OpEd | ‘Freedom for the wolves often means death to sheep’
Freedom” is a word much bandied-about these days. Those disliking masks in schools want freedom from mask mandates. Those who fear the teaching of critical race theory in public schools — never mind the fact that it only appears in…
OpEd | The Divine needs more of our time
One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. I forget those words were written to describe what America aspires to achieve. I think we sometimes forget. “Under God” is rightly listed first among these American ideals most…
Ray Long to appear at Bradley to promote book on Michael Madigan
Chicago Tribune reporter Ray Long — whose new book, The House That Madigan Built: The Record Run of Illinois’ Velvet Hammer, was excerpted in last month’s Community Word — is set to appear at Bradley University on Monday, April 18…
The Watch | Watch for more: Park District kicking back into action; Springdale reevaluating
Fans of democracy, rejoice! League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria has expanded its coverage of local government in the wake of journalistic cutbacks. First: thanks to the dedicated Observers. Second: there is such a wealth of information we can…
ACLU active at Illinois Statehouse
The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois on March 8 announced lobbying efforts during the General Assembly’s current session. The ACLU is focusing on passing two measures and defeating two others. The statewide group supports HB2452, which would reduce barriers…
Chiefs locked in on playing in Peoria
Despite the 99-day lockout in Major League Baseball, more than 150 minor leaguers worked out at the St. Louis Cardinals’ Spring Training facilities in Jupiter, Fla. And the Peoria Chiefs expect their Class A squad to arrive in town April…
Nature Rambles | Be on the lookout for first signs of spring
Each year, as March moves into April, spring tempts us with its erratic presence. One day is 70 degrees and the Cardinals and Song Sparrows are busy singing in the brush. The next day is blanketed with snow and the…
Ag lab providing tons of fresh produce for local food pantries since 2010
Since the holidays, catalogs for gardening tools and seeds might have piled up like paper compost, but spring is here, and a group of volunteer gardeners at Peoria’s Ag Lab is preparing this season. “We’re planning and will be getting…
West Peoria News | Spring cleanup April 30 at West Peoria city garage
The City of West Peoria is pleased to host a Spring Clean Up Day on Saturday. April 30th from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. It will be held at the City Garage on Hillside Drive. Visit the West Peoria website or watch…
Inland Art | Forces of nature, power of community
Woodcut artist, printmaker and book artist, Karen Kunc, channels her experience of growing up in the Midwest, specifically Nebraska, into her polychrome woodcut prints. “My prints suggest extremes of weather and natural forces at work, a sense of the micro/macrocosm…
Art Alerts | April 2022
The Peoria Art Guild planned to launch “Sculpture Walk 2022” along Washington Street this month with eight different pieces, after input from the Public Arts Advisory Commission and a city engineer, according to City spokeswoman Stacy Peterson. Meanwhile, the Art…
Heat Waves — In Red and Black | The Grid-AC Conundrum
A climate crisis conundrum involves heatwaves, air conditioners, and blackouts. Air conditioning saves lives during heatwaves, but soaring AC demand can crash the grid and claim lives. Today, the top 20% of peak electricity demand involves the hottest 200 hours…
Environmental News and Notes | April 2022
Illinois trails goal to cut damage to the Gulf Gulf of Mexico “dead zones” resulting from algae blooms sapping up oxygen are so deadly, fish either flee or die, and Illinois — a huge contributor to the chemical runoffs flowing…
Serendipity | Music to my ears helps me appreciate my life through the years
Musical talent was never something I excelled in or modestly accomplished. What I lacked in musical ability was compensated by appreciation and enthusiasm. I loved listening to music, still do, and am proud of my lyrics recall. Might it be…
Labor Roundup | Peoria Starbucks will unionize; unions praise SCOTUS pick
Workers at 100-plus Starbucks stores nationwide have said they’re unionizing, including ones in Peoria, and that’s more than 1% of the coffee chain’s standalone locations (as opposed to counters inside retailers). Workers United says 968 more workers in 33 Starbucks…
Placing bets as easy as it gets
The Los Angeles Rams scored the first touchdown of Super Bowl LVI on Feb. 13, but holder Johnny Hekker bobbled the snap on the extra point so Matt Gay couldn’t kick the football. No big deal, right? Nobody noticed, eh?…
The long reign of ‘The Velvet Hammer’
From The House that Madigan Built: The Record Run of Illinois’ Velvet Hammer by Ray Long. Copyright 2022 by the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. Used with permission of the University of Illinois Press. What does the…
County combining Health Dept. and Coroner
On January 13, The Peoria County Board voted 16-2 in favor of rebuilding the current Peoria City/County Health Department instead of remodeling the current location at 2125 N. Sheridan Rd. Included in the vote was to also incorporate the Sustainability…
Real Talk | African Americans struggle just like crabs in a barrel
When Crabs are pulled from the ocean and thrown together in a barrel, the crabs will pull down any other crab that tries to get out before them. This is how the term “Crabs in a barrel” came to be.…
Bill Knight | Harmless revenue stream or dangerous scheme; Do you wanna bet?
Illinois is soaked with gambling, from lotteries and casinos to off-track betting and video slots in what seems like every gas station with a few square feet of seating over by shelves of over-priced junk food. This month, things will…
The Lion’s Den | Throw another log on the fire
We’re living in a world of cosmic slop, cast back into the primordial pool. I escape from this madness through reading; literature is one of my safe havens, and if Jay-Z can travel first class to change the forecast, as…