Sulphur Butterflies Along the sandy roads in Mason County grows the Partridge Pea. A member of the bean family, its feather-like leaves are familiar to many. The leaves of Partridge Pea have the interesting habit of folding up in the…
Heroes are somewhat in short supply these days, say many disappointed and disillusioned folks. Perhaps, although various tragedies have included heroes who helped soften the intensities of loss and devastation. Heroic deeds are often accomplished by unlikely individuals, leaving onlookers…
The 16th West Peoria Annual Night Out Against Crime was well attended. Judge Jodi Hoos spoke to the crowd and emphasized that when neighbors work together and report crime, crimes go down making your neighborhood safer. Live music, exciting vehicles,…
Martin vs. Malcolm Theoretical Perspectives on Why Black Lives Stopped Mattering In America We can all agree that when the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, the American people were delusional with the idea that race relations in America…
Deric Kimler has been busy. He directed the very successful production of “Rent” for Peoria Players this past spring and then he played Huey Calhoun, the male lead, in Cornstock’s recent wonderful production of “Memphis.” He is as good a performer…
ARTS BEAT
MUSIC Oct. 1: Cousin Eddie. 8 p.m. Rhythm Kitchen. 676-9668. Oct. 1: Skillet, with Thousand Foot Krutch and Devour the Day. 8 p.m. Limelight Eventplex. 693-1234. Oct. 2: Sarah McQuaid playing “Music in the McKenzie” 2 p.m. Peoria Public Library…
Through the African American Lens A group of black Civil War veterans had an idea in 1915 and now just over 100 years later, Americans are witnessing it come to life as “A place that transcends the boundaries of race…
Labor Roundup
Unions, progressive groups ask Congress to restore bank controls. Organized labor and allied groups have demanded congressional leaders control the nation’s banks by restoring the Glass-Steagall Act, the Depression-era law that for decades separated financial finagling and regular consumer banking.…
Maximum Greed — The EpiPen This is the amazing success story of Heather Bresch, daughter of U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin. Bresch become a pharmaceutical CEO, quadrupled the price of her company’s lifesaving EpiPen and was then able to increase her…
Elder Care Concerns: Loneliness
BY DAVE WEINAN In March, I wrote a column about the three plagues that could potentially affect the well-being of elders: boredom, loneliness and helplessness. I want to revisit one of those, loneliness, with information from a Sept. 6 New…
Two separate shootings linked to Heidelberg case
New evidence now indicates retaliation was a possible motive behind the shooting death that landed Cleve Heidelberg in prison for the past 45 years. Heidelberg’s attorneys have conducted interviews that seem to confirm the case may actually involve two separate…
Dangerously high levels of EDCs in Central Illinois
Residents of Illinois and especially the Peoria area are exposed to high levels of pesticides and other endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), said Gail Prins, PhD, lecturing recently at the Jump Simulation center. Prins, professor of physiology and urology at the…
FBI: Breakfast Program Threatened Nation
Hungry people start walking toward Ward Chapel AME Church before dawn on Saturday mornings. They walk to receive a hearty breakfast. They walk for the acceptance and respect they receive at the church. For some, it’s their only meal of…
Water: The New Oil
BY TERRY BIBO Central Illinois may well be the Saudi Arabia of water. “There’s extreme value in the water,” says Bryan Stubbs, executive director of the Cleveland Water Alliance. “It is the new oil.” It is safe to say most…
Bogus Science Destroys Families
BY ELAINE HOPKINS PEORIA, IL – Quietly behind closed doors, the drama over what is commonly known as ‘shaken baby syndrome’ plays out in courtrooms across Illinois and the nation. Medical science cannot prove this diagnosis, now known as ‘abusive…
PEORIA STADIUM The historic Peoria Stadium is under discussion by the school and park districts. The question remains, what to do with it? Its wonderful past includes Bradley and local high school football and track events, and even Peoria Red…
Justice delayed can be justice denied, and words matter As the Illinois State Fair wound down on Aug. 18, a libel suit linked to the fair and Central Illinois’ current and former Congressmen was about as active as a beer…
CAUTION: AVOID AMPUTATION
Do Not Sever Labor from Democracy Labor Day started in 1882 to celebrate and respect the contributions of American workers and provide them with a paid holiday. Today, “respect” and “celebrate” are less part of the equation. Today, the holiday…
Letters
Moral Right to Information About Abortion Patients have a right to be informed of all their medical options for care and treatment, not just the options consistent with the religious beliefs of their health care providers. Most of us assumed…
OP-ED
Silicosis: A Look at the Ugly/Immoral Corporate Response BY CHRIS M. STEVENS Profits not people. Always was, always is, always will be. Corporate culture. Clear cut and concise. An effective method includes discharging employees who pose a potential future expense,…
Open Letter to Central Illinois:
Nov. 8, 2016, will be one of the most significant presidential elections of our lifetime. Presidential elections are always important, but this year one candidate has demonstrated over and over his inability to control his temper, his lack of…