Basketball fans, coaches and others are still talking about the Metamora loss to Chicago Marian in the 3A super sectional IHSA game held on the campus of Northern Illinois. It was a closely fought game officiated by Tom Fuller, Tariq…
Editorial | Safe injection sites: sound public policy
“Data takes the emotion out.” The Rev. Marvin Hightower, president of the Peoria Chapter of the NAACP, said that in an article in the March issue of Community Word about clean syringe exchange programs. Research shows clean syringe exchange programs…
Op-Ed | High crimes & misdemeanors & impeachment & such
Is Andrew Johnson’s Past Trump’s Future? “I would impeach the President because he is such an infernal liar!” This remark was uttered not by a contemporary critic of Donald Trump, but by General Ulysses S. Grant of President Andrew Johnson…
Bill Knight | Less is more? Sometimes, less is just less.
It was the eve of “Sunshine Week” – a few days in March when government transparency and accountability are celebrated – when a glance at the Peoria City/County Health Department’s online “Food Inspection Scores” found a list of inspections but…
Letters to the Editor | April 2018
Editor’s Note: Following the shooting rampage at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., people across the country are staging protests about gun violence. By some estimates, hundreds of thousands of students walked out of school March 14 in…
Reflections from a Baha’i | Peace hinges on equality of men and women
The emancipation of women and the education of girls has been a priority of the Baha’i community since its inception in Persia (Iran) in 1844. One of the faith’s disciples was a woman named Tahirih. Tahirih was one of the…
Real Talk | Police mission should be “serve, protect, respect” NOT “contain, control, repress”
I attended a lecture at Bradley University by Dr. Simon Balto, an assistant professor of history and director of African-American Studies at Ball State University. The lecture was sponsored by Bradley’s department of history and was part of the Armstrong…
Inland Art | Gary Justis
In 1981 Gary Justis and I showed together at Randolph Street Gallery. It was our first solo exhibition in Chicago, each taking a floor of the expansive new site just off Halsted — an area that would gradually draw galleries…
Arts Beat | April 2018
MUSIC April 3: “Rockin’ Road to Dublin,” Irish dance, 7 p.m. Civic Center Theater. 673-3200. April 6: Cousin Eddie “Live at the Five Spot.” 5:30 p.m. Contemporary Art Center. 674-6822. April 7: Sun Stereo, with People Brothers Band. 9 p.m.…
Art: What is it Good For? | The Art Queen of Green
April 22 marks the 48th anniversary of Earth Day, the environmental movement born to combat widespread industry pollution. On the first Earth Day in 1970, 20 million Americans took to the streets to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment. Today,…
Nature Rambles | April’s new beginning
It wouldn’t be spring without the flush of new, green growth that happens each year in our woods and prairies of Central Illinois. There is that magical time, before the trees have fully leafed out, when sunlight streams through the…
Serendipity | Time and Timeliness
Procrastination isn’t a desired behavior although it often sneaks into daily activities. Like the unexpected guest showing up unannounced with expectations of luxurious amenities, procrastination can adversely affect good intentions and positive outcomes. It requires effort not to fall into…
Labor Roundup | April 2018
Striking graduate assistants at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign rallied March 8 to celebrate a tentative settlement after a marathon overnight bargaining session. “We got our two biggest priorities related to addressing financial stability and guaranteed tuition waivers” for…
Cleve Heidelberg died a free man
Early Saturday morning, police and property management found Cleve Heidelberg dead in his Peoria apartment after a friend failed to reach him. No foul play is suspected. “He died a free man. I don’t care what legal technicalities are pending,…
March for Our Lives Peoria
Blasts of ice and sleet from a late spring blizzard did not deter more than 350 people on Saturday protesting gun violence and demanding action at a “March for Our Lives” rally in downtown Peoria. Across the country, there were…
Clean Syringe Exchange: “I stand with them”
Marvin Hightower, president of the Peoria NAACP, steers with a steady hand through scores of emotional and potentially contentious racial issues. During a discussion about a clinic location in Peoria to supply clean, safe syringes to addicts illegally using drugs,…
Illinois Infrastructure: C-
On Aug. 1, 2007, in the middle of St. Paul-Minneapolis’ rush hour, the heavily-travelled eight-lane I-35W Bridge over the Mississippi River collapsed. Thirteen people were killed. Another 145 people were injured. Roll your eyes in boredom about infrastructure, if you…
Morton Water Warriors
BY ANDREA ROTH When Morton resident Tiffany Cruse takes her 8-month-old daughter Tahlia, for a medical checkup, she’s asked about lead paint. “What’s concerning to me is it’s (questions) only about paint, not other sources (of lead poisoning). I know…
Editorial: Trump bullies and coerces women; attacks basic human right to reproductive freedom
Donald Trump, his administration and his judicial appointments are waging an all-out assault on legal access to abortion and contraception. Consider this case: A 17-year-old woman detained in a refugee center in Texas has been denied access to an abortion…
Op-Ed: What Message Are We Sending Our Kids?
BY RYAN HIDDEN Illinois state legislators are considering adult-use cannabis legalization. Some argue the reason to legalize cannabis is to raise revenue for the state. One estimate is the state could generate $350 million to $700 million per year with…
Letters: Top Legislative Agenda Should Be Climate Change
Re “Immigration and Infrastructure Top of Legislative Agenda for Republicans in Congress” (Ray LaHood’s column, February 2018): I suggest a-top-of-the-agenda item for Congress—climate change. Tragically, the present Republican President, cabinet, White House staff and Congress not only do not identify…
Views & Perspectives: Opioid epidemic is mind numbing
The opioid epidemic is mind numbing, and the death toll is staggering. According to the CDC, 200,000 people have died from overdoes involving prescription opioids. Of the people using illicit opioids, 80 percent began their addiction with prescription drugs. The…