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…
Arts Beat
MUSIC Dec. 2: The Bradley Guitar Ensemble. 7:30 p.m. BU’s Dingeldine Music Center. 677-2650. Dec. 3: Senior Concerto Competition & Recital from the Central Illinois Youth Symphony’s. 6:30 p.m. Life Together Center. 685-5258. Dec. 4: The Swon Bzrothers. 8 p.m.…
WTVP broadcast James Lapine’s play, “Act One” on Nov. 23 as part of the “Live From Lincoln Center” series. The play, which was also directed by Mr. Lapine, is an adaptation of the autobiography of Moss Hart of the same…
Make Art, Not War – Love Mongering We started our column a year ago with a modification of words from the 1970s song, “War, what is it good for?” and now a year later, we find our connection to art…
Labor Roundup
Workers occupy lobby of SuperAmerica Minn. HQ. Workers seeking better wages and working conditions demonstrated on Nov. 17 at a St. Paul, Minn., SuperAmerica store, then briefly occupied the lobby of the company’s headquarters in nearby Woodbury. The actions called…
Neighborhood Notes
Jackson Corners Neighborhood Association Mary Genzel of the Jackson Corners Neighborhood Association reports that Peoria Neighborhood Development Specialist Steve Fairbanks will be the guest at the group’s next meeting, at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3. Phone 682-4689 for more information. The…
Elder Care Concerns
By Dave Weiman It can be a bewildering array of facts and figures that an elder and their family face attempting to select a care provider. The following information may help in understanding the basic services provided by skilled nursing…
New Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines Answers to 10 Questions? In October, the American Cancer Society recommended women get fewer mammograms to screen for breast cancer. Many people were alarmed. Isn’t testing more often better? There are no simple answers, as…
From jail architects to jail teachers in the era of mass incarcerations
The presidential debates confirmed that reducing America’s burgeoning incarceration rate is a bipartisan goal. “Three-strikes-and-you’re-out,” tougher drug sentencing even for non-violent drug crimes and mandatory sentencing guidelines have all added to the problem. Today, as presidential candidates from both parties…
Strengthening Peoria’s economy will take ‘horse sense’
It’s jarring when reality thumps wishful thinking. But “if wishes were horses, beggars would ride,” as it’s said. (Maybe the central Illinois equivalent is, “If wishes were caterpillars, butterflies would come.”) Anyway, the Peoria economy seems to be crying, “My…
The Myths of Immigration
Robert Reich, Secretary of Labor under Bill Clinton and professor at University of California, Berkeley, has tackled “The 4 Big Lies about Immigrants – and the Truth” in a recent piece on his blog. Debunking these myths gives an important…
DIRTY POLITICS?
Steve Shearer is well-known by folks who follow politics. He’s been a part of Aaron Schock’s political life almost from day one. At one time he was Schock’s chief of staff. Like Schock, Shearer has been questioned by the F.B.I.…
Clergy, laity pray for justice for Cassidy
Hundreds of Central Illinoisans for years watched Father Terry Cassidy mimic a fish that’s unaware it’s surrounded by water. It’s been his light-hearted effort to show how people often don’t realize they’re surrounded – by grace. But Cassidy, 64, now…
Cuts to child care subsidies bigoted and illogical
It was toward the end of her press conference advocating to restore funding for child care subsidies that State Rep. Jehan Booth-Gordon expressed her shock. The TV cameras were off and most print reporters had gone when Booth-Gordon said she…
Veterans Day:
Honor veterans by insisting on the support services they earned What can we citizens of this country do to show our appreciation to military veterans for the service they have done for us? I had the opportunity in September to…
Iran on the Illinois
Let’s get this straight: The Pekin City Council censured its mayor John McCabe for a phone call he made to a council member’s boss. Then McCabe apologized for his bad judgment. But Peoria mayor Jim Ardis has not apologized for…
Most compassionate position on abortion: It should be accessible, safe and rare
By Burt Raabe When I came to Bradley University in 1965, abortions were illegal and birth control pills were only about five years old. Like most freshmen, I was 18 years old with little, well virtually no, sexual experience. I…
“Correctly Misspelled”
The other day I was finishing an email to some otherwise wonderful Christians who, in my opinion, were stepping way out of line in matters of age and racial discrimination of the subtle but searing sort that still infects our…
Happy OAKtober!Mike Miller, OAKtober, Oak Awareness Month, The Chicago Region Trees
October 2015 was officially decreed Oak Awareness Month, or OAKtober, in Illinois. The initiative to recognize the plight of oak forests was spurred by The Chicago Region Trees Initiative and its partners throughout the state. It is part of a…
“An attitude of gratitude” is an expression I learned many years ago from an amazing group of women. I was a new Mom at the time, grateful for my son but somewhat overwhelmed by my responsibilities. Caring for a much-loved…
Upcoming meetings in West Peoria include the West Peoria Residents’ Association 6 p.m. Nov. 19 in City Hall; West Peoria Neighborhood Watch 6 p.m. Nov. 11 at City Hall. The public is welcome to both of these Residents’ Association meetings.…