I attended two productions in December: one for the acting, one for the writing; one was worthwhile, one was not. Bradley’s “Fall Forward, a Festival of Student Directed Plays” was a tedious evening that eventually found me making a quick…
Arts Beat
MUSIC Jan 2: Rooster Alley “Live at the Five Spot.” 5:30 p.m. Contemporary Art Center. 674-6822. Jan. 2: Three and a Half Men. 8 p.m. Rhythm Kitchen. 676-9668. Jan. 8: Moon Taxi, with Maia Sharp. 7 p.m. Limelight…
Art Still Lives in Central Illinois
Why do all the great artists live in big cities? Trick question. They don’t. The reality is creativity exists globally in humans regardless of location. From high-ceiling, red-bricked warehouses to garage studios to small spaces in homes, artists in central…
Labor Roundup
The year has had some labor victories. There were several big wins for the labor movement in 2015: the UAW (representing 142,000 workers) ratifying contracts at General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler; Fueling Agents at Phoenix’ Airport unionizing with the…
Ignorance and Profit: Margarine and the Heart “Avoid butter, use margarine” was standard medical advice in the 1970s to reduce the risk of heart attack. This advice was based on ignorance of the dangers from margarine made from hydrogenated vegetable…
Elder Care Concerns
BY DAVE WEIMAN An Assisted Living Home might be the ideal solution for an elder who can’t manage well at home, but doesn’t have severe medical problems. The very fact that the elder isn’t very ill, sometimes makes choosing…
Family-owned store subject of sexual discrimination lawsuit
Citing a longstanding culture of sexual discrimination, a lawsuit filed in November in U.S. District Court in Peoria is seeking damages from Sherman’s Place appliance and furniture store in excess of $2 million plus legal fees on behalf of…
National Sierra Club president: Conflating coal industry with jobs is a “false trick”
The national president of the Sierra Club said at the annual meeting of the state conference of the NAACP held in Peoria that attempting to protect the coal industry because it provides jobs is a shortsighted argument based on a…
Rents could further burden tenants in coming years
Many young adults piled up huge student debt to get college degrees enabling them to pay off loans but face a slowly recovering job market. On the other side of the career spectrum, retirees worry that fixed incomes won’t be…
ON THE AIR AGAIN! It’s exciting, and the timing is perfect since I love the sounds of Christmas. “Breakfast with Royce and Roger” is returning on Internet Radio as “Breakfast with Roger and Friends,” starting 6 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1.…
If it’s a tag-team match between Hitler, Stalin and the Boogeyman on one side, and Santa, Jesus and Bernie Sanders on the other, I stand with the latter trio. “Ho! Ho! Huh?” you say? The connection is socialism. I don’t…
Letters
Pray for justice for Father Cassidy As a St. Ann parishioner, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bill Knight and the staff of your newspaper for the article that you posted in your November issue about Father…
Op-Ed
A BRIEF HISTORY OF FOLLY: From the Trojan Horse to Donald Trump and Climate Change By George Hopkins “Mankind has never abstained from any folly of which it was capable,” said Mark Twain, sourly summing up his view of history.…
Despite its success, Affordable Care Act still attacked
Misinformation about the Affordable Care Act is a veritable industry. Editorials like one in a local newspaper (OTHER TAKES: Health insurance mandate gets costlier) are based on ideology, not economic facts, democratic principles and truth. If polls are correct in…
Is There Room in Our Inn?
This past summer I was fortunate enough to spend four days in one of the world’s most fascinating cities, Paris. There is elegance in Paris, but also earthiness, sensuality and vibrant aliveness. Just sitting in a Paris café watching…
Oh Christmas Tree . . . December is upon us, and it’s time to start gearing up for the holidays. One of the hallmarks of the holiday season for our household is the decorating of the Christmas tree. Usually around…
Various employment assignments and volunteer opportunities take me to many locations in Peoria and surrounding areas. Such experiences are often poignant reminders of the challenging circumstances many people confront daily. On a blustery cold morning I drive by Sophia’s Kitchen on Richard…
West Peoria News
Get into the holiday spirit during Breakfast with Santa 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 5 at the Franciscan Recreation Complex. Enjoy a breakfast of donuts, pastries, waffles, hot chocolate and coffee. Kids, have your picture taken with Santa, enjoy the…
Leitch to conclude 27-year career in Legislature
When State Rep. David Leitch, former Journal Star reporter, Commercial National Bank vice president and strongly pro-business Republican, announced recently he would not run again, expressions of admiration came from Democrats. Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, and Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria,…
Heights News
I recently read an article I found quite interesting. “In 2008, Airbus made the new A380 quieter than any previously manufactured plane in an effort to improve passenger experience. Unfortunately, Airbus didn’t realize until after they shipped the aircraft that…