Racists and neo-Nazis with guns and badges within the ranks of local law enforcement across the country is antithetical to American democracy, yet the evidence is visible and documented by the FBI, Office of Homeland Security and Southern Poverty Law…
News
Concerns mount for Water Warriors
by Community Word Staff • • Comments Off on Concerns mount for Water Warriors
BY ANDREA ROTH East Peoria resident Teresa Kaiser changed how she thought about water eight years ago. “We came home after a few days away, and I opened the freezer and an overwhelming swimming pool smell hit me,” Kaiser said.…
Peoria tap water assessments
by Community Word Staff • • Comments Off on Peoria tap water assessments
Disinfection byproducts in tap water vary widely based on the source of the water, the geographic location, the treatment methods used and even the season and weather. Karen Cotton, spokesperson at Illinois American Water Co. in Peoria, said treatment methods…
“Fakebook news”
by Terry Bibo • • Comments Off on “Fakebook news”
Bobbi Millinger realized she should be skeptical of news on Facebook. “We truly thought that we were being careful about who we were interacting with, given the need for discretion on social media. We were very aware that people can…
How to avoid fake news
by Terry Bibo • • Comments Off on How to avoid fake news
Between Facebook and the Internet, the 24-hour-a-day news cycle, traditional media outlets, competing political organizations with competing agendas –– fake news is thriving. Democracy, not so much. “I do not know how a democracy functions when you don’t know what…
Legalizing marijuana is a social justice issue
by Clare Howard • • Comments Off on Legalizing marijuana is a social justice issue
Jason Spyres was sentenced to 30 years in prison after three marijuana convictions. Police found 37 pounds of marijuana sent to him via United Parcel Service by his mother in California. His mother served six months for her crime. He…
Heidelberg case: “miscarriage of justice”
by Clare Howard • • Comments Off on Heidelberg case: “miscarriage of justice”
Editor’s Note: Cleve Heidelberg was found dead in his apartment Saturday morning March 24. He was released from prison 10 months ago after spending 47 years behind bars for a crime he always insisted he did not commit. In a…
Trump’s EPA won’t – or can’t – clean up some hazardous sites
by Bill Knight • • Comments Off on Trump’s EPA won’t – or can’t – clean up some hazardous sites
A year ago this month, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt, appointed by President Donald Trump, visited the USS Lead Superfund site outside Chicago. It’s still hazardous. The EPA’s Superfund program was established 38 years ago to clean up…
Cleve Heidelberg died a free man
by Clare Howard • • Comments Off on Cleve Heidelberg died a free man
Early Saturday morning, police and property management found Cleve Heidelberg dead in his Peoria apartment after a friend failed to reach him. No foul play is suspected. “He died a free man. I don’t care what legal technicalities are pending,…
March for Our Lives Peoria
by Clare Howard • • Comments Off on March for Our Lives Peoria
Blasts of ice and sleet from a late spring blizzard did not deter more than 350 people on Saturday protesting gun violence and demanding action at a “March for Our Lives” rally in downtown Peoria. Across the country, there were…