By Herman Brockman Basic research discoveries in the then-new field of molecular biology in the 1950s and ‘60s led to the ability to isolate (clone) a gene and transfer it from one virus or organism to another. This became…
American Muslims Who Made (Good) News in 2014
In the minds of many, there are widely held but oversimplified ideas of American Muslims. To correct the myopia created by media sound bites and humanize our people, I decided to introduce diverse American Muslims who made news in 2014:…
Eagle counts
With winter temperatures dipping below freezing, the Illinois River takes on a whole new personality. At this year’s Eagle Day at Forest Park Nature Center, the sub-zero wind chills kept the human population low. But the hardy folks who came…
Serendipity for February 2015
Google Valentine’s Day and a plethora of information is displayed. There’s quite the history for that middle of the month day when loving sentiments are shared. The genuine romantics need no designated time to show affection. They are comfortable with varied expressions of…
West Peoria News for February 2015
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…
Conklin’s Barn II Dinner Theatre is a positive experience
With so many positive qualities, it is hard to decide where to begin a recommendation for attending a show at Conklin’s Barn II Dinner Theatre in Goodfield. Permit me then to further explicate the title of this column. Theater as…
Arts beat for February 2015
MUSIC Feb. 6: “Live at the Five Spot” featuring Cousin Eddie. 5:30 p.m. Contemporary Art Center. 674-6877. Feb. 6-7 & continuing each Friday & Saturday: live music at Rhythm Kitchen, 305 SW Water St. 676-9668. Feb. 7: Pianist Reid Alexander.…
Changing Peoria with portraits
Bad ink and quick news bites fuel fear and people end up labeling entire areas of a city as dangerous. An arbitrary boundary is created that people are afraid to cross. Because of that label, people see only streets of…
February 2015 neighborhood notes
* The Renaissance Park Community Association reports that its first public art project is complete. The colorful 12 x 78-foot mural painted on the side of the Muir Omni Graphics building on West Main Street also includes six large-scale artist-designed…
February 2015 labor roundup
‘Now or never’ in fight vs. TPP fast-track. Warning that it’s “now or never” in the fight against presidential authority to jam job-losing trade pacts such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) through Congress, Communications Workers of America President Larry Cohen…
Best test for cancer screening
There is good evidence to support breast cancer screening, but there is controversy about which screening method is best. An ideal cancer test would never indicate a cancer that was not present (false positive) and never miss a cancer (false…
Contraceptive counseling by zip code
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…
Poverty and homelessness up, but not ‘criminalized’ here
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…
Belafonte film highlights police harassment
An unarmed pedestrian is stopped on the street as a suspect and beaten by cops as a crowd gathers and protests. Unfortunately, that’s increasingly common, except in this scenario, the victim is white, the police African American, and society dominated…
Poor analysis by analyst
My favorite section of the Journal Star is the editorial page and not because of anything editor Mike Bailey writes. I rarely read PJS editorials since they represent the far left. Thankfully the newspaper reprints columns by Charles Krauthammer versus…
Digital sign: Allowed in historic, residential district?
The short answer is yes. The long answer involves violation of trust. Frank Abdnour secured city approval and installed an electronic sign for his restaurant, The Spotted Cow, 718 W. Glen Ave. The sign is up, running and looks…
Tao Insight in the DOW
The Tao Te Ching is a classic Chinese text from at least the fourth century BCE (Before the Common Era; means same as B.C. but does not refer to Christianity). I read from the Stephen Mitchell English version recently in…
Income Inequality at Root of Ferguson
The verdict rendered regarding officer Darren Wilson is not only a sickening moral decision on behalf of the people of Ferguson and its citizens, but a fraudulent disgrace of injustice on American people, the Brown family, African American parents and…
Methadone Programs
(“Counting on Methadone,” Community Word, December 2014) I’m very frustrated at the way most people look at methadone programs. I was an IV drug user back in the late ‘70s and ‘80s. I went to prison twice for writing checks…
‘Teachers must be defended’
I am writing to thank you for defending teachers in your recent Community Word column (Bill Knight, December 2014). It seems that more often than not, we teachers are under attack. Any time someone speaks up, and does so…
Affordable Care Act is working well
(Community Word, December 2014) Expanding Medicare and making it available to people younger than 65 is favored by most Americans, according to a recent New York Times/CBS poll. Expansion was favored by 59 percent of respondents. However, despite that positive…