Judge rules County must use outside counsel in Thomas case Judge James Mack on June 27 granted a motion to disqualify the Peoria County State’s Attorney’s office from representing the County Board in County Auditor Jessica Thomas’ lawsuit because the…
News
Survey shows surge in mental health issues around the Peoria area
by Joe Deacon of WCBU, Peoria Public Radio • • 0 Comments
Mental health problems are on the rise in the Tri-County area. According to the 2022 Community Needs Health Assessment survey, the percentage of people describing their overall mental health status as “good” fell 73% in the past six years, while…
Environmental News & Notes | Supreme Court limit on EPA tied lobbying
by Community Word Staff • • 0 Comments
Among several controversial rulings this summer, the U.S. Supreme Court on June 30 restricted the federal government from regulating carbon emissions from power plants. However, Illinois may not be affected much because of state statutes, especially the Clean Energy Jobs…
‘Wings over Water’ humbling, hopeful film at Riverfront Museum
by Bill Knight • • 0 Comments
With so many wetland drained and plowed, conservationists such as Charlie Potter, CEO of the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation and a producer of the new “Wings over Water” documentary, decided people don’t know enough about it and decided to “change…
Spirit of the wetlands
by Community Word Staff • • 0 Comments
Wetlands are vital features of the natural landscape that provide numerous benefits for people, fish and wildlife, and the planet itself. One of the most productive ecosystems in the world, wetlands can contain a variety of life, from microbes, plants…
Becoming one with nature can take a team effort
by Community Word Staff • • 0 Comments
By BUD GRIEVES Prior to reading In The Spirit of Wetlands, I was not familiar with the term “eutierria,” which is defined as a secular meditative experience that can occur in nature when boundaries between self and the environment seem…
‘Back to the future’ for our wetlands?
by Community Word Staff • • 0 Comments
By DOUG OBERHELMAN There are few wetlands in this world that don’t offer feelings of solace to sheer emotions of awesome being. From the Everglades, the Pantanal in South America, the Boreal Forest in the northern hemisphere, the Prairie Potholes…
Illinois continues to collaborate with feds to manage wetlands
by Bill Knight • • 1 Comment
In 2020, Florida took over management of a U.S. Clean Water Act program, so in the Sunshine State federal officials no longer decide whether wetlands can be dredged or filled for developments. Other states could follow, but Illinois seems content…
Local links offer access to healthy food
by Jody Holtz of WCBU, Peoria Public Radio • • 0 Comments
Food insecurity affects many Peoria families. Local organizations are finding innovative solutions to combat this complicated issue. Peoria Grown was founded in 2018. Founder Julie Eliathamby and her team work not only on tackling food insecurity, but health issues related…
Environmental News & Notes | Dumping Fukushima water into the Pacific plan blasted
by Community Word Staff • • 0 Comments
This month, a controversial plan to discharge contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean could be approved over the objections of Japan’s public, local leaders and environmental activists. Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority in May…