Illinois
Ahead of proposed gas rate hikes, Ameren Illinois unveils plans for new technology in Central Illinois
PEORIA (25News Now) – The gas bills for Ameren Illinois customers might be going up, but they might also have some new technologies for their homes.
The company has faced backlash from consumer advocacy groups this year for proposed gas rate hikes, roughly an 11% increase, but company reps say they need more resources to upgrade and maintain the systems.
Ameren Illinois filed a gas reliability plan with the Illinois Commerce Commission in January. Tuesday, leaders held an open house in Peoria to tell the community about their proposals.
Company leaders shared their plans to improve their natural gas delivery system. Ameren Illinois has submitted proposals for upgrades and replacements for pipelines, and changes to comply with federal safety requirements.
“It’s really about maintaining that reliability and resiliency that our customers have come to expect from us. And in the Peoria area over the last couple years, we’ve had several major projects people have probably seen,” said Brad Kloeppel, senior director for gas technical services.
Last year, Ameren upgraded a natural gas transmission pipeline along North University Street and Willow Knolls Drive.
Ameren’s proposed plan includes pilot programs for new technologies. One is advanced leak detection.
“We have new technology where we can drive around, or possibly even use satellites to detect leaks on our system. This basically makes it so we can respond to leaks before customers are even aware of them,” said Kloeppel.
Another technology is renewable natural gas, where technicians capture methane from an existing source and put it into their gas system.
All of the proposed new changes can’t be put in place without the approval of the Illinois Commerce Commission. The earliest this could happen is December 2025.
Customers that missed Ameren’s event Tuesday can leave a public comment to the Illinois Commerce Commission.
You can watch 25News – any newscast, anywhere – streaming LIVE on 25NewsNow.com, our 25News mobile app, and on our WEEK 25News SmartTV streaming app. Learn more about how you can get connected to 25News streaming live news here.
Copyright 2025 WEEK. All rights reserved.
Illinois
‘Home Alone’ house being restored to mirror iconic Christmas movie
Sunday, December 14, 2025 6:16PM
WINNETKA, Ill. (WLS) — “Home Alone” is one of the most popular Christmas movies of all time.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
The holiday classic debuted 35 years ago. Now, the iconic house featured in the film is in the spotlight, again.
It underwent an interior renovation and was sold earlier this year.
Now, ABC7 learned that it will be transformed back to the way it looked in 1990, when film audiences got to peek inside it for the first time.
John Abendshien is the former owner of the Winnetka house. He has fond memories of the days spent filming the movie.
READ MORE | Original owner of ‘Home Alone’ house writes memoir about iconic movie
Abendshien said he and his family stayed and watched while the movie was being shot.
He has written a memoir called “Home but Alone No More.”
Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Illinois
Person of interest in deadly Cicero, Illinois stabbing apprehended after long pursuit
A suspect in a deadly stabbing was apprehended early Sunday morning following a pursuit from Cicero that ended up on Chicago’s Far South Side.
Around 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Cicero police were called after Ubano Diaz, 73, was tsabbed in the 3200 block of South 54th Court in the west Chicago suburb. Diaz was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died, Cicero police said.
Police immediately identified a person of interest, who was found driving out of the town. They launched a pursuit as the suspect headed northeast on the Stevenson Expressway.
At 1:21 a.m. Sunday, Illinois State Police were called in to assist Cicero police with the pursuit as the suspect cruised up the Stevenson Expressway at California Avenue.
The pursuit kept going along the Stevenson and Dan Ryan expressways before finally ending at 119th Street and Vincennes Avenue west of I-57 in Chicago’s Morgan Park neighborhood.
The driver of the vehicle was taken into custody at that point, Cicero and Illinois State Police said.
There were no crashes or injuries during the pursuit.
Police believe the stabbing was an isolated incident, and there was no threat to the public.
State police did not specify the route of the pursuit.
Illinois
1 killed, multiple displaced after Glenwood, Illinois, condo fire, officials say
One person is dead after a fire inside a condo complex in south suburban Glenwood on Saturday evening.
It happened around 5 p.m. in the 900 block of 194th Street.
Glenwood fire officials said that crews responded to a second-floor unit inside the three-story building that was engulfed with flames.
It was confirmed that one person died in the fire. Their identity was not released.
Neighbors in adjoining condos were displaced. The Red Cross was working to provide further assistance to those affected.
Glenwood fire said they are working with the state fire marshal to investigate what led up to the blaze.
-
Alaska1 week agoHowling Mat-Su winds leave thousands without power
-
Texas1 week agoTexas Tech football vs BYU live updates, start time, TV channel for Big 12 title
-
Washington6 days agoLIVE UPDATES: Mudslide, road closures across Western Washington
-
Iowa1 week agoMatt Campbell reportedly bringing longtime Iowa State staffer to Penn State as 1st hire
-
Miami, FL1 week agoUrban Meyer, Brady Quinn get in heated exchange during Alabama, Notre Dame, Miami CFP discussion
-
Iowa2 days agoHow much snow did Iowa get? See Iowa’s latest snowfall totals
-
Cleveland, OH1 week agoMan shot, killed at downtown Cleveland nightclub: EMS
-
World1 week ago
Chiefs’ offensive line woes deepen as Wanya Morris exits with knee injury against Texans