Giving Back

Jonelle Polk McCloud is very familiar with that rewarding feeling of success in achieving personal goals. Her accomplishments are many, both on and off the basketball court, and in and out of the classroom. She has the trophies, certificates and…

Art in the Heart of Illinois

For over 135 years, the Peoria Art Guild has worked to exhibit contemporary art, created by some of the most talented and professional artists from all over the world. They’ve made it their mission to showcase talented artists with combined…

Local man part of military’s anti-rape effort

EXCLUSIVE The national media has done an excellent job exposing the military’s failure to support women who were victims of sexual abuse and attacks. Too often, the military ignored cases of rape. It’s been so bad, critics allege, that many…

Manna from Heaven

As days shorten, attention turns not just to football, but to such real life topics as harvest and preparation for winter. We tend to plan ahead more now than at any other time of the year. It’s a time of…

The Country Needs a Better Minimum Wage

Whether slinging hash at a fast-food franchise in Peoria Heights or clocking in day labor booked out of a downtown office, minimum-wage workers need better pay. The country needs a better minimum wage – and one that includes everyone who…

Shame on the city council — shame

The Peoria City Council ought to be ashamed of itself. This was not a case of some street department worker caught leaning on his shovel. This was not some clerk at the finance department caught pocketing a buck. This was…