Landfill, garbage disposal, wetland restoration, native plants, environmental beauty. Not words typically associated with each other, but the association is perfectly logical for Charles Hostetler. He hopes to make the correlation universally clear with a project along Kickapoo Creek Road.…
UN: American Dream Becoming American Illusion
Food for justice
Donations Needed: Journalism Diversity Fund
The Peoria NAACP has established a special account to fund coverage of diversity issues by central Illinois writers. The goal is to increase coverage of often-untold stories that cut through stereotypes and more accurately depict history, explain institutional racism and…
“Native Americans Speak”
President Donald Trump is calling for the largest rollback in protected public lands in the history of this country, and a coalition of Native Tribes and conservation groups is spearheading resistance. Working with that resistance is Clayton Daughenbaugh, a speaker…
Views & Perspectives | Judge Brett Kavanaugh an Outstanding Pick for Supreme Court
I have known and watched Brett Kavanaugh for two decades having first met him and his family playing golf at a charity golf outing supporting cancer research. While I was in Congress during President George W. Bush’s term, Brett served…
Straight Talk | The Deed Is Done!
I did it. Never thought I would. I quit taking the Peoria Journal. I’ve been a reader for decades. Before that, I was a carrier delivering the Peoria Journal Star in the morning to the south of my North Madison…
Bill Knight | Chicago Farmer
“Chicago Farmer” is a great name for an act, like “Goofy Ridge Industrialist” or “nonviolent commando.” But Chicago Farmer is much more than a snappy name. Born Cody Diekhoff, Chicago Farmer is more than a 39-year-old “singer/songwriter.” The troubadour is…
Editorial | Weaponizing Free Speech
Letter to the Editor | Protecting coal ash, not children
Governor Rauner’s Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) is failing to protect us. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) weakened federal health and water protections for communities near toxic coal ash waste dumps. If you live in the Peoria area, that…
Real Talk | You’re not going to take our pain and make it a novelty
Often times, we wonder why urban inner city violence is so romanticized, and that other races want to mimic the lifestyle in theory but in reality remain distant. While listening to NPR, I heard a podcast about a restaurant that…
Op-Ed | If only they’d come the right way …
Editor’s Note: Immigrants and refugee seekers have different rights. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, everyone has a right to seek asylum from persecution and violence. The UN states that “some mass displacements may…
Reflections From The Clergy | Rescue Children from the Caves of Poverty
One of the paradoxes of human nature is that we are capable of cooperating with others for the common good as well as “otherizing” people for our own gain. While many Americans were fervently praying for the safe rescue of…
Serendipty | Vacation Wisdom
Family vacations are great opportunities for honing cooperation and adapting skills; and enjoying new sights, family bonding, and relaxation. Ideally they also include experiences to inspire teachable moments. Even the good, beautiful, boring, or challenging can be rich with lessons.…
Nature Rambles | ‘Nature in Progress’ at former golf course
Inland Art | Sculpture Walk
Arts Beat | August 2018
Aug. 1: Peoria Municipal Band. 7 p.m. Warehouse District. 691-3318. Aug. 2 and each Thursday: Tanner Picton. 5 p.m. Kickapoo Creek Winery. 495-9463. Aug. 2: Thursday Night Jazz Series, featuring Ellen and Derel Monteith. 7-8:30 p.m., CEFCU Center Stage at…
West Peoria News | Boy Scout Ice Cream Social
Boy Scout Troop 11 ice cream social is 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 23 at the West Peoria Fire Station, 406 N. Waverly Ave. A $2.50 donation includes dessert, ice cream and a drink. This is another West Peoria tradition.…
Labor Roundup | August 2018
NFL Players union files over anthem policy. The NFL Players Association on July 10 filed a grievance with the league challenging its new National Anthem policy, saying the new policy was imposed without consultation with the union, is inconsistent with…