It Takes a Village held its fourth FREE Prom Dress Giveaway on March 19. But that doesn’t come close to describing the atmosphere that president Bernice Gordon-Young and her village people provided for the hundreds of high school students who…
An effort to improve the quality of school meals for lower-income and minority students is making its way through the Illinois General Assembly. The Better School Lunches Act has moved on to the Senate after passing unanimously through the Statehouse…
Hooray! Hold on … Don’t plan to ride the rails to Chicago to see an exhibit, ballgame or concert yet. Amtrak’s 50th anniversary was in 2021, but it’s been years that Amtrak fans like me have driven to Galesburg or…
With the filing for the June primary completed by the 5 pm Monday, March 14, deadline, political observers noted some surprises. The biggest was news that Andrew Rand did not seek re-election to the Peoria County Board. Rand represents District…
Recently while watching a podcast that DL Hughley was on as a guest, he made a very interesting statement. Hughley said, “the most dangerous place for Black people to live is in White people’s imagination.” That statement illustrates how successfully…
They had finally done it. The smart kids at Florida A&M University had created the drug that would wipe out racism and injustice in all of its forms. But, of course, none of this would have happened if not for…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
