Illinois
Peoria named one of the best places to live in the country, according to report
Peoria has been named the No. 1 place to live in the state of Illinois for 2024-2025 by U.S. News and World Report.
Peoria is the only Illinois city to be ranked in the top 100 places to live, coming in at No. 82. Rockford was ranked 105th and Chicago came in at No. 119.
Being ranked in the top 100 places to live has become somewhat of an annual exercise for Peoria, much to the chagrin of some Peorians on social media.
‘Take off like a rocket’: Why Peoria leaders are sanguine about future amid public negativity
But nonetheless, Peoria’s lower than average housing and rent costs and quality of life scores earned high marks with U.S. News and World Report, earning a spot in the top 100. Median home values in Peoria were $136,078, far less than the national average of $281,900.
Short commuting times for Peorians compared to other similar metro areas also earned Peoria high marks on its report card. Peoria’s commute times are 10 minutes less than the national average.
One blemish on Peoria’s report card was its violent crime statistics, which the list scored as higher than average. Another ding for Peoria was its public school system, which the list scored as a 4.7 out of 10 in the category of “college readiness” for students.
Opinion: Peoria is the best place for my family to live. Here’s why
Illinois
University of Illinois educators spice up summer with cicada-themed dishes
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WRSP/WCCU) — With millions of cicadas emerging this summer across the state of Illinois and the nation, many are curious to learn more about these critters. Some are even curious enough to eat them.
A pizza topping or tasty treat isn’t what comes to mind for most when it comes to cicadas, but for one group of University of Illinois educators, that is exactly what they thought of.
U of I extension horticulture educators Ken Johnson and Chris Enroth hosted a cicada-themed lunch late last month for their podcast Good Growing. They wanted to highlight every angle of cicadas, from what they do to how they taste.
We blanched some so basically you boil them for a minute or two, and that’s gonna clean them off if there’s any microbes in or around them, it’s gonna kill, basically gonna cook them,” said Johnson. “Eat them blanched, they’re gonna kinda taste like asparagus, and then you roast them and you kinda get the real nutty aroma, kinda nutty flavor to them.”
Johnson said for the lunch, they used cicadas that were freshly hatched in order to avoid wings and legs. He said if you do use older cicadas to clip off their wings and legs before consuming.
But the answer most want to know is did the cicada dishes taste good? Johnson and Enroth say yes, and recommend everyone try something new.
The periodical pesto pizza, the cicada tempura, and then finally it’s the cicada sundae,” said Enroth when describing the dishes they had at the lunch. “I wasn’t really kicking and screaming but I was hesitant to eat that first cicada. I will say it’s a fun experience, do take that opportunity, try something new.
For those who are allergic to shellfish, it is recommended that you do not try cicadas as they are in the same family as shellfish and may cause an allergic reaction.
Johnson and Enroth also advise against harvesting cicadas from areas that have a lot of heavy metals or pesticides in the soil as cicadas can absorb some of it during their many years underground.
Illinois
Illinois teen fatally shot in the head: Police
CHICAGO (WTVO) — A boy, 13, was fatally shot in the head Friday evening on the West Side of Chicago.
The 13-year-old was standing in the area of South Independence Boulevard and West 13th Street when the incident occurred at about 8:30 p.m., according to WLS.
He was pronounced dead after he was taken to a hospital in critical condition, according to authorities.
The male shooter got away, officials said.
Chicago Police are still investigating and there is no further information about the incident
Illinois
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