Illinois governor race neck-and-neck. Press Association Unions News Service reports that the race for Illinois Governor is a tossup. “Gov. Pat Quinn (D) barely won a first full term, thanks to huge labor support, in 2010,” said PAI’s Mark Gruenberg.…
Serendipity for November 2014
Dear Emma Kate, During our last family get-together, you were vigorously wiggling a loose tooth. Your Mom later reported success with the tooth pulling, and that a serious discussion ensued about the Tooth Fairy being “real.” You are certainly old…
Straight Talk for November 2014
TOO SOON! It was a shock, a disappointing shock, when the announcement came that well-known Manual High School and University of Illinois basketball coach, Wayne McClain had died at the young age of 60. While initial news reports said he…
Peoria Housing Agency is about to get a taste of ‘my way or the highway’
The Journal Star recently ran a story on Peoria Housing Authority trying to rely less on money from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This paragraph caught my attention: “Written comments provided by North Valley Alliance, which represents the…
Who gets to vote in America?
It is almost time to vote once again and all sorts of weird and wonderful things are happening. One of them is attack ads. Attack ads are so mean that many wonderful people will never consider running for public office.…
Nature Rambles for November 2014
Prairie Chicken Politics Who would have thought that one of the iconic symbols of the Illinois Prairie could become a political hot potato? But that’s exactly what happened this year as biologists attempted to boost the crashing population of Greater…
Neighborhood Notes for November 2014
* Home sales up in 3rd quarter. Neighborhoods’ homes are selling steadily, according to the Peoria Area Association of Realtors (PAAR), which reported that the Peoria market’s third-quarter home sales were up 2.4 percent, to 1,440. Also, the average home…
Miscellaneous news for November 2014
Black Radio Station Launches on South Side WPNV 106.3 FM is celebrating its opening with a tour of its studios from noon to 3 p.m. Nov. 15 at Blaine Sumner Middle School, 919 S. Matthew St., Peoria. On-air personalities will…
The Magnificent Invalid
Theater is sometimes referred to as “the magnificent invalid” for a variety of reasons including weak box office. The artful, complex storytelling technique has been around for more than 2,500 years and as such seems to be firmly situated as…
West Peoria News for November 2014
Packets are still available for anyone interested in running for office in the City of West Peoria. The packets can be picked up 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at City Hall. Early voting for the Nov. 4 election is…
‘Get Out the Vote’ or GOTV counters voter suppression
“Get Out the Vote” is a national effort to register new voters and to push back against restrictions to voting imposed through new requirements for photo ID and birth certificates purportedly necessary to deal with the non-existing problem of voter…
Out of the Shadows: An Undocumented Worker in Central Illinois Dispels the Myths
Benito is a soft-spoken, muscular man who smiles warmly but has the tight expression of a chronic worrier. He lives and works in central Illinois, struggles with English, marches in anti-fracking rallies, has dreams for his children and pays his…
Labor: Superior to capital
Exclusive: Stadium deal nixed by District 150
Thanks to a conscientious former Peoria County board member and neighborhood leader, the famed Peoria Stadium was close to placing a sold sign on its property on War Memorial Drive. Well, that may be an exaggeration, but credit Bill O’Brien…
Quality of jobs is on the decline in Peoria
The Peoria area lost 2,800 jobs between July 2013 and July 2014, when its percentage of employed people fell 1.6 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics second-quarter report, but the five-county metro area is stable overall, says Bernard…
Parsing Language: Accurate or Inflammatory
I assume that in a paper the size of the Community Word the Managing Editor must double as a reporter. I do believe, however, that person should keep news articles and editorials separate. In the September issue, Clare Howard attempted…
Voter suppression is Illinois must end
As an authorized registrar, I recently volunteered to register voters at Kroger’s. I asked customers whether they are registered to vote. One man responded, “I can’t.” At first I assumed he meant he was in a hurry. Having second thoughts,…
The Tide of Equality Is Rising – Ride the Wave
By Jessie Mahr In March 1996, Gallup conducted a poll and found that only 27 percent of the public agreed that same-sex marriage should be legal. In May 2013, Gallup reported that number jumped to 53 percent of the public.…
Why raise the minimum wage?
Raise it to stimulate the economy. Raise it for economic justice. Raise it to tell Springfield and Washington you want public policy based on honest analysis, not partisan brinkmanship. Raise it to tell WalMart you’re tired of subsiding its profits.…
The City Beat for October 2014
Here’s how to fix older neighborhoods – I was driven through the Averyville neighborhood this month. It’s what I call a “classic” neighborhood. Lots of older, yet well-maintained homes. And there were homes that are less well-maintained, but still livable.…
Life with the reptilian brain
I am a football fan. I can’t deny it. Even as I write I am anticipating my favorite team playing tonight on Monday Night Football. And I do want them to win. I care. In many ways football is a…
Serendipity for October 2014
In the winter of 1967, Jane and I met in a training class for Ozark Airlines Reservation Agents at Greater Peoria Airport. I graduated from high school the previous June. Jane was 13 months older and more mature. She had…