Cannabis, trains and upcoming budgets dominate government agendas this fall. Peoria City Council On Aug. 23, councilors reviewed an ordinance about recreational cannabis businesses. Changes relate to social equity applicants, meaning those who have convictions for cannabis possession and…
Too bad we have that debt, but cheers to the Peoria County Board for saving between $20 million and $25 million by refinancing Heddington Oaks. PEORIA CITY COUNCIL On July 26, the council approved a request from City Manager…
From gun violence (big problem) to voter fraud (not), government representatives work to protect citizens and their rights. Peoria City Council On June 14, Monica Hendrickson, Public Health Administrator for Peoria County/City and Katy Endress, Director of Epidemiology and Clinical…
Summer kicks off with classic good news/bad news. The good news is the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria was able to add coverage to include Peoria Public Schools District 150. With professional reporters ever-scarcer, volunteers who attend government…
When public officials collaborate to make government more effective, flag it. Hence, three cheers for a new method of collecting real estate taxes prompted by the Peoria County Treasurer and Peoria Township Collector. Stephen Morris, Township Collector, recommended all in-person…
Fans of democracy, rejoice! League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria has expanded its coverage of local government in the wake of journalistic cutbacks. First: thanks to the dedicated Observers. Second: there is such a wealth of information we can…
On Jan. 11, Peoria City Council members set dates to discuss redistricting of the city based on the 2020 census results. The goal is for districts to be nearly equal in population, compact, contiguous, and respectful of geographic boundaries and…
Peoria City Council discussed disconnection of property — which was annexed to the city in 1993 with the Charter Oak development — at its Dec. 14 meeting. Michael Fleming, attorney for property owners, requested undeveloped parcels without access to roads…
Ninety-nine years means a lot of stories for a reporter. Officially, Theo Jean Kenyon’s career spanned World War II and the first Obama Administration. Elegantly dressed and coiffed, she covered Peoria — from advisory committees to zoning commissions — working…
Peoria City Council wrestled with its 2022-2023 biennial budget — and each other — during special meetings this fall. On Oct. 26: Peoria Township officials asked for a tax increase, but didn’t get it. City Manager Patrick Urich said recovery…
