A Dandy Bird Aug. 20 was a great summer day. Thirty people piled into three vans after an early morning thunderstorm. Binoculars and field guides in hand, we set off to experience the beginning of fall migration. Travelling south, we…
Seasonal changes in weather and scenery are lovely advantages for living in the Midwest, believes this native Peorian. Sure there’s summer humidity and February dreariness, not to mention running air conditioning one day and the furnace two days later. Such…
This year’s 16th annual West Peoria Night Out Against Crime will be 3 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday Sept. 10 at the Franciscan Recreation Center. Judge Jodie Hoos is a special invited guest. Events include: bicycle rodeo and drawing, cane demonstrations,…
(Editor’s Note: Peoria City Council Member Beth Akeson was under fire recently for some inflammatory Tweets she posted. She sent a message saying she would never support the Black Lives Matter movement because it is divisive, and she said all…
Eric Ewan directed an excellent production of “The Spitfire Grill” for Corn Stock. The musical is about the journey of a young woman just released from prison who decides to start her life anew in a rural Wisconsin town. It…
ARTS BEAT
MUSIC Sept. 2: The 28th annual Illinois Blues & Heritage Festival – Mavis Staples, Here Comes the Mummies, Laith Al-Saadi and more on three stages. On the Riverfront. 839-1220. Sept. 2: Cousin Eddie Live at the Five Spot, 5:30 p.m.…
The Future Is Coming to a School Near You Creativity has always been a core strength of our country, and in today’s ever-changing world creativity is more in demand than ever. Companies around the world list creativity and innovation as…
Labor Roundup
Clinton repeats anti-TPP stand, pledges to appoint trade prosecutor to pursue violators. Adding another specific to her economic platform, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on Aug. 11 told a crowd in Warren, Mich., that she would appoint a “chief trade…
While recently attended a birthday party, my swallowing mechanism was put to the test. During the enjoyment of the festivities and the treats, a fellow came up to me and asked, “Hey aren’t you from Peoria Heights?” Upon rapidly chewing…
The Devil Made Me Do It. Can We Determine Motives? Have you ever asked yourself, “Why did I eat that donut?” People often want to know why they or others do something. One theory is motives are unknowable and what…
Run for Elected Office Illinois Central College is offering a class on three Monday evenings from Oct. 3 through Oct. 17 offering tips and information about becoming a candidate for public office. “Running for Elected Office: Tips for a Successful…
Elder Care Concerns
BY DAVE WEIMAN A “care plan” is essential regardless of whether the care setting is a skilled nursing home, assisted living facility or home care. The care plan is a document that should include the needed services, the health care…
Many students graduating from high school are pretty excited to go off to college. They believe it’s finally the time that they’ll be free from their parents and life will be so much easier. What students often don’t understand is…
Harvest Supper Will Feature Local Farms
Mika’s Bistro in Eureka and Henry’s Farm in Congerville are collaborating to host a special farm-to-table harvest supper featuring chef-prepared food from local farms. The dinner will include a five-course meal with fresh, organic ingredients from Henry’s Farm and…
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Central Illinois Environment
“Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Your Environment” is the topic of the sixth annual Robert A. Flinn, M.D., Endowed Lectureship Series scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday Sept. 21 at Jump Simulation, 1306 N. Berkeley Ave., Peoria. Presenting the lecture will be…
Hunger, Gleaning and Clarence
SPRINGFIELD – The ancient Biblical practice of gleaning fields after harvest to collect remnants of food for the hungry is spreading from fields to markets, and a newly enhanced federal tax benefit is incentivizing the practice for farmers. In the…
‘Slinkenwolf’
Beyond a grassy ridge from a tree-covered bandshell, carnival rides twinkle and sparkle in the humid evening, calliope music tinkling softly. It could be almost any year in the last century. The louder music exploding from six Marshall amps…
Legacy of Heidelberg Trial: Loss, Death Threats, Questions
UPDATE: Judge Albert Purham orders appointment of special prosecutor to review Cleve Heidelberg case from 1970. Steve Heidelberg remembers nothing from the 1970 murder trial of his father Cleve Heidelberg, but he now sees some of the legacy that trial…
STUNNING SETBACK
For those who dislike, perhaps even hate, Aaron Schock and that includes the radical left wingers at the Peoria Journal, it had to be painful to accept the federal grand jury’s decision not to indict the former Congressman. Hell, the…
Hate Crime
“Sticks and stones will break your bones, but names will never hurt you,” goes the children’s rhyme. In Canton, some 40 miles southwest of Peoria, it might be said, “Names will never hurt you, but fists can.” And hate. On…
Editorials
Women, Civil Rights, Income Inequality and Abortion The recent Supreme Court ruling in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt made no poetic sweeping affirmations that women have a basic human right to reproductive choice. However, the ruling did carefully calculate that…
OP-ED
Chemical Farming Unnecessary and Dangerous Editor’s note: Industrial agriculture is pushing back against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency after the agency issued a preliminary report reversing its earlier ruling on the safety of atrazine, an herbicide produced by Syngenta.…