The saga of renaming Peoria schools continues, as does the national debate over removing statues of historical figures. Advocates for renaming Peoria schools have been charged with “cancel culture” because they want to correct the myths and fables of American…
Editorial
Editorial | How art can change the world
by Clare Howard • • Comments Off on Editorial | How art can change the world
Peoria should bring Preston Jackson’s whale sculpture, “Shirley Armstrong,” to the Peoria Riverfront in the green space to the east of Peoria Riverfront Museum. The whale is a beautiful and haunting reminder of the interconnection between the sometimes careless actions…
Editorial | What Tom Vilsack fails to say about hunger
by Clare Howard • • Comments Off on Editorial | What Tom Vilsack fails to say about hunger
Tom Vilsack is returning to his post as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. He served in that capacity under President Obama for eight years. Vilsack hails from Iowa, a leading agricultural state with a major focus on industrial corn, soybeans, hogs,…
Editorial | Land-grant legacy of injustice
by Clare Howard • • Comments Off on Editorial | Land-grant legacy of injustice
A recent report in High County News concluding a two-year investigation revealed “a dark open secret: One of the largest transfers of land and capital in the country’s history had masqueraded as a donation for university endowments.” The report found…
Editorial | When American democracy is assaulted
by contributor • • Comments Off on Editorial | When American democracy is assaulted
BY ANGELA WECK Editor’s Note: This message was written Jan. 7, the day after pro-Trump rioters attempted an insurrection and invaded the U.S. Capitol. Yesterday was a day that should have represented the highest achievement of our republic. This day…
Editorial | We need every member of Congress to acknowledge there was no election fraud; anything short of that stokes more violence
by Clare Howard • • Comments Off on Editorial | We need every member of Congress to acknowledge there was no election fraud; anything short of that stokes more violence
There is no credible evidence the election of Joe Biden was fraudulent. A New York Times editorial: “Republican lawmakers who objected to the electoral vote results on the grounds of mythical election fraud should immediately and publicly apologize, repudiate their…
Editorial | Climate racism, food insecurity, election falsehoods, anti-vaxxers
by Clare Howard • • Comments Off on Editorial | Climate racism, food insecurity, election falsehoods, anti-vaxxers
We now live in the era of “alternative facts,” a term coined by Trump supporter Kellyanne Conway to try to justify lies. Predictably, “alternative facts” invariably favor wealthy, secure, privileged people who fail to recognize the limits of their own…
Disinformation, Gannett and PJS
by Clare Howard • • Comments Off on Disinformation, Gannett and PJS
The Journal Star has clearly deteriorated under GateHouse and now Gannett ownership, but a new low was reached Sunday Nov. 15 with a column on page B1 about Gov. JB Pritzker’s order restricting indoor dining in restaurants and bars. The…
Editorial | More newsroom cuts at Journal Star
by Clare Howard • • Comments Off on Editorial | More newsroom cuts at Journal Star
Poynter Institute for Media Studies has reported on yet another round of staff reductions in Gannett newsrooms and other departments nationwide. Gannett recently purchased the Peoria Journal Star. The paper currently has less than 10 percent of the newsroom employees…
Editorial | Racism distorts history and creates shoddy journalism
by Clare Howard • • Comments Off on Editorial | Racism distorts history and creates shoddy journalism
Newsrooms across the country are conducting diversity training and seeking to hire a more diverse staff to improve journalism and report more inclusively on the entire community. Gannett, owner of the Journal Star, stated it’s making a concerted effort to…