Columns

The Watch: Peoria County powering up facilities with solar energy

bibo

Two solar projects up, one down, as we cut the carbon footprint. Peoria County Board Peoria County Board met March 9 with all members present. Regular business focused on approval of solar project developments and power purchase agreements between Peoria…

Straight Talk: Why no naming rights for Civic Center?

ROGER MONROE

The heated confrontation between Peoria Rivermen fans and the Civic Center Authority Board is over — for now. A short-term, one-year lease agreement with a second year option was reached and all God’s children said “Amen.” Not everyone praised Ric…

Heat Waves in Red & Black: Putin’s petrostate under kleptocratic ‘reiderstovo’

William Rau

Russian oligarchs are named incorrectly. America has oligarchs, men whose extraordinary wealth can sway governments. As Gilens and Page (2014) show, economic elites and big corporations get their way when Congress crafts legislation whereas ordinary citizens have negligible impact. Wealth…

Straight Talk: Auditor lost election, but winning in courts

ROGER MONROE

By a whopping 70%, Peoria County voters said the office of County Auditor should be closed. Members of the County Board had overwhelmingly stated there was no need for an elected auditor. Auditor Jessica Thomas was expected to accept the…