No. Just as it was impossible to stitch together an economy with half-slave, half-free labor, a half-nuke and half-renewable energy house is equally impossible. Nuclear and renewable power are irreconcilably incompatible. Yet, the General Assembly and Governor’s 2021 Clean Energy…
Nature Rambles | Prescribed fires help preserve ancient oaks
The Peoria region is blessed with woodlands along the bluffs of the Illinois River. Many of these have been protected as conservation areas and nature preserves. Places like Forest Park, Detweiller Park, Robinson Park, Camp Wokanda and Singing Woods are…
Serendipity | Friendship and fun play well together
Playing games has always ranked high for me as a great way to have a good time. I remember playing board games by myself as a child. I would assume the role of the three other players the game was…
West Peoria News | Community Word expanding our horizons
It seems that in this time of many changes, another one is happening with the first edition of the Community Word of 2022. There is a new managing editor, a former West Peorian, Brian Ludwig. He spent his formative years…
Labor Roundup | G&D ironworkers unionize, two strikes settle with raises
Ironworkers at G&D Integrated in Morton have voted to unionize, they reported, adding that it’s “just one more example of how collective power can make big change for workers.” At press time, negotiations for a first contract had started. Legendary…
Purging contaminants from U.S. drinking water, including toxic PFAS chemicals
A growing sense of urgency nationwide is focused on a new category of “forever chemicals” called PFAS. Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances include a group of about 5,000 manmade chemicals used in a wide variety of products from fire fighters’ foam,…
America is back in the infrastructure business
BY RAY LAHOOD Member of Congress, 18th Congressional District 1995-2009 Secretary of Transportation 2009-2013 I am writing my final column for Community Word after receiving an email from Clare Howard inviting me to comment on the passage of the much…
Chiefs get pay hike, housing
The absence or presence of justice can be found almost everywhere, from homeless shelters to legislatures to baseball diamonds. Baseball is probably far from your mind unless you’re a fan of Atlanta (whose World Series star was ex-Peoria Chiefs outfielder…
Complete Streets Program
The Lion’s Den | Mightier Than a Sword
“When I get mad, I put it down on a pad; give ya something that cha never had.” – Chuck D (Public Enemy), “Welcome to The Terrordome” In recent years there has been a war raging against the press. For…
Straight Talk | Giving thanks
As the year comes to an end, I want to take this opportunity to thank the people who’ve made it possible for our program, “Breakfast with Roger and Friends,” to become the fastest growing morning show on Peoria radio. Royce…
Bill Knight | A lesson from Carole King
Around the holiday season of hope, the touring show “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” sparked warm thoughts of the award-winning singer/songwriter’s singular knack for finding hope amid loss, faith in the face of despair, and fine music and lyrics –…
Editorial | Undermining local journalism hurts everyone
Dear Gov. Pritzker, Legislature, City Council and others: We are losing independently-owned newspapers at an alarming rate. You say you value local journalism, but you undermine its very existence when you don’t return calls from reporters, don’t issue statements in…
OpEd | Qualified Immunity
Here are statements concurring with the op-ed in the November issue of Community Word by Professor Joanna Schwartz, “Ending qualified immunity won’t ruin cops’ finances. It will better protect the public.” That piece was reprinted with permission from USA Today.…
Real Talk | Power Without Courage is Useless
Since its enactment in 1965, The Voting Rights Act, (VRA) has been reauthorized and amended five times, with bipartisan support. The last time the Senate reauthorized and amended the VRA was in 2006, by a vote of 98-0 and for…
The Watch | Drawing new lines
On Sept. 28, Community Development Director Joe Dulin told the Peoria City Council about the impact of 2020 census data on council districts. Peoria now has 113,150 residents, down 1.6% from 2010. To proportion districts equally means District 1 would…
Inequalities in diabetes care
America is doing a “god-awful job managing diabetes,” a specialist said at a recent forum hosted by The Hill digital news company. Skyrocketing rates of diabetes in the United States are being met with “systemic inertia.” African Americans and Native…
Nature Rambles | Bell Bowl Prairie Update
Last month, I wrote about the impending destruction of a native prairie near the Rockford International Airport. This prairie, one of the few remaining habitats of its kind, was slated to be destroyed by airport expansion beginning Nov. 1. Since…
Inland Art | Wild Things: The art of Peggy West
Peggy West’s avowed mission is to raise awareness and appreciation for the “wild things that can be found in urban and suburban landscapes.” A printmaker, a master naturalist, and educator, West creates mixed media prints and collages that feature delicately…
Art Alerts | December 2021
Area artists Steph Van Doren and Jaci Willis’ joint exhibition through Dec. 17 at the Contemporary Art Center’s Preston Jackson Gallery features Willis’ sculptures in swirling lines of stainless steel with touches of slumped glass, and Van Doren’s paintings on…
Heat Waves — In Red and Black | What caused the death spiral of Illinois coal-fired electricity?
What a difference a decade makes. Climate-destabilizing, coal-fired electricity expanded 2000-2010, and over 100 new coal plants were on the drawing boards. Coal-fired power achieved its Illinois peak in 2008 at 96.7 MMWh (million megawatt hours) which bested nuclear power’s…