As an authorized registrar, I recently volunteered to register voters at Kroger’s. I asked customers whether they are registered to vote. One man responded, “I can’t.” At first I assumed he meant he was in a hurry. Having second thoughts,…
Editorial Page
The Tide of Equality Is Rising – Ride the Wave
by Community Word Staff • • 0 Comments
By Jessie Mahr In March 1996, Gallup conducted a poll and found that only 27 percent of the public agreed that same-sex marriage should be legal. In May 2013, Gallup reported that number jumped to 53 percent of the public.…
Why raise the minimum wage?
by Clare Howard • • 0 Comments
Raise it to stimulate the economy. Raise it for economic justice. Raise it to tell Springfield and Washington you want public policy based on honest analysis, not partisan brinkmanship. Raise it to tell WalMart you’re tired of subsiding its profits.…
White joint, black joint
by Scott Shepler • • 0 Comments
Roundup-ready weeds: Brought to you by Monsanto
by Community Word Staff • • 0 Comments
by Herman Brockman The big ag pesticide/transgenic crop companies have undying faith in the “solve a problem created by our technology with yet more of our technology” principle. An example in the news of late (see, e.g. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/decision-could-boost-use-popular-weed-killer) is Dow…
Peoria march in support of people of Ferguson, MO
by Community Word Staff • • 0 Comments
by Chama St. Louis On 8/18/14 it was my dream for the Black community to stand as a symbol of positivity, support, and healing for our extended family in Ferguson. I wanted to say we love you and our community…
Why legalize recreational marijuana?
by Clare Howard • • 0 Comments
Illinois has legalized medical uses of marijuana as part of a pilot program, but recreational marijuana remains illegal in the state. Colorado, on the other hand, legalized medical marijuana in 2000 and recreational marijuana eight months ago. Colorado has not…
IGNITEPeoria! — and keep the fire burning
by Bill Knight • • 1 Comment
Must local arts and entertainment be another attraction used to promote potential visitors to be valid, to have value? This month’s arts festival IGNITE Peoria! at the Civic Center on Saturday, August 9 seems to be an admirable endeavor: part…
Central planners are failing again with Common Core
by Community Word Staff • • 0 Comments
by Terry Rowe – Peoria, IL The inherent flaws of central planning include a lack of information and the absence of communication with the intended victims. We are observing this scenario play out again as the wheels fall off of…
Farewell Letter from the Editor
by Debbie Adlof • • 0 Comments
After much deliberation, soul-searching, planning and researching, I decided the time had come for me to retire and find a new caretaker to carry on with the paper. This August 2014 issue is my last issue. After nearly a year…