Kevin Knox is a 57-year-old Peorian working as an engineer for Caterpillar, and he’s been a writer whose literary fiction has been published in small magazines such as Fear & Trembling, Haruah, and Bewildering Stories. And now, in a comic…
If you search for what to do in Peoria on TripAdvisor, the Sculpture Walk Peoria is No. 10 on the list. Typically when I travel to a new place, I use this website to check out areas of interest, but…
With so many wetland drained and plowed, conservationists such as Charlie Potter, CEO of the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation and a producer of the new “Wings over Water” documentary, decided people don’t know enough about it and decided to “change…
The Peoria Riverfront Museum’s new “American Revolutionaries: Art & Disruption” shows a cross-section of styles from American artists unafraid of upending The Way We’ve Always Done It. The first time central Illinois has had access to the prestigious Art Bridges…
August is a great time for insect enthusiasts. Insect populations are reaching their peak, and the dog days of summer are upon us. During the day, flowers are abuzz and a-flutter with all types of bees, butterflies and other insects…
From gun violence (big problem) to voter fraud (not), government representatives work to protect citizens and their rights. Peoria City Council On June 14, Monica Hendrickson, Public Health Administrator for Peoria County/City and Katy Endress, Director of Epidemiology and Clinical…
On August 2, 2022 from 6-8 p.m., the West Peoria Neighborhood Watch will host the 39th West Peoria Night Out Against Crime at 2516 W Rohman Ave. It is planned for the community to learn many things that are available…
Illinois once exported 40% of its electricity generation. Now, we must import electricity. Between 2007 and 2020, 44 Illinois coal plants closed (EIA) thus eliminating a sizeable fraction of our generation capacity. Another 12 coal plants may close by 2023.…
As a child who yearned to have a younger sibling, I can remember my Mother’s response to my request. She lovingly explained I had a sister, and when that didn’t satisfy me, she told me she was too old to…
AFL-CIO says PRO Act support is political litmus test. The AFL-CIO at its recent convention reiterated that candidates’ support for the Protect The Right To Organize (PRO) Act shall be a litmus test for labor’s endorsements. “The time is now…
Wetlands are vital features of the natural landscape that provide numerous benefits for people, fish and wildlife, and the planet itself. One of the most productive ecosystems in the world, wetlands can contain a variety of life, from microbes, plants…
By BUD GRIEVES Prior to reading In The Spirit of Wetlands, I was not familiar with the term “eutierria,” which is defined as a secular meditative experience that can occur in nature when boundaries between self and the environment seem…
By DOUG OBERHELMAN There are few wetlands in this world that don’t offer feelings of solace to sheer emotions of awesome being. From the Everglades, the Pantanal in South America, the Boreal Forest in the northern hemisphere, the Prairie Potholes…
In 2020, Florida took over management of a U.S. Clean Water Act program, so in the Sunshine State federal officials no longer decide whether wetlands can be dredged or filled for developments. Other states could follow, but Illinois seems content…
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. On July 4, 1776, America…
Between the 18th and 20th centuries more than 1,200 Black settlement, enclaves, and towns were established in the United States. According to the Historic Black Towns and Settlement Alliance, there are 13 historical all-Black towns in existence today. The state…
When Caterpillar announced it was moving its headquarters from Deerfield to Texas, the news surprised no one. It was expected. After all, the new CEO, Jimmy Umpleby, had no loyalty or affection for Peoria or Deerfield. The Indiana native became…
A few weeks ago, one of the co-owners of The Community Word received a campaign mailer from a Republican state senator that asked, “Are you tired of politicians threatening your right to own guns?” It claimed, “The rights of Illinois’…
As of this writing, the recently leaked draft opinion of Justice Samuel Alito for the Supreme Court raises a number of issues. Here I shall consider several issues raised by it. First, some observers argue that in the absence in…
If you have seen Janis Mars Wunderlich’s work, it is not simple to feel neutral about or easily forgotten. Table-top-sized, ceramic sculptures are full of allegorical, symbolic and personal story telling. Vividly colorful paintings, embellished to the edges with flora…
The highly recommended CD “This Curious Wonder” by Peorian Paul Adams (as pd adams) is a bright blend of contradictions, like existence. Ambitious and accessible, ethereal and familiar, wistful and poetic yet brash and bold, the 12-cut record causes feelings…
