To some, she came out of nowhere. To those who knew her, she was destined for leadership. Debbie Simon started her career in health as a floor nurse at Methodist Medical Center in 1976. Over the years she advanced in…
Bill Knight | “Centrism” is an ideology, too
Cautious or incremental approaches can be sensible. If you aspire to play with the Heartland Festival Orchestra, it’s pragmatic to practice well before approaching conductor David Commanday; if you dream of running in June’s Steamboat Classic, gradually getting in shape…
Editorial | “Your Loyalties Are Your Life”
That was the headline on a recent New York Times opinion column written by David Brooks. While nothing was mentioned in the column about unions, hedge funds or newspapers, the column speaks loudly to the Peoria community, our daily newspaper…
Letter to the Editor | Medicare for All looking better every day
I am a healthy person (knock on wood!), but the U.S. healthcare system is not working for me, or for most of us in the 99 percent. Let me give you a brief example. In August of 2018, after spending…
Letter to the Editor | The CAFO loophole
A CAFO (concentrated animal feeding operation) is threatening the entire town of Princeville, and politicians are helpless to stop it. That’s because of a sneaky loophole in the law. Nearby county boards have recently approved resolutions opposing proposed CAFOs in…
Reflections From A Hindu Perspective | Goals of life
In Sanskrit, the ancient language of the Hindus, there is a term called Simhavalokan – Lion’s gaze. When a lion is walking, after covering a distance, he will pause and turn back, as if contemplating where he came from, and…
Serendipity | Cleaning for company
When my three children were growing up, and old enough to understand some workings within a household, if they saw me dusting or vacuuming, they usually asked, “Are the ladies coming over?” They were non-specific about which ladies, and their…
Real Talk | They steal our Rhythm, but not our Blues
Blackface legacy is one of white supremacy and exploitation of Black identity. Historian Dale Cockrell attributed the fascination for blackface to the psyche of poor working-class white people, who felt marginalized both economically and socially and didn’t feel included in…
Nature Rambles | Vital lands in the Prairie State
I recently had the opportunity to take part in an annual workshop called the Vital Lands Illinois Summit. This is a gathering of Illinois Land Trusts, conservation organizations, and agencies that are all playing roles in the preservation and stewardship…
Inland Art | Inland Update
The Community Word is framed by a 1960s style of liberalism –– a sanguine perspective where so-called average and so-called fortunate people have a stake in reciprocal social outcomes. In 2017, I began contributing to the paper’s composite demographic ––…
Art: What is it Good For? | Arts help heal
Stress is a killer. It’s not always obvious how it makes us sick, but more and more the healthcare industry is recognizing how stress and accompanying anxiety can literally make us sick. The American Psychological Association reports a link between…
Arts Beat | March 2019
MUSIC March 1: Cousin Eddie “Live at the Five Spot.” 5:30-7:30 p.m., Contemporary Art Center. 674-6822. March 1, 8 and 15: Dave Hoffman & Friends. 5 p.m. Two25 at Mark Twain Hotel. 282-7777. March 1: Blackjack Billy. 9 p.m. Crusens…
West Peoria News | Meet the candidates
The upcoming city consolidated election on April 2 has the following candidates vying for office: Mayor James R. Dillon; City Clerk Mary Barnes; Treasurer Julie McGill; Ward 1 Alderperson Hazel Thomas; Ward 2 Alderperson Jeff Reagan; Ward 3 Alderperson Jeff…
Labor Roundup | March 2019
Top congressional Democrats plus Bernie Sanders last month moved to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2024. With support from more than 180 House Democrats, the bill is expected to pass the new Democratic-run House. It’s…
Love your Valentine and love the planet
Kira Santiago understands the complexities of expressing love on Valentine’s Day. She wants to remind people that when thinking about love, extend thoughts to local, sustainable and organic. Organic matters for flowers as well as food! Santiago is an organic…
Untold stories from government shutdown
While furloughed federal employees are assured they will get back pay following the government’s temporary shutdown, contract workers have no such assurances. There are about 35 independent contract workers at the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in Peoria. Requesting…
“Medicare for All” increasingly popular
Health care’s high costs, inferior coverage and lack of inexpensive options aren’t news, but within 72 hours early last month, a few things sparked renewed interest in the increasingly feasible Medicare for All – news about price hikes for various…
Health care costs burden the country
Central Illinois is familiar with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which for decades has treated children with leukemia. But few realize the cost associated with one of the most effective medicines used to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML): Gleevec. Manufactured…
Views & Perspectives | Trump administration turmoil
Thirty five who have left very important, substantial positions with the Trump Administration in two years: Three chiefs of staff, three national security advisors, a secretary of defense, two secretaries of state, two department of homeland security secretaries, two veteran…
Straight Talk | Raising eyebrows
Peoria Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat got a pat on the back and a healthy salary increase from board members. Not much was shared by adoring supporters about her accomplishments, but everyone agrees she’s a vast improvement over Dr.…
Bill Knight | Farm subsidies
Somewhat overlooked during the holidays’ government shutdown caused by President Trump’s demand for $5 billion to partly fund a border wall that Democrats don’t support was the delay of some farm subsidies and other payments to farmers. That sparked a…
Editorial | Diversity in Congress
Here’s a tally of the number of women in the U.S. House. In 1989: 16 were Democrats; 13 were Republicans In 2019: 89 are Democrats; 13 are Republicans Why is that of any significance? Because diversity matters. History has proven…