Between now and Sept. 10, when the special election for the 18th Congressional seat will be decided, candidates Darin LaHood and Rob Mellon will be campaigning throughout the 19 downstate counties. In the low-turnout July 7 primary, LaHood won…
Fight for 15 is anathema to corporations myopically driven by profit margin and to conservatives who think almost half of us are “takers” not producers, a belief stated by Mitt Romney with his famous “47 percent” comment. Now, Jeb…
Why are Peoria city bonds being used to pay for a dead-end street that will destroy 1.1 acres of tallgrass prairie and hundreds of trees? These TIF funded bonds also pay for parking lots and bases for four, four-story proposed…
BY JACK RYAN If you have driven through the new bottleneck intersection of West Main and University between noon and 1 p.m. on any Saturday, you’ve undoubtedly noticed people on the Starbucks corner holding signs protesting war. Usually, one sign…
From sundown on Saturday, July 25 until the evening of July 26 Jews around the world observe our national day of mourning, Tisha B’av. This day commemorates the destructions of both the first and second Jewish commonwealths (in 586 BCE…
Seven weeks and counting. Who would have thought that the Illinois River would be above flood stage for so long in June and July? Normally, I make a weekly stop at a few of the birding hotspots to keep track…
Friendships form in various ways, characterized by respect, affection and loyalty. Longevity isn’t promised but should be celebrated if it happens. Which is how it is with my dear friend, Marie (Joseph) Unes. We attended the same high school,…
It was a perfect Independence Day for the 45th Annual West Peoria Fourth of July Parade. Neighbors, friends and visitors gathered on the sidewalks making a mosaic of red, white and blue while waiting to enjoy the longest running…
The League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria invites the public to attend a discussion of “Money in Politics” at 6 p.m. Aug. 26 at Advanced Medical Transport, 1718 N. Sterling. Topics for discussion will include “dark money,” “PAC’s” vs…
“Lights, camera, action!” is how many think of a film director, but put yourself in Aaron Warr’s place and that image might change. His film, “College Debts,” will have its world premiere right here in River City 7 p.m. Aug.…
Stage highlights for the next few weeks: MUSIC July 31: Nathan Taylor and Friends. 8 p.m. Rhythm Kitchen Music Café. 676-9668. Aug. 1: Blues Expression. 8 p.m. Rhythm Kitchen Music Café. 676-9668. Aug. 2: Peoria Municipal Band, with percussion soloist…
Artists are creators. They are always making things, dreaming new ideas, and looking at the world differently. The works of visual artists stand out when displayed on a wall or as sculpture in galleries, museums or First Friday venues. Performance…
UAW targeting automakers’ two-tier wages. Abolition of the two-tier wage system at the “Detroit 3” car companies, raising all workers to the top scale, seems to be the top bargaining goal of the United Auto Workers in opening talks with…
‘Night Out Against Crime’ Aug. 4. Peoria’s registered neighborhood associations are working on taking part in the Aug. 4 National Night Out Against crime in their areas. “The purpose of Night Out is to promote neighborhood safety by hosting a…
Prediabetes is a major problem, affecting one-third of all adults in the United States. A preventive program can cut the risk of developing diabetes by half. Although medications can help some people with prediabetes, they are not recommended for most…
Dark underside of the Monsanto bid to buy Syngenta When agrichemical giant Monsanto, headquartered in St. Louis, made a $45 billion takeover bid to buy Syngenta, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, it seemed like a chemical tsunami. Between sales of…
Protesters shouted objections outside a payday loan store in Campustown when they were told Peoria has six times more payday loan stores per capita than Chicago. Organizers of the protest rally from Illinois People’s Action told the group that…
For more than 70 years, GED was synonymous with “second chance.” The high school equivalency degree provided an opportunity for thousands of school dropouts to regain their footing. With a GED, people could get better jobs, access to union apprenticeship…
Power brokers or power vacuum? BY BILL KNIGHT The increasing vibrancy of the Warehouse District is seen when crowds hear the Peoria Municipal Band play on Water Street, and the livelier downtown is showcased in Caterpillar’s Visitors Center or the…
BY CLARE HOWARD Les Cohen firmly believes part of the solution to Peoria’s combined sewer overflow problem lies in rethinking the notion of parking lot. He recently replaced the old asphalt lot at his building at 428 SW Washington St.…
