There have been personnel changes in the township’s trustees. John Powell was appointed to replace Marsha Miller after her move to Galena that resulted in her resignation. Kelly Abraham announced that she is retiring from her position and will be…
Contraceptives are accessible to some Peoria women, not all Teen-aged girls in some areas of Peoria have more than twice the pregnancy rate as their counterparts nationwide but limited access to long-term contraceptives. Overall, the teen pregnancy rate in the…
As winter temperatures drop, homeless people may be more visible, either scrambling on the streets to find emergency shelter or seeking momentary refuge in public spaces like libraries. Homelessness and the poverty that can drive it continue. In a 2014…
Peoria County Deputy James Middlemas will become police officer for the City of West Peoria on duty Tuesday through Saturday from 6:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. beginning Jan. 5, 2015. We are fortunate to have a day officer on duty.…
One week before Christmas, President Barack Obama announced plans to end the U.S. embargo of Cuba. The embargo had imposed hardship on ordinary Cubans without forcing Fidel Castro out of office. But reaction to lifting the embargo has ranged from…
Ten new short stories by Illinois, Midwestern and other writers are featured in the 2014 edition of Downstate Story, Peoria’s only literary magazine for fiction. Downstate Story is now being published only on the Web at www.downstatestory.com. Writers in the…
Peoria County is looking for ways to further decrease waste, encourage recycling and promote composting of yard waste. The county has been working with a Michigan-based consultant and plans to schedule three public hearings in upcoming weeks to present the…
Raising taxes is about as popular as “pink slime,” and it’s not always the best way to run government. Maybe that’s why Peoria County Board Members Allen Mayer (D-Dist. 6), Stephen Morris (R-Dist. 10) and County Board Chairman-in-waiting Andrew Rand…
Drug Addiction Treatment: Corporate Cash-Cow? Social Responsibility of a Non-Profit or Responsible For-Profit? Peoria has the oldest non-profit methadone clinic in the state, opened in the 1970s by Fayette Companies, but in recent years competition has come to town in the…
By Doug Day Three dramas were performed locally in November. I met with Charles Brown at the Broken Tree Cafe on Main Street to learn about his experience being a guest artist for Bradley in the student directed production of…
