November 2019 Hundreds gather Friday, Nov. 1 for the dedication ceremony of the new Business and Engineering Convergence Center on the campus of Bradley University. The $100 million facility houses the Foster College of Business and Caterpillar College of Engineering and Technology.Peoria High’s Kaevion Mack (7) hauls in a pass apparently intended for teammate Izaiah Haslett (2) over the Palos Heights Shepard defense in the first half Friday, Nov. 1 at Peoria Stadium. Mack ran the ball in for a touchdown.Sally Crandell of Peoria shares a moment with Maddie, her 9-year-old Samoyed, during a prayer for dearly departed pets Saturday, Nov. 2 at the annual Blessing of the Animals at Peoria County Animal Protection Services in Peoria. Metal artist Julie Slattery stirs coke and recycled cast iron in a superheated crucible during the All-Female Identified Artist Run Iron Pour on Saturday, Nov. 2 in a parking lot next to the Peoria Art Guild in Downtown Peoria. About two dozen female casters from all over the nation gathered for the event.A group of iron casters pour molten iron into molds during the All-Female Identified Artist Run Iron Pour event Saturday, Nov. 2 in a parking lot next to the Peoria Art Guild in Downtown Peoria.Trumpet player Todd Kelly, a music professor at Bradley University, jazzes up the atmosphere from his seat during “Hymns and Beer, ” a celebration of the Reformation, on Sunday, Nov. 3 at the Lindenhof in Peoria. Guitarist Billy Gibbons, right, and bassist Dusty Hill of ZZ Top perform “Got Me Under Pressure” during their show Sunday, Nov. 3 at the Peoria Civic Center Theater. Gov. JB Pritzker, left, chats with state Rep. Ryan Spain after a press conference Monday, Nov. 4 announcing the start of the Peoria Innovation Hub in the Thomas Building in Downtown Peoria.Goo Goo Dolls lead singer Johnny Rzeznik, right, and bassist Robby Takac perform Tuesday, Nov. 5 at the Peoria Civic Center Theater. Louise Emanuels of the Peoria chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution greets a group of new citizens with a smile and an American flag during a naturalization ceremony Friday, Nov. 15 in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Joe Billy McDade in Downtown Peoria.Illini Bluffs’ Hanna Hicks, right, spikes the ball past Norris City’s Hollan Everett (14) and Mattie Wells in the first set of the Class 1A volleyball state semifinals Friday, Nov. 15 at Redbird Arena in Normal.The Illini Bluffs Tigers celebrate their victory over Norris City in the Class 1A volleyball state semifinals Friday, Nov. 15 at Redbird Arena in Normal. Illini Bluffs won in straight sets 25-19, 25-22 to advance to Saturday’s title game.Ryan Welsh, 11, little brother to Illini Bluffs junior volleyball player Addie Welsh, cheers on his sister and her teammates during the Class 1A state title game Saturday, Nov. 16 at Redbird Arena in Normal.The Illini Bluffs Tigers, right, watch as Newark celebrates their Class 1A volleyball state title Saturday, Nov. 16 at Redbird Arena in Normal. Illini Bluffs fell to the defending state champs 25-19, 25-22 to claim second place.Illini Bluffs head coach Nancy Meyer and superintendent Roger Alvey share a hug during the medal ceremony after the Class 1A volleyball state title game Saturday, Nov. 16 at Redbird Arena in Normal. Illini Bluffs fell to defending state champ Newark 25-19, 25-22 to claim second place.Fieldcrest’s Jaxon Cusac-McKay, left, strips the ball from Clifton-Central’s Garrett Graham at the goal line in the first half of their Class 2A state quarterfinals Saturday, Nov. 16 in Minonk. Clifton-Central was awarded a touchdown on the play.Fieldcrest’s Henry Lorton (13) and Clifton-Central’s Jacob Shoven tangle over a pass in the first half of their Class 2A state quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 16 in Minonk.Kadin Hummer, 5, left, and Blaze Eakins, 4, both of Chillicothe watch the Parade of Lights from the comfort of an all-weather enclosure Saturday, Nov. 16 along E. Washington Street in East Peoria.The Bradley bench erupts at the Braves take a commanding lead late in the second half Tuesday, Nov. 19 against Norfolk at Carver Arena. Bradley defeated Norfolk State 69-57.Julie Dingledine and her son Ashton, 9, of Germantown Hills, pet a Budweiser Clydesdale named Rocco, also 9, during an appearance Wednesday, Nov. 20 at Binny’s in the Westlake Shopping Center. Seniors Myles Sophanavong, left, and Noah Madrigal helped earn Peoria Notre Dame (22-2) a No. 1 national ranking, No. 1 state ranking, perfect 10-0 Big 12 Conference record and a supersectional berth. They share the honor of 2019 Journal Star Soccer Players of the Year. Bradley’s Darrell Brown (5) passes the ball under pressure from Radford’s Devine Eke (30) and Donald Hicks late in the second half Friday, Nov. 22 at Carver Arena. The Braves survived a late surge from the Highlanders for a 70-61 victory.Legendary former Bradley Brave and NBA superstar Hersey Hawkins chats with the media after the Braves defeated Radford 70-61 on Friday, Nov. 22 at Carver Arena.Garrison Sanipass of the Rivermen slaps hands with a group of local Scouts as he and his teammates head to the ice for the start of their game against Quad City on Saturday, Nov. 23 at Carver Arena.Quad City’s Tommy Tsicos (22) and Peoria’s Jake Hamilton dive for the puck in the first period Saturday, Nov. 23 at Carver Arena.Jordan Ernst of the Rivermen celebrates his second goal of the game against Quad City in the third period Saturday, Nov. 23 at Carver Arena.Morgan Park’s Daiquan Black, right, falls to the floor with Gary West Side’s Paris Roberson in the second half Wednesday, Nov. 27 at the Tournament of Champions in Washington.Morgan Park’s Mike Davis tries to block a shot by Gary West Side’s Billy Muldrew in the first half Wednesday, Nov. 7 at the Tournament of Champions in Washington.Manual’s Rolando Brown knocks the ball away from Belleville West’s Tommie Williams in the second quarter Friday, Nov. 29 at the Tournament of Champions in Washington. Manual knocked off the defending 4A champs 59-41.Volunteers Dan and Carole Belk of Pekin hand out slices of pie at the Salvation Army Thanksgiving dinner Thursday, Nov. 28 at the Sylvia Fites Family Services Center in Peoria. About 150 people showed up for a complete turkey dinner and dessert. This was the first time the Belks have volunteered at such an event. “It’s good for the heart and the soul,” said Dan.Dunlap junior Taylor Weaver led her team to a seventh straight sectional title and qualified for the IHSA state meet in four events. She is the 2019 Journal Star Swimming and Diving Athlete of the Year.Randy Reliford, a custom jewelry artist for the past three decades, works on a sterling silver bracelet in one room of his workshop Saturday, Nov. 30 at Vena Fine Jewelry in Pekin.Custom jewelry artist Randy Reliford shows a mold, a finished but unpolished ring, and a stone that will eventually be mounted in the ring. Reliford is co-owner of Vena Fine Jewelry in Pekin.Peoria’s Ben Oskroba, left, and Huntsville’s Chance Braid battle it out in the second period Saturday, Nov. 30 at Carver Arena.Rivermen goaltender Jeremy Brodeur protects the goal against Huntsville center Sy Nutkevitch in the first period Saturday, Nov. 30 at Carver Arena.Morton’s Peyton Dearing (11) and Katie Krupa tangle with Richwoods’ Olivia Allen late in their game Saturday, Nov. 30 in Morton.