Robin Nolting felt a jumble of emotions when U.S. Federal Judge Joe Billy McDade announced in court that he will accept a compromise agreement in a lawsuit filed by environmental groups against Vistra Energy calling for the closure of the…
60% of Superfund sites at risk from climate change
Nearly 950 toxic Superfund sites, many lining Lake Michigan near Chicago, are in danger of inundation by rising sea levels and storm surges due to climate change, according to a recent report issued by the Government Accountability Office, a nonpartisan…
True Justice documentary: “eye opening,” “amazing”
Prof. Anthony White teaches criminal justice at Illinois Central College; he invited several of his students to write brief statements about their reaction to the documentary “True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality.” A free public screening in November was…
Views & Perspectives | December is time to be reflective and full of joy and happiness
As I write my last column for 2019, I am grateful to Clare Howard and the entire team at COMMUNITY WORD for the opportunity to sound off on issues of importance to me and I hope from time to time…
Straight Talk | What’s going on with media?
On Thursday, Nov. 7, 23-year-old Tyshan Gayton exchanged gunfire with law enforcement officials not far from the Glen Oak Learning Center and then fled to a house on Briarwood. Police rushed to the area of 2300 North Knoxville followed by…
Bill Knight | Health-care costs
Decades ago, I edited a weekly newspaper owned by a record chain whose owner was mulling over providing health-insurance coverage to full-time workers when in a matter of weeks I had to go to emergency rooms. I’d seriously injured my…
Editorial | Courage or cowardice: Learning America’s true history takes courage
OpEd | Whistleblowers, sources and the constitution
BY TORI WHIDDEN Throughout the United States, government agencies are unconstitutionally enforcing restrictive policies that are negatively affecting the public’s access to information. First Amendment rights allow public employees to speak about work-related matters without the permission of their superiors.…
Nature Rambles | Chinquapin Oak
Reflections From A Baha’i | Universal human rights attainable
One of the great achievements of the twentieth century was the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the U.N. General Assembly on Dec. 10, 1948. The Universal Declaration affirms in its preamble that it is intended to…
The Watch | PHA meetings
Several months ago, attorney John T. Brady read the local government observer reports in his League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria monthly newsletter. It reported PHA meetings had been moved or cancelled, often without notice. Agendas and basic information…
The Lion’s Den | Part I: African American Education: During Slavery
This article is the first in a series that exams the African American experience with America’s education system. Part one will examine the education of Blacks during the times of slavery. Education for African Americans during slavery was mainly illegal.…
Inland Art | Imagism
Arts Beat | December 2019
Dec. 6: “A Merry Little Christmas,” featuring the Peoria Pops Orchestra. 7 p.m. Five Points Washington. 444-8222. Dec. 6: Dexter O’Neal + Funk Yard 5:30 p.m. “Live at the Five Spot,” Contemporary Arts Center, 674-6822. Dec. 7: Bradley Chorale, Women’s…
Real Talk | When the smoke clears: The legalization of marijuana in Illinois
Implicit biases that still exist with marijuana stem from “refer madness” from the early 1950s. Those biases were geared toward individuals living in poverty and the escape provided by marijuana. The mythology of marijuana is that it causes aggression; it…
Reflections From A Hindu Perspective | Art of debate
As our next presidential election looms closer, the sheer barbarism of the public arena vocalization filled me with great anguish. On the current political debate stages, behavior like blatant lying, interrupting the opponents, childish insults have become a norm for…
Serendipity | Holiday happiness
Music, memories, scents, sounds and other reminders help make Christmas the extravaganza it is today. We don’t all agree on how much of the details are charming because we view it from personal preferences. For some, it’s too much of…
West Peoria News | December updates
Township Supervisor Sharon Kennedy is looking for people interested in sharing what they know about the history of West Peoria. Kennedy can be reached at the township building, 2516 W. Rohmann, 9 a.m. until noon Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays. Call…
Labor Roundup | December 2019
National Labor Relations Board plans to ban RAs, TAs from unionizing, and activists such as Princeton University Research Assistant Hrishikesh Somayaji are protesting. “We simply need a union to be able to bargain for the rights that we deserve as…