It’s time for Lathan to go
It’s my personal opinion that no District 150 superintendent in Peoria’s long and historic history has ever caused more anger, chaos, and animosity than Grenita Lathan. No district school superintendent has lost more school court decisions. No superintendent has moved more principals…
Propaganda, not facts drives the GOP
The mere accumulation of facts doesn’t always lead to good conclusions, judgment or wisdom. Too many of us, progressive and conservative alike, can fall victim to extrapolation or correlation. An example of extrapolation is extending some inference based on…
As Peoria becomes more ‘New Urbanist,’ it needs to rethink how it offers mass transit
Why is the city so Hell bent on approving, again and again, new centers of living and shopping far, far away from the core of the city? Every new strip mall out in the hinterlands doubles the miles that Peoria…
Roundup-ready weeds: Brought to you by Monsanto
by Herman Brockman The big ag pesticide/transgenic crop companies have undying faith in the “solve a problem created by our technology with yet more of our technology” principle. An example in the news of late (see, e.g. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/decision-could-boost-use-popular-weed-killer) is Dow…
Acorn Equality Fund Scholarships are available
A total of $40,000 will be awarded for 2015 scholarships at the Acorn Equality Community Breakfast on Dec. 6. The Acorn Equality Fund provides academic financial support for gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered students, allies or the children of gay,…
Peoria march in support of people of Ferguson, MO
by Chama St. Louis On 8/18/14 it was my dream for the Black community to stand as a symbol of positivity, support, and healing for our extended family in Ferguson. I wanted to say we love you and our community…
Why legalize recreational marijuana?
Illinois has legalized medical uses of marijuana as part of a pilot program, but recreational marijuana remains illegal in the state. Colorado, on the other hand, legalized medical marijuana in 2000 and recreational marijuana eight months ago. Colorado has not…
Past and present in Ferguson
By Michael Brown It would be hard to be alive in America right now and not know something about what has happened in Ferguson, Missouri. A young man has been shot and killed. I have had the surrealistic experience of…
Serendipity for September 2014
Frank Sinatra released the album, “September of my years” in 1965. I was 17, and he was turning 50 that December. The album, still in my possession, included the Grammy Award winning “It Was a Very Good Year” and other…
Emiquon: Locally grown paradise
By Mike Miller For a country about a third the size of Illinois, they sure managed to pack a lot into Costa Rica. Active volcanoes, mountains, cloud forests, Pacific and Caribbean mangrove, and several flavors of rainforest are home to…
West Peoria News for September 2014
Saturday, September 6th is planned for the 14th Annual Night Against Crime from 3:00 until 5:30 p.m. at Franciscan Park. West Peoria Neighborhood Watch, Peoria County Sheriff’s Office, City and Township of West Peoria, West Peoria Fire Department are all…
Welcome columnist Dr. David Trachtenbarg
This new column starts next month written by Dr. David E. Trachtenbarg, M.D., a family physician at UnityPoint Health Methodist-Proctor, clinical professor at University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria and medical director for the Diabetes Care Center in…
‘Whisper and Shout’ brings open mic goodness to Contemporary Art Center
“Whisper and Shout” is an open-mike-spoken-word performance held the first Thursday of each month at the Contemporary Art Center. The mike is open to all comers, and everyone who performs is strongly supported. The overriding philosophy is that “everyone…
Events for September 2014
MUSIC Sept. 11: Limelight Eventplex presents “redneck rock band” Blackjack Billy, known for their 2013 hit “The Booze Cruise,” with opening act the Joe Stamm Band. (309) 693-1234. Sept. 20: Peoria Symphony Orchestra presents guest violinist Sarah Chang at a…
Central Illinois faces education cuts, responds to falling enrollment
As enrollments drop, local colleges and universities are tightening the reigns on spending as the winds of change affect the state’s higher education. The environment for higher education is changing. And it’s taking its toll on colleges and universities across…
News analysis: Are we accepting or ashamed of job loss & poverty?
Job loss and poverty seem to be feared in the United States, maybe with good reason. However, maybe Americans would be wise to also fear the pride that can distort our perspective, and what should be our power. Novelist, Guggenheim…
IGNITEPeoria! — and keep the fire burning
Must local arts and entertainment be another attraction used to promote potential visitors to be valid, to have value? This month’s arts festival IGNITE Peoria! at the Civic Center on Saturday, August 9 seems to be an admirable endeavor: part…
More nonsense from District 150
CHANGE 150 PRESIDENT TRANSFERS SONS TO PEORIA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Encounter with Superintendent Contributes to Tough Decision, the leader of Peoria’s Change 150 group, known for his strong and frequent criticism of the superintendent and board of School District 150, has…
After Garner, westerns still offer heroes, certainties
Last month, a progressive actor equally at ease playing a ne’er-do-well gambler, private eye or astronaut died: James Garner. He was the best among favorite actors – and still lives on old black-and-white western reruns. As he recounted in his…
The wisdom of crowds
James Surowiecki wrote a book a few years ago that began with an anecdote about a crowd that guessed the weight of an ox. When their individual guesses were averaged, they were spot on. The title sums it up: “The…
West Peoria News for August 2014
Boy Scout Troop 11’s annual ice cream social is scheduled for Thursday, August 23rd from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the West Peoria Fire House. Tickets are $2.50 and can be purchased in advance from Troop 11 scouts or at…