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…
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Labor Roundup: Will UAW leadership affect CAT talks? Southwest workers blame airline; strike at HarperCollins
by Community Word Staff • • Comments Off on 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…
Straight Talk: Too good to be true? Disappointing development from developer KDB Group
by Roger Monroe • • Comments Off on Straight Talk: Too good to be true? Disappointing development from developer KDB Group
Kim Blickenstaff rode into Peoria like the proverbial knight on a white horse with wads of money and a load of ideas for improving life in central Illinois. The highly successful businessman, who made a fortune in the healthcare industry,…
West Peoria News: Eagle Scout No. 75 earns his feathers for Troop 11
by Sharon McBride • • Comments Off on West Peoria News: Eagle Scout No. 75 earns his feathers for Troop 11
Boy Scout Troop 11 held an Eagle Court of Honor for Ethan Edley on Jan. 8. Ethan is the troop’s Eagle Scout No. 75 since 1943. It is an impressive number of Eagles because of all the commitment, effort, hard…
Overwhelming support: VAC helps veterans get benefits, but Peorians pay for non-residents
by Bill Knight • • Comments Off on Overwhelming support: VAC helps veterans get benefits, but Peorians pay for non-residents
Peoria County has more than 9,000 military veterans, according to the Census, and hundreds seek help with issues ranging from disability benefits to housing. The county’s Veterans Assistance Commission advocates for them while maneuvering a new federal law providing…
The Watch: City Council talks taxes, fees; County recognizes membership
by Terry Bibo • • Comments Off on The Watch: City Council talks taxes, fees; County recognizes membership
With one bellwether election barely behind us — ringing in five new Peoria County Board members — another will toll in the immediate future. Meanwhile, the nitty-gritty work of government grinds on. Peoria City Council On Nov. 8, Township Supervisor…
Arts Alerts: Zen and the Art of Sprinkler Maintenance, Nate Craig coming to Jukebox
by Bill Knight • • Comments Off on Arts Alerts: Zen and the Art of Sprinkler Maintenance, Nate Craig coming to Jukebox
BOOKS • Writer (and Community Word co-owner) Burt Raabe will be signing his poetry collection “Zen and the Art of Underground Sprinkler Maintenance” and reading selections at I Know You Like A Book on Jan. 11. • Former U.S. Attorney…
Judge: County Auditor shall earn check until office voters eliminated closes
by Bill Knight • • Comments Off on Judge: County Auditor shall earn check until office voters eliminated closes
Peoria taxpayers are paying outside attorneys to sue the county and also to defend the county in a 13-month-old lawsuit by County Auditor Jessica Thomas, whose office was changed by the County Board in 2021 and eliminated by voters in…
Five ways investing in public spaces helps reduce violence and crime
by Bill Knight • • Comments Off on Five ways investing in public spaces helps reduce violence and crime
Planting new trees is a key part of investing in “public spaces,” according to Reimagining the Civic Commons, which for years advocated for reinvigorating public spaces such as parks in Chicago and other Midwest cities and also stressing how developing…
Arts Alerts: Memorable murals, Nutcracker Ballet, Blues, ICC Philarmonic and A Christmas Carol Radio Play
by Bill Knight • • Comments Off on Arts Alerts: Memorable murals, Nutcracker Ballet, Blues, ICC Philarmonic and A Christmas Carol Radio Play
ART Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Peoria Riverfront Museum recently unveiled “The Amethyst,” one of the world’s tallest geodes, now on display as part of its permanent collection. Big Picture Peoria has eight “augmented-reality-enabled” murals of renowned native Peorians on…