Are fast food franchises a valuable mechanism for economic growth in African-American communities or a blight that spreads high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and more? Apparently, depending on your perspective, it can be either or it can be both. Fast…
OpEd | Ending cash bond does not make us less safe
BY ANTHONY WALRAVEN, Change Peoria Every year in the State of Illinois, over a quarter of a million people pass through the 92 jails in the 102 counties of our state, and 90% of those people are detained pre-trial, most…
OpEd | Ending cash bail is not the answer
BY SHERIFF BRIAN ASBELL I have not seen any proposed legislation related to the elimination of cash bail; however, I believe this will be a dangerous practice if not properly vetted. I am a proponent of true pre-trial reform which…
The Watch | Keeping an eye on housekeeping
Early spring cleaning and preparation for a long election season apparently dominated the agendas for several local governments recently. According to Local Government Observer (LOGO) reports from the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria, the Peoria County Election Commission…
Nature Rambles | Hill prairies
Heat Waves — In Red & Black | Climate matters
In 2004, climate scientists predicted “more intense, more frequent and longer lasting heat waves” this century. In 2008, the 2nd National Climate Assessment projected heat waves in the Midwest every summer by midcentury. Last year, the Union of Concerned Scientists’…
Reflections From A Hindu Perspective | Charity
There is a story of a famous poet Māgha in the 6th century who was carefree with his wealth and lived in poverty towards the end of his life. One day, a poor man came to his door asking for…
Inland Art | “The Volte-Face”
Art: What is it Good For? | If It’s Broke, Fix It
PeoriaCon March 7 offers cosplay and comics
Hours before heading to Chicago and days ahead of the second PeoriaCon, Jason Johnston leads onlookers through a display of comic and other artwork on display at Studios on Sheridan. The 41-year-old Peorian, who formerly worked trade shows with Events…
Arts Beat | March 2020
Real Talk | A Republic, if we can keep it
What happened to the purist Republican Senate during the trial of Bill Clinton? In 1999, President Clinton was charged and impeached by the House of Representatives for lying under oath and obstruction of justice. The independent counsel who brought the…
Reflections From The Clergy | What Does It Mean to Be A People of Resilience?
On Oct. 29, 1999, former Archbishop Desmond Tutu officially presented President Mandela the five volumes of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report. Tutu, head of the TRC, had heard long hours of personal testimony from the victims of atrocities…
West Peoria News | Residents’ Association needs volunteers
The Residents’ Association has experienced some recent resignations and needs volunteers. The group meets on the third Thursday each month excluding July and December. For more information call Nick Baker at 696-4280. Time is rapidly approaching for the 2020 census.…
Labor Roundup | March 2020
Journalists unionizing at Sports Illustrated, alternatives in Phoenix, Miami. Arbitrary firings by a new management firm with no sports news experience, plus an uncertain future relying on “stringers” led more than 90% of the remaining 80 full-time staffers of Sports…
Discrimination and “The Politics of Hair”
ISU Professor: Peoria vulnerable to killer heat waves
Potential health risks of recreational marijuana
Editor’s Note: Community Word ran an editorial in our September 2014 edition advocating for the legalization of recreational marijuana, not because we need more mind-altering drugs but because criminalization disproportionately impacted African Americans even though use is equal between whites…
Cordoba Clinic turns no one away
Muslims in Peoria alarmed; NGOs fear genocide in India
“Preparation for a genocide is definitely under way in India,” said Dr. Gregory Stanton, founder of Genocide Watch, speaking to an audience of U.S. Congressional and government officials at a briefing titled “Ground Reports on Kashmir and NRC (National Register…
The Lion’s Den | I Am Not My Hair
Straight Talk | Bradley’s Chris Reynolds in running for A.D. at Indiana University
Chris Reynolds, Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics at Bradley University, reportedly is one of four finalists for the job as Athletic Director at Indiana University. The popular Reynolds certainly has the credentials to get the job. He was a basketball…