Articles

Storms and “Killer Heat” loom, challenging globe

Storm

Schaer’s Country Market’s self-pick strawberries didn’t open its fields this summer. Too cold. Too wet. Planting was late. Bath’s 14th Annual Redneck Fishing Tournament was canceled. Too cold, too wet, too long. Even for people who think stalking slimy Asian…

New fungus a global threat

PHOTO BY BILL KNIGHT

People already in various medical facilities and the health professionals helping them have a new threat: a fungus named Candida auris (C. auris) that’s developed resistance to multiple drugs and is killing tens of thousands in the United States and…

Peoria judge welcomes immigrants

For a number of years, Judge James Shadid has conducted naturalization ceremonies in Peoria swearing in new citizens. These immigrants have come from dozens of countries around the world. With the current turmoil, uncertainty and misinformation about immigration, Judge Shadid’s…

Chillicothe mosquito fogging stokes dissent

PHOTO BY CLARE HOWARD

Mike Contratto is a former military man. He’s from a military family and grew up on a military base. He’s a West Point graduate, and he’ll admonish anyone who calls him an environmental activist. He says he’s “not an activist,…

News analysis: Trump damaging EPA & globe to benefit favored industries

Last month, President Trump defended his administration’s role in protecting the environment, remarks observers say were needed after a year of controversies concerning the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and climate change – and recent moves sparking even more criticism. “President…

Illinois has open door for CAFOs

CAFO

Sharon Deweerth looks out the west windows of her rural Marshall County home to see the sun set on corn fields stretching to the horizon. Those fields hold generations of her family’s history of work, values and memories of rural…

Journal Star dances with Wall Street — again

GateHouse Media, owner of the Journal Star, is in merger talks with Gannett, owner of USA Today and dozens of other newspapers across the country. If the deal closes, the merger would result in one Wall Street corporation owning the…

Urban Acres grows strong communities

Diaz

Andy Diaz travels the world as an account sales manager at Caterpillar Inc., but back home in Peoria he grows corn, tomatoes, tomatillos, jalapenos, zucchini and strong community. That’s part of his mission. Diaz is an acolyte of “Strong Towns,”…