The Housing Authority of Champaign County is reaching out 100 miles to develop an affordable senior living facility in Henry, a small community just 34 miles north of Peoria. Called Oak Field Place, the new 30-unit, affordable senior housing facility…
Reflections from an Existential Lens | Religion, Secularism, and the Meaning of Life, Part III
In David Hume’s “Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion,” three characters debate God’s existence. The character Demea represents rational theology and deductive argument—at least until the end, when he suddenly declares that “each man feels, in a manner, the truth of religion…
Heat Waves — In Red and Black | Designed to Fail: Texas’ Radically Deregulated Power Grid
The massive, multi-day electricity blackout in Texas this February vividly highlights the importance of reliable electricity during extreme heat or cold. The economic cost to Texas from days without power will be close to $200 billion, or $75 billion more…
Nature Rambles | Bloodroot
One of the first native plants I can remember becoming enamored with as a child was a spring wildflower called Bloodroot. What a name. The plant is full of a red sap that courses through its leaves, stem and roots.…
Serendipity | Life Lessons Learned
Boredom is not something that usually affects me. Some people have even commented I’m easily entertained. I take that as a compliment regardless of how it’s intended. When my three children were growing up and would complain about “nothing to…
West Peoria News | On the ballot
These candidates in the City of West Peoria are currently running for office in the April 6 city council election: Ward 1, LeRoy Dohm, Jr.; Ward 2, Merlin “Rocky” Mathewson; Ward 3, John F. Siewert II and Clark Abraham; Ward…
Labor Roundup | April 2021
Amazon union drive helped by White House, NFL, Hollywood. The election to unionize a Bessemer, Ala., Amazon warehouse employing almost 6,000 workers is getting support from a variety of figures, from President Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., to National…
When government aid falls short, mutual aid steps in
Despite the isolation needed in a pandemic, some are working for others, even if it’s at a safe distance. A garage outside Pekin is where Tazewell County Mutual Aid constantly fills and empties shelves of material for central Illinois neighbors.…
Peoria attorney wakes up each morning grateful to be alive
Peoria attorney Christopher McCall looks back and calculates he must have contracted COVID around Election Day even though he has always strictly adhered to CDC guidelines. He always wears a face mask, he practices social distancing (preferring 10 feet rather…
Inequality: An “apartheid” system of vaccine distribution
Israel is basking in positive international recognition for truly rapid and efficient COVID-19 vaccination rates among citizens. However, the Israeli militarily occupies the West Bank and Gaza and the under-reported story there is that the population has no or limited…
The end of a civic journey
Mary Harkrader taught her children they owed themselves and others their active participation in civic life –– both as a responsibility and a pleasure. She taught by example. Harkrader died Jan. 30 at age 86. Her husband Al, long-time photographer…
The Lion’s Den | A Founding Father of Black (American) History
By the time you read this, we will have turned the page on February 2021 and thus turned the page on Black History Month. Once thought of as essential and necessary, many, including African Americans, have begun to question its…
Straight Talk | Political “flyer” totally false
I have no “horse” in the race for Peoria mayor. However, when I see or hear something in the public arena that is just flat out false and incorrect, because of my experience as a former elected official for 22…
Bill Knight | Taxing times
These are taxing times; times we face not just a pubic-health crisis, but higher taxes – or lower levels of public services. Or both. Nationally, Republicans who backed the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act are responsible for federal taxes…
Editorial | Land-grant legacy of injustice
A recent report in High County News concluding a two-year investigation revealed “a dark open secret: One of the largest transfers of land and capital in the country’s history had masqueraded as a donation for university endowments.” The report found…
OpEd | History of Originalism, Part 3: Beware their words
BILL FEIPEL The “original” words of the Constitution and the structure of the national government that it created were compromised into final form by September 1787. The delegates contented themselves with a system that was democratic, but certainly not a…
The Watch | Thank public workers
Neither rain, nor sleet, nor dark of night may stay United States Postal Service couriers from swift completion of their appointed rounds … but COVID-19 puts a cramp in them and everyone else. I can vouch, having gotten the beast.…
Nature Rambles | An Ancient Song
The first time I became acquainted with a Sandhill Crane was 40 years ago canoeing in northern Minnesota. They had a nest on the ground, at the edge of the marsh, built from cattail and other vegetation. Their rattling-bugle call…
Inland Art | Leslie Bellavance
Leslie Bellavance was an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a member of West Hubbard Gallery, and a contributor to and regional editor of the New Art Examiner when I first met her in 1982. She was a recent…
Art: What is it Good For? | Supreme Good is Like Water
What can’t you live without that you rarely think about? The answer is water. We rarely give water any concern because it is something that works quite well being taken care of by professionals like Illinois American Water Company. When…
Reflections from an Existential Lens | Religion, Secularism, and the Meaning of Life, Part II
Some years ago a Christian friend asked me what “the religious experience” is. He had visited various churches and worship groups and was puzzled by what he found. Practice seemed disconnected from theology, and even the practice didn’t seem consistent.…
Reflections From The Clergy | Be That Helping Hand In Society
In order for society to function, we as a community need to work together in all facets of life. Having the ability to be that helping hand for one and all brings balance and stability to a community and its…