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PEORIA -- In two weeks, the city of Peoria could make history by having the first city-run land bank in the state. The council had the first reading Tuesday of a measure that will create the land bank that would manage the vacant, abandoned and tax-delinquent properties within the city limits. Council members could give final approval to the measure at their next regular business meeting on May 11. They initially had been asked to approve the measure Tuesday after a single night of discussion. However, multiple members wanted more community input and a public meeting is expected next week, ...

Live election coverage: Peoria mayoral race too close to call, goes to mail ballots Journal Star staff So far in the Peoria mayoral race, it’s Montelongo. But not by much. By a 73-vote margin with 100% of precincts reporting Tuesday night, Jim Montelongo led Rita Ali for the right to be Peoria mayor for the next four years. Montelongo received 7,983 votes, or 50.23%. Ali received 7,910 votes, or 49.77%. The totals included election-day ballots from all 95 city precincts, as well as early and mail voting. © Supplied photos Rita Ali and Jim Montelongo Outstanding mail-in vo...

Live election coverage: Peoria mayoral race too close to call, goes to mail ballots Journal Star staff So far it’s Montelongo, but not by much. By a 73-vote margin with 100% of precincts reporting Tuesday night, Jim Montelongo led Rita Ali in the Peoria mayoral election. Montelongo had 7,983 votes, or 50.23%, and Ali had 7,910, or 49.77%. The totals included election-day ballots from all 95 city precincts, as well as early and mail voting. © Supplied photos Rita Ali and Jim Montelongo About 675 outstanding mail-in votes probably will decide who wins. That total is accordi...

Live election coverage: Denise Jackson wins 1st District Council seat Journal Star staff As results came in, several races began to tighten. The race for the 2nd District seat on the Peoria City Council narrowed as challenger Peter Kobak winnowed incumbent Chuck Grayeb’s lead to just 115 votes with four precincts left to be counted. Peoria's treasurer race was split nearly 50-50, with Stephen Morris holding a minimal lead over Brooke Petty Sommerville.  The mayor's race has gradually tightened throughout the night, with Rita Ali holding a slim 51-49 lead over Jim Montelongo...

Live election coverage: Denise Jackson wins 1st District Council seat Journal Star staff As results came in, several races began to tighten. The race for the 2nd District seat on the Peoria City Council narrowed as challenger Peter Kobak winnowed incumbent Chuck Grayeb’s lead to just 115 votes with four precincts left to be counted. Peoria's treasurer race was split nearly 50-50, with Stephen Morris holding a minimal lead over Brooke Petty Sommerville.  The mayor's race has gradually tightened throughout the night, with Rita Ali holding a slim 51-49 lead over Jim Montelongo...