Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs, foreground, stands facing inmates at the Peoria County Jail as they cheer and wave their diplomas in the air at a graduation ceremony Tuesday. BY CLARE HOWARD Twenty-eight inmates in the Peoria County Jail stood and cheered Sheriff Brian Asbell Tuesday afternoon. They stood, cheered and waved their …
Thousands lined Main Street Monday in Peoria for the annual Labor Day Parade. With ever-increasing wage inequality in this country, more labor unions realize the road to recovery is political reform. Congress is inordinately influenced by massive donations from ultra-wealthy conservatives and corporations that are unfriendly to unions. Even with low union membership, most Americans …
NEWS ANALYSIS BY CLARE HOWARD The corporate owner of the Journal Star has agreed to a $1.5 billion acquisition of Gannett, owner of USA Today as well as 100 dailies and over 1,000 weeklies. The merger is financed with a five-year loan at 11.5 percent, and means one mega-corporation controls the journalism reaching eight million …
Continue reading ‘Bad news for journalism in Peoria and the country’ »
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 1, 2019 Media contact: Mandar Pattekar pattekar@hotmail.com. 309-868-0591 A SACRED MORAL STORY, A SACRED DANCE-DRAMA OFFERING, AND A SACRED CAUSE We are pleased to announce the musical dance drama, Mohini Bhasmasura Nritya Samhaar, at the Hindu Temple of Central Illinois, on Saturday, August 3, 2019 from 5 pm to 7 pm. …
Continue reading ‘Fundraiser Dinner and Dance Performance at Hindu Temple Saturday Aug. 3’ »
BY SHERRY CARTER-ALLEN On Saturday, June 22, the Martin Luther King Jr Park gave birth to a Juneteenth celebration like never before! It was the NAACP Peoria Branch 5th Annual Community Outreach — entitled the “NAACP Peoria Branch Juneteenth Family Reunion Celebration!” Despite the challenges that face our community, this was a day of commemoration, …
Continue reading ‘Juneteenth celebration like never before’ »
The Romain Arts & Culture Community Center opened Friday before a crowd of hundreds including local and state politicians, educators, artists, school children and members of the public. PHOTO TO RIGHT: Nikki Romain uses ceremonial scissors to cut the ribbon, opening the community center after more than three years of work. Her husband Jonathon …
Continue reading ‘Romain Arts & Culture Community Center opens its doors’ »
The Civil War bitterly divided the United States along regional and racial lines. A stronger, unifying force calling for healing and unity was recognized at a ceremony in late June in Springdale Cemetery. The occasion was a restoration project moving and repairing Peoria’s 153-year-old Civil War memorial. Unlike memorials to “The Lost Cause” celebrating …
In an ongoing investigation of an accident at the Journal Star, OSHA has identified four serious violations and imposed fines of $35,802. The investigation is continuing, and more fines could be issued. The accident occurred Dec. 21 and resulted in the amputation of a man’s leg. The 60-year-old man was pinned by a fork lift …
Peoria Democratic Socialists of America are sponsoring a bowl-a-thon from 3 to 5 p.m. May 4 at Roxy’s Lanes, 114 N. 3rd St., Pekin to support reproductive rights and make abortion more accessible in the state of Illinois. Money raised will go to the Chicago Abortion Fund which provides financial assistance for anyone, Illinois residents and …
Continue reading ‘Peoria/Pekin Bowl-a-thon Supporting Illinois Abortion Access’ »