News

Access to safe abortion

The sudden closing of the Whole Woman’s Health clinic, 7405 N. University St., several weeks ago hit at a time when the Illinois Legislature is strengthening and protecting women’s access to safe, legal abortion. Women in Peoria will still be…

Ongoing conflict in Middle East stokes debate in Peoria

Bethlehem

Retired Peoria pathologist John Nixon studies widespread human rights violations in Gaza with increasing alarm. As a physician, he felt he should not speak out while he was treating patients, but after retiring 12 years ago, he has studied the…

The REDress Project

REDress Project

Eliida Lakota, center, helped organize “The REDress Project” at Dayspring United Methodist Church in East Peoria to raise awareness about thousands of missing and murdered Native American women and girls. Native American women are 10 times more likely to be…

Environmental News Briefs

Antibiotic use expands to citrus Antibiotic resistance in humans has been linked to overuse with livestock, but now the EPA is defying objections from both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration to allow…

West Peoria plans for July Fourth

June means plans are in full swing for the 49th celebration of the West Peoria July Fourth parade and flag raising. The parade starts at 10 a.m. July Fourth and wends its way through West Peoria. This event is well…

No. 1 in nation for “Draconian,” mandatory drug sentencing

McCuskey

Once again, Peoria tops a nationwide list –– this time for harsh sentences for nonviolent drug offenders. Many in the judicial system contend these disproportionally harsh sentences do not make society safer but only serve to feed mass incarceration. Federal…

Banking on the arts

Most people didn’t hear about some big news this spring. It was good news but wasn’t a surprise, say local arts advocates. But the absence of reporting on it seems to some like the heavy-equipment industry making unexpected gains but…

When “the best of the best” is arrested

Yunek Moore

Yunek Moore fulfilled every dream a parent could have. She was president of her class at Peoria High School, member of the National Honor Society, enrolled in after-school activities and was college bound. Then, inexplicably, she was singled out at…