I didn’t leave the Democratic party; it left me. Technically, I’ve been an Independent for years, occasionally voting for Republicans, Democrats and Greens. But Democrat candidates often got my vote. However, three things got my commitment to become a member…
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Labor Roundup | September 2018
by contributor • • 0 Comments
News Guild reminds locals, bosses that media firms must address security. Facing increasing violence against reporters and President Donald Trump’s hateful rhetoric and threats, News Guild President Bernie Lunzer is reminding both his locals and employers that firms must protect…
Banking on wetlands — our evolving land ethic
by Clare Howard • • 0 Comments
Landfill, garbage disposal, wetland restoration, native plants, environmental beauty. Not words typically associated with each other, but the association is perfectly logical for Charles Hostetler. He hopes to make the correlation universally clear with a project along Kickapoo Creek Road.…
UN: American Dream Becoming American Illusion
by Clare Howard • • 2 Comments
A scathing report by the United Nations Human Rights Council on extreme poverty and inequality in America was slammed by UN Ambassador Nikki Haley as “patently ridiculous.” Haley then announced the United States was withdrawing from the UN Human Rights…
Donations Needed: Journalism Diversity Fund
by Community Word Staff • • 0 Comments
The Peoria NAACP has established a special account to fund coverage of diversity issues by central Illinois writers. The goal is to increase coverage of often-untold stories that cut through stereotypes and more accurately depict history, explain institutional racism and…
“Native Americans Speak”
by Community Word Staff • • 0 Comments
President Donald Trump is calling for the largest rollback in protected public lands in the history of this country, and a coalition of Native Tribes and conservation groups is spearheading resistance. Working with that resistance is Clayton Daughenbaugh, a speaker…
Unlearning bias
by Clare Howard • • 1 Comment
It lasted just minutes, but it reverberated around the country as yet another example of racism in America. Closely following the unfolding story were long-time NAACP members Jean and Sam Polk. They watched national TV coverage and read newspapers ––…
Ag studies: good, bad, scary
by Bill Knight • • 0 Comments
Glancing at area farm fields, one recalls the Rodgers and Hammerstein lyric “the corn is as high as an elephant’s eye,” and new research from the University of Illinois College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Studies (ACES) strengthens the notion…
Economic cost of losing newspapers
by Community Word Staff • • 0 Comments
Not too many years ago, there were 112 members of the Peoria Newspaper Guild representing employees at the Journal Star including reporters, photographers and workers in circulation. That number has plummeted and now there are only 29 Newspaper Guild members…
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense
by Clare Howard • • 0 Comments
As gun violence across America continues, groups are forming to protest and strategize. Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense has a chapter in Peoria that meets monthly the second Monday of each month 6 to 7 p.m. at United Presbyterian…