Illinois has 628 separate police and fire pension funds, each with administrative costs. Ohio, by contrast, has one Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund. At a recent talk in Peoria, Sen. Daniel Biss, D-Evanston and gubernatorial candidate, said merging multiple…
FALL IS FOR FUNDRAISING As you read this column, our community will be honoring a number of extraordinary citizens who have contributed to making their communities and Central Illinois in particular an extraordinary place to live. These fundraisers honor our…
THE MISSING FLAG Gary Hall is a Vietnam veteran and a strong supporter of all veterans, especially those missing in action and prisoners of war. That’s why he’s passionate about the POW/MIA flag and its familiar black and white design.…
The prospect of a right-wing media conglomerate expanding might cause some to think, “It can’t happen here,” but there’s a local connection between Sinclair Broadcast Group’s proposed purchase of Tribune Media. Plus, legitimate concerns are similar to worrying about a…
Solutions: More women in leadership Don’t tell a feminist or a rational man that Hillary Clinton lost the election fair and square. Despite James Comey, fake news planted by Russia and other dirty tricks, Clinton won by more than 2.9…
Secular humanism: Driven by social justice and kindness Thank you for publishing “Reflections From a Secular Humanist,” by Harry Elger. His column succinctly explains secular humanism and the many reasons one would choose this enlightened worldview. Harry’s writing is clear,…
This book will scare you to death! It’s essential reading. BY ELAINE HOPKINS A recently published tiny paperback, the 126-page book “On Tyranny, Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century,” is essential reading today. The author, Timothy Snyder, a distinguished professor at…
Reflections From A Secular Humanist
BY HARRY ELGER What Is Religion’s Role in Government? There are 4,543 words in the Constitution — none of them are Jesus, Bible, God, or Christianity. America is not a melting pot of Christian denominations. America is not literally or…
There are two different opportunities for West Peorians to improve the lives of others during the upcoming holiday season. Non-perishable food items are desperately needed for the 30th annual Stuff-a-Bus for Friendship House to be shared with families in need. Stuff-a-Bus is hosted by…
Chris Holbrook is a printmaker by discipline and a homespun expressionist. He has formal and conceptual affiliations with the Chicago Imagist School as well as other regional artists known for idiosyncratic narratives infused with a decidedly Midwestern funk and philosophy.…
MUSIC Nov. 3: Judy Page. 8 p.m. Rhythm Kitchen. 676-9668. Nov. 3: Dexter O’Neal & Funk Yard “Live at the Five Spot.” 5:30 p.m. Contemporary Art Center. 674-6877. Nov. 4: The Estampie Trio chamber music concert. 3 p.m. Eureka College…
A world of wounds September has gone down in history for its record-breaking warmth. Locally, it has turned out to be one of the driest as well. Each month we hear we broke a record, and collectively each year seems…
Thirty years ago, I walked across Bradley University’s campus with intention and nervous haste. Having graduated from Illinois Central College (ICC) three months earlier, I was going to Bradley Hall for my first university class. At age 39, I was…
Kneeling for equality I’m often asked by eager learners who, out of respect, would like to know my intellectual stance on players kneeling during the national anthem. Growing up as a young inner city youth in Chicago and now being…
BlueGreen Alliance, Service Employees hit Trump dump of Clean Power Plan. The BlueGreen Alliance and the Service Employees are blasting Republican President Donald Trump for dumping the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan, the comprehensive cleanup of the nation’s coal-fired electric…
Current Events Echo Historical Racism
BY CLARE HOWARD Wendel White’s photography painfully deepens our understanding of racism in America. His images speak softly but the message screams at full volume. Racial discrimination in America has surely evolved over the past century forged by legislation, litigation…
Following tax dispute, Bielfeldt Foundation open for business
Greater Peoria has more than 630 nonprofit enterprises, according to Nonprofit Explorer data from the investigative journalism site ProPublica.org – from the Caterpillar Foundation and the Creve Coeur Club to Forest Park Foundation and the Tri-County Urban League. However, few…
Police training for hate rallies
BY CLARE HOWARD Hate rallies and hate crime are on the rise nationwide. Southern Poverty Law Center outreach director Lecia Brooks gave police training materials to local law enforcement officers during her recent visit to Peoria. She said hate groups…
CONGRESS MUST PASS DREAM ACT TO REINSTATE DACA (DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS) In early September, President Trump ordered an end to the Obama-era program that shields young undocumented immigrants from deportation, calling it an “amnesty-first approach” and urging Congress…
Assumptions v. realities; common assumptions aren’t always common sense; or factual Even hard numbers aren’t always accurate or complete, whether it’s our hunches about crime or what many of us believe Americans actually think: real public opinion. Respected and nonpartisan…