By Herman Brockman OpEd Two Arctic apple varieties have been in the news recently because of their “approval” by the USDA and FDA. “Approval” is commonly used in the media, but the reality is that the USDA “deregulated” these Arctic…
Racism and Inequality in America
Inequality is poisoning the American dream. As economic inequality grows, expanding geographic areas of this country lose hope. Hopelessness destroys democracy and poisons faith in the judicial system. Right now, faith in the American judicial system is paper thin: Trayvon…
DISTRICT 150 SINGS
Anyone with a brain knows the board and administration of School District 150 is dysfunctional. Too many of their decisions are so ridiculous one has to laugh. I’m still laughing after listening to a jingle produced for the school district…
Lift the ban on public housing for people with non-violent criminal convictions
Hedy Elliott Gardner OpEd All across the country people struggle to find affordable housing. People who are low income or on a fixed income find it especially challenging. The demand is driving the cost up so high that there is…
Save the Monarchs
By Bonnie Cox The monarch butterfly, state of Illinois insect, is in danger of extinction. Their population is down by 90 percent in the overwintering grounds of Mexico. Some believe the monarch will share the history of the passenger pigeon.…
Reflections from the Clergy BY RABBI DANIEL BOGARD AND RABBI KAREN BOGARD
As an American Jew–particularly as one who wears a kippah [a Jewish ritual head-covering]–I have a complicated relationship to white privilege. Like many Jews, at some level I don’t feel white; for 2,000 years or so Jews have been living…
No Turning Back
On a summer collecting trip in Northern Illinois, a botanist made “a most remarkable find” near Lake Calumet in Cook County. No, it wasn’t gold or platinum . . . . It was something far more rare. A diminutive flower…
Serendipity
Fatherhood is a wonderful reality. Its rewards are many and designed to last a lifetime. Challenges are also included as children’s behaviors and attitudes can change dramatically causing concerns about parenting joys. Not every man aspires to being a father…
West Peoria News
The West Peoria Residents’ Association is sponsoring the 18th Annual Jamboree Run Saturday, June 6 at the corner of Heading and Sterling avenues. The 4-mile run, 1-mile fitness walk, also features Children’s Fun after the race ends for children 5…
Arts Beat
MUSIC May 31-June 7: Peoria Bach Festival. [times vary.] Trinity Lutheran Church. 676-4609. June 2: Kid Ink. 7 p.m. Limelight Eventplex. 693-1234. June 3: John Mellencamp. 7:30 p.m. Peoria Civic Center Theater. 673-8900. June 5: Rob Juice and the Bad…
Flying fish fundraiser benefits Labor Temple
Reprinted courtesy of The Labor Paper The 2nd annual Flying Fish Festival and Bowfishing Tournament has been scheduled for Saturday July 11 at Bass Pro Shops in East Peoria. The event will include a bow-fishing tournament from 5 a.m.…
The Magnificent Invalid
Peoria Players closed its season with the 1955 TONY award winner “Damn Yankees.” The musical is a fable involving the hapless Washington Senators ball club who are, it seems, a worse club than the hapless “Cubbies.” The action begins with…
The Ripple Effect
In November 2009, a pebble was tossed into the art pool of Central Illinois. That’s when Rocco Landesman, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, visited Peoria and challenged us to work together as a community to see how…
Neighborhood Notes
Peorians will take part in the Citizen Police Academy starting this month, when residents will meet from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday from June 3-July 29 to get a better understanding of police operations and to provide a forum for police officers…
Labor Roundup
Union leaders, lawmakers, mayors unveil progressive agenda. Saying “We need to reward work, not wealth,” a group of labor leaders, legislators and big-city mayors unveiled a massive grass-roots campaign for “A Progressive Agenda” to attack income inequality and allied issues.…
Environmental News Briefs
Mother Jones: Bird flu is slamming factory farms but sparing backyard flocks. Why? Avian flu is spreading among commercial egg and turkey farms and has killed 36 million birds mostly in Iowa and surrounding states. Scientists can’t explain why this…
Do Coal Power Plants Kill?
Smoke billows from a coal fired power plant. Does this pose a danger to your health? The evidence is yes. A terawatt of power generated by burning coal is estimated to produce 24.5 deaths, 225 serious illnesses and 13,288 minor…
Peoria safer than Springfield, Rockford Crime stats can’t tell whole story
TV news audiences understandably could conclude mayhem rules, but that’s a flawed impression. Broadcasters can decide “if it bleeds, it leads” newscasts because people care, or it’s usually cheap and easy (officials comment; there aren’t “pro-crime” lobbyists or advertisers to…
ENVIRONMENTALISTS ALARMED AT LACK OF PUBLIC NOTIFICATION FOLLOWING CRASH THAT SENT COAL FLY ASH BILLOWING OVER CARS, WORKERS AND NEARBY HOMES
The Illinois EPA was not notified about a crash on Route 29 north of Peoria that resulted in coal fly ash spilling over the highway. Two southbound lanes of the road were closed for hours during a cleanup operation involving…