News

Bill Knight: Bird flu and inflation has hatched excuses to jack up egg prices

BILL KNIGHT

Consolidating industries are apparently learning from other near-monopolies, and are using pretexts to boost prices — and profits — at the expense of consumers. An ag advocacy group, Farm Action, this winter wrote the Federal Trade Commission asserting that despite…

Solid pay overdue: Library employees just getting by

More than 91% of employees at the Peoria Public Library are living “paycheck to paycheck,” according to a survey of staff this winter. What’s arguably worse for them — and maybe embarrassing for the City of Peoria and taxpayers –…

History of Hoops: ‘Playgrounds to the Pros: Legends of Peoria Basketball’ gets behind scenes of River City roundball

Basketball fans know how the sport plays in Peoria. Finally, some of those stories from an extra-special time in the city’s lore will be captured in print when “Playgrounds to the Pros: Legends of Peoria Basketball” (3 Fields Books, University…

Heat Waves — In Red & Black: PAYS to provide water like it’s a human right

William Rau

Climate and Equity Jobs Act program helps fight the scarcity and inequality that economics creates Last month, I explored physical shortages of water and nature-based approaches to closing deficits in drinking water. A more common American problem is rapidly accelerating…

Peoria County claims attorney Justin Penn charging too much in Auditor court proceedings

Attorneys representing Peoria County in Auditor Jessica Thomas’ lawsuit filed a blistering objection to her lawyer’s Dec. 7 request for $42,087.50 in fees plus $766.64 in expenses, calling it an “exorbitant demand.” “The County never agreed to such exorbitant and…

Labor Roundup: Will UAW leadership affect CAT talks? Southwest workers blame airline; strike at HarperCollins

The United Auto Workers’ current agreement with Caterpillar is scheduled to expire March 1. Likely issues include not only compensation, but attendance policies — all as the UAW international leadership could be changing and related situations such as the union’s…