall is also open, so is the Peoria County Courthouse. Some offices in the building will be closed. Those include the county clerk's office, probation services, and the Regional Office of Education. I'm Charlie. Each story you hear on Planet Money starts with a question. What happens if we refund tariffs? Why are groceries so expensive? At NPR, we stand for your right to be curious because the forces shaping our world can be hard to seek. Follow NPR's Planet Money wherever you get your podcast and start seeing how the economy really works.