Columns

Arts Beat

Stage highlights for the next few weeks: MUSIC July 31: Nathan Taylor and Friends. 8 p.m. Rhythm Kitchen Music Café. 676-9668. Aug. 1: Blues Expression. 8 p.m. Rhythm Kitchen Music Café. 676-9668. Aug. 2: Peoria Municipal Band, with percussion soloist…

Placemaking Peoria

Artists are creators. They are always making things, dreaming new ideas, and looking at the world differently. The works of visual artists stand out when displayed on a wall or as sculpture in galleries, museums or First Friday venues. Performance…

Labor Roundup

UAW targeting automakers’ two-tier wages. Abolition of the two-tier wage system at the “Detroit 3” car companies, raising all workers to the top scale, seems to be the top bargaining goal of the United Auto Workers in opening talks with…

Neighborhood Notes

‘Night Out Against Crime’ Aug. 4. Peoria’s registered neighborhood associations are working on taking part in the Aug. 4 National Night Out Against crime in their areas. “The purpose of Night Out is to promote neighborhood safety by hosting a…

What’s the Evidence?

Prediabetes is a major problem, affecting one-third of all adults in the United States. A preventive program can cut the risk of developing diabetes by half. Although medications can help some people with prediabetes, they are not recommended for most…

Environmental News Briefs

  Dark underside of the Monsanto bid to buy Syngenta When agrichemical giant Monsanto, headquartered in St. Louis, made a $45 billion takeover bid to buy Syngenta, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, it seemed like a chemical tsunami. Between sales of…

Serendipity

Simplicity is often touted for reducing stress and enhancing calmness. Theoretically that’s valid, and wise souls try to live simply. Reality may vary. Consider technology that makes lives easier in many respects and more complicated in others, particularly for those…

A Changing Planet

  The earth is changing. In fact, it is in a constant state of change. Tectonic plates slowly grind and move. Mountains lift in the Himalayas, and slowly wear down in the Appalachians. I’m now sitting in a cottage in…

West Peoria News

July Fourth marks a special day for our West Peoria community and citizens. It is the day that each year the community opens its doors, streets, hearts and welcomes thousands to our community for the longest running Fourth of July…