The Fresh Food Van makes regular stops throughout Peoria much like the ice cream trucks of decades past. But unlike the Good Humor truck, there is no need for a bell to alert nearby residents. They know the schedule. On…
BY GEORGE HOPKINS The vacant shop’s windows blare a message to the old town square in tiny Cuba, Illinois —“Lost Dreams! Broken Heart! Must Sell!” Like many once-thriving downstate market towns, this Fulton County hamlet is a pretty place, with…
BY CLARE HOWARD Throughout history, one of the universal tools of repression has been denying access to education. It’s an inhuman and dirty strategy followed by the Iranian government against people of the Baha’i faith. In total opposition to that…
Attorneys for Cleve Heidelberg, incarcerated since 1970, remain convinced of his innocence in the murder of a white Peoria County sheriff’s deputy, and they want Peoria County State’s Attorney Jerry Brady removed from the case and replaced with an independent…
If Not Now, When? It’s not uncommon for an attorney to ask for a delay in a trial. They do it all the time and often multiple times. People wiser than me say it’s done for a variety of reasons.…
As Major League Baseball’s top players compete in July 12’s annual All-Star Game in San Diego, fans are sure to marvel at the talent on display, and might reminisce about pickup games on city sandlots or rural pastures in their…
“No-lose socialism” thrives in Illinois while governor clear-cuts state Illinois now has the highest unemployment rate in the country. We are the only state going into its second year without a budget, and that means more layoffs and hiring freezes…
Newspapers should be about more than profit Corporate greed has just found a new partner – GateHouse Media. In the April issue of the Community Word, one of the lead stories was headlined: “GateHouse to Peoria Newsroom: You Don’t Deserve…
Revised sex ed curriculum tackles Peoria’s Third-World teen pregnancy rates BY JOYCE HARANT Three zip codes in Peoria have teen birth rates similar to those in developing countries. Those same zip codes, 61603, 61604 and 61605, have rates of sexually…
Hollywood Gone Godless Hollywood. A place of glamor and lights. A place where you can be on top one moment and unknown the next. An exclusive place of the beautiful, the rich and the powerful. The history of Hollywood is…
Summer Odds and Ends With summer in full swing, there are so many things going on that I have a hard time concentrating on one topic. So here’s an opportunity to catch up on some of the area’s latest nature…
Wisdom, much to the disappointment of many, is not available in liquid or pill form, osmosis, or any type of absorption. It’s acquired through knowledge and experience. The former is time-consuming, the latter often painful. Perhaps that’s why many lose…
July Fourth is the day thousands visit our community to enjoy our annual Fourth of July parade and flag raising ceremony. This is the longest-running celebration in central Illinois of our country’s birthday. Gatherings are held both pre- and post-parade…
Greater Peoria Mass Transit District (GPMT) CityLink has been installing new bus shelters throughout the transit district for the past two years. CityLink wanted to improve passenger safety and increase bus stop visibility. In 2014, CityLink obtained the new solar-powered,…
The absolute horror of June 12 has been branded into the American consciousness. The massacre at a nightclub in Orlando is the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. Following the rampage, tempers are flaring, fingers are pointing and the verbiage…
Peoria Players closed its season with an excellent production of the rock musical “Rent” directed by Deric Kimler. The late composer and lyricist, Jonathan Larson, adapted Puccini’s popular opera “La Boheme” into the 1990s avant-garde scene on Manhattan’s Lower East…
MUSIC July 1: Preston Jackson and Friends. 8 p.m. Rhythm Kitchen Music Café. 676-9668. July 1: The Brazilionaires “Live at the Five Spot.” 5:30 p.m. Contemporary Art Center. 674-6822. July 1-4: Red, White, and BOOM Weekend! Peoria Riverfront. Friday –…
Outside of the Frame Photographers pull an image from the river of time. The result is photograph of one instant and one point of view from a 360-degree world. The skill of the photographer is knowing which moment and angle…
Illinois Fire Fighters back bill to end frivolous lawsuits. The Illinois Association of Fire Fighters is backing legislation to end frivolous lawsuits against first responders. SB1070 would restore the state’s “public-duty” rule – letting first responders prioritize resources without fear…
Do you have extra pounds? A low-calorie diet may not be best option If you would like to lose weight, the most common advice is to eat fewer calories and exercise. Unfortunately, 97 percent of people who lose weight gain…
Golda Ewalt and her husband Bob Streitmatter have been awarded the 2016 “Pillar of the West Bluff” award in recognition of their work with University East Neighborhood Association and for promoting the West Main Street corridor. Ewalt is director of…
