Illinois
Could Peoria land a new Illinois River cruise option? Here’s what to know
Meet Journal Star business and government reporter JJ Bullock
Journal Star reporter JJ Bullock writes about local government, politics and business in and around Peoria.
An advocacy group with ties to Washington, D.C., is working to bring a national cruise line to the Illinois River that would make a stop in Peoria.
The Illinois River Cities and Towns Initiative, a group that advocates politically for cities and towns on the Illinois River, is in talks with American Cruise Lines to set up a cruise route that would travel the Illinois River and make a stop in Peoria.
Representatives from the IRCTI told the Peoria City Council on Tuesday night that if the city agreed to spend $22,600 on a membership fee and join its group, it could become part of an initiative that, among other things, is trying to bring a cruise line to the Illinois River.
While the proposed cruise line wouldn’t be permanently stationed in Peoria, like the bygone Spirit of Peoria riverboat that left the city in 2022, members of the Peoria City Council said a cruise line stop in Peoria could bring back some of the energy and money the riverboat once provided to the city’s riverfront.
The proposed cruise line route — which is notably just an idea the IRCTI has kicked to American Cruise Lines — would fly guests to Chicago and then have them board a boat in Ottawa, Illinois. The boat would travel down the Illinois River and travel through Peoria on its way to the Mississippi River where it would then turn south to St. Louis or north to Minneapolis.
Bringing a cruise line to the Illinois River was just a small piece of the pitch the IRCTI delivered to the City Council on Tuesday. Ultimately, what the IRCTI said it would advocate for is making the Illinois River part of federal discussions around funding for environmental and business development programs that could tap Peoria into millions of dollars.
To join the coalition Peoria, has to pay a $22,600 joining fee and then an annual fee every year it stays part of the group. The coalition includes cities such as Pekin, East Peoria, Ottawa, La Salle, Peru and Beardstown.
The City Council voted 9-2 on Tuesday to pay the $22,630 membership fee to join the IRCTI.
Councilmember Denis Cyr said he hopes the program is successful and does bring the millions of dollars to Peoria that was mentioned in the group’s sales pitch, but he voted against the measure because Peoria is the only city on the Illinois River that has a mandate from the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce its pollution into the river.
Councilmember Alex Carmona voted against the measure because he wants Peoria to find ways to be more “business friendly” that do not cost the city money.
While he voted for the measure, councilmember John Kelly expressed skepticism that the advocacy group would succeed in its pitched endeavors to bring millions of federal dollars to Peoria. Kelly said he was not skeptical of the group’s “intentions” but rather “what it can actually do.”
Mayor Rita Ali was joined by eight other councilmembers, including Kelly, in supporting the city’s membership into the IRCTI.
Ali said the initiative will “attract millions of dollars to Peoria.”
Councilmember Denise Jackson was excited at the idea of bringing a passenger boat back to Peoria. She said $22,000 was a “drop in the bucket” compared to the earning potential that having a cruise line stop in Peoria could bring to the city.
Article Summary
- In an annual May ceremony, friends, family and supporters of law enforcement honored two Illinois police officers who died in the line of duty in 2025.
- The event included a squad car processional and interfaith church service, ending in a ceremony at the Illinois Police Officers Memorial outside the state capitol.
- Seven historic honorees and one K-9 historic honoree were also included.
This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.
In a ceremony at the state Capitol, family, friends and supporters honored the lives of two law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2025.
The ceremony honored Officer Krystal Rivera of the Chicago Police Department and Detective Tim Jones of the Park Forest Police Department. Held annually on the first Thursday in May, the event is a tradition to honor law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty the previous calendar year.
“Today, as we remember your brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, coworkers and friends who lost their lives in the line of duty, let us not remember them as indestructible superheroes that we may envision as children,” state Attorney General Kwame Raoul said. “Let’s remember them as human beings, in all their vulnerabilities and susceptibilities, who chose to take on the risk of the ultimate sacrifice to make others’ lives safer.”
This year’s memorial also included seven historic honorees who died from 1852 to 1936 and one K-9 honoree, Bear, who died in 1987.
“These officers represent the very best of what it means to be a public servant,” said Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. “They came from different communities, different departments and different backgrounds, but they were united by a common goal: to protect people they may never meet, to run toward danger while others run away and to always put service above themselves.”
In an emotional address, Giannoulias also spoke of “fellow Greek American” CPD Officer John Bartholomew, who was shot and killed while on duty in April. Bartholomew’s visitation and funeral services are set to take place this weekend.
State Treasurer Michael Frerichs also gave a short speech, speaking on his family history with law enforcement and loss: “I’m invited here today because it’s my title. I come here today because of family.”
Frerichs encouraged families of fallen officers to apply to the Fallen Heroes Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships to children who lost a parent in the line of duty.
The event included a squad car procession at the state fairgrounds and an interfaith church service at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, ending in the ceremony at the Illinois Police Officers Memorial on the grounds of the state Capitol.
The mayor of Springfield, Misty Buscher, and the families of two 2025 honorees — Illinois State Police trooper Corey Thompsen and Chicago Police officer James Crowley — also spoke. Gov. JB Pritzker, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Comptroller Susana Mendoza were unable to attend.
Crowley’s sister Beth Carter gave a critical address, calling for reforms to the beneficiary system that she said left her with legal issues when her brother, a former police officer who was permanently injured while on duty, and her mother died within a month of each other.
Thompsen’s parents and brother also called for legislative reform. Thompsen was hit and killed by a driver who was later issued two tickets for an expired license and failure to yield. His family asked lawmakers to enact stricter consequences for crashes resulting in death and to communicate with other states about such events.
“If someone causes a crash that kills another person, there needs to be more of a consequence than two paid tickets for $500 each. We feel that the state of Illinois should notify the other state where the original license was issued, reporting that a fatality is caused by this person with an expired driver’s license,” Thompsen’s brother Ryan said. “As the state’s attorney told us, you won’t find any satisfaction here in the courthouse. How true that was.”
The Illinois Police Officers Memorial Committee, formed in 1987, organizes and maintains the monument located on the grounds of the Capitol. The memorial is self-funded and underwent a renovation and re-dedication in 2021.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
DELAVAN, Wis. — A Delavan police officer has resigned immediately following his arrest on stalking charges in Illinois.
Joshua Bittner faces charges stemming from contacting a woman against the orders of the Winnebago County, Illinois, Sheriff’s Office. The woman detailed a long pattern of harassment in court documents obtained by TMJ4.
Before being hired by the Delavan Police Department in 2023, Bittner was an officer in Beloit. He resigned from that position while the police department investigated his behavior.
Bittner’s resignation takes effect immediately.
Watch: Delavan police officer resigns after arrest on stalking charges in Illinois
Delavan police officer resigns following arrest
Let’s talk:
Hey there! At TMJ4 News, we’re all about listening to our audience and tackling the stuff that really matters to you. Got a story idea, tip, or just want to chat about this piece? Hit us up using the form below. For more ways to get in touch, head over to tmj4.com/tips.
It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.
Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.
Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip
-
Technology4 minutes agoHumanoid robot named ‘Gabi’ ordained as Buddhist monk, pledges devotion to ‘holy Buddha’
-
Business10 minutes agoCalifornia tech company Cloudflare to lay off more than 1,000 workers, cites AI
-
Entertainment16 minutes agoJames Cameron once said ‘Avatar’ Neytiri design began with a young Q’orianka Kilcher. Now, she’s suing
-
Lifestyle22 minutes agoThe case for monogramming everything you own and love
-
Politics28 minutes agoNewsom pledges to move forward with Delta water tunnel in California
-
Science34 minutes agoDirty mind? Study suggests gut movement may flush excess material from our brains
-
Sports40 minutes agoKyle Loftis, street racing media pioneer who founded 1320Video, dies at 43
-
World52 minutes agoAs US and Iran weigh peace deal, stranded seafarers wait in limbo