This summer’s series marks 88 years of playing for the public
Straight Talk: ‘Non-partisan’ party politics here in Peoria
Mayor Rita Ali scores big victory for Democrats; could party affiliation have helped or hurt others? Celebrating Caterpillar, like Bradley baseball, bittersweet
Arts Alerts: Paint the Path artwork at Five Points; Grease at Peoria Players; 9 to 5: The Musical at Cornstock
Peoria Area Civic Chorale presents “Sing On!” at Five Points Washington; Bradley’s Dingeldine Music Center will be shaking with five events May 2-5; Cousin Eddie performs May 23 at the Contemporary Art Center for “Live at the Five Spot.” The Peoria International Choir will perform at First Christian Church. Vocalist Stephanie Aaron is at Trailside Event Center for the Central Illinois Jazz Society’s monthly production.
Arts Alerts: Screens
“Four Seasons” is a star-studded series about three couples on Netflix. “Thunderbolts” might be Marvel mimicking DC’s “Suicide Squad,” but its cast and transitional place in the MCU makes for eccentric anti-heroes; “Hummingbirds of Hollywood” is an episode of “Nature” on PBS, focusing on a woman who cares for injured hummingbirds in the heart of Hollywood
Inland Art: After Before
Colorful exhibition at MUSE Gallery evolved into a new experience for artist and patrons alike as Kelly Scarfe gets on with her life
‘Rivers and Watersheds’ this year’s theme for Sun Foundation Clean Water Celebration
32nd annual interactive event scheduled from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday, April 28 at the Peoria Civic Center is for students grades 4-12 and their teachers and the community as a whole
A look back at Big Birthday Bash when Peoria County turned 100
City celebrated with huge parade stretching six miles long a century ago this September. And now, Peoria County gearing up for its Bicentennial celebration
These cars at Riverfront Museum are Artistically Built
Co-curators Darius Donaldson and Farai Kasambira discuss tricked-out autos and their exhibit “Built: American Custom Car Culture” on display at the Peoria Riverfront Museum
Labor roundup: Barnes & Noble workers negotiate deal; Teamsters settle with state
Illinois service workers ‘under attack’ by Chicago teachers; AFL-CIO braces for DOGE; AFL-CIO launches ‘Dept. of People Who Work for A Living’ — News briefs courtesy of The Labor Paper
Fully invested: Jim Shadid brings ‘Bradley DNA’ atop The Hilltop
Federal judge talks to WCBU about his history with Bradley University and the opportunity he has to lead the institution through trying times on campus. ‘It launched me into the life that I’ve been fortunate enough to have. So, I’m very interested in doing everything in my power to meet the expectations that people have.’
Xavier Jackson: How has our world become so crazy?
Society has pitted the humble and honest vs. the arrogant and crooked. The working class has become the latest cash cow of the ultra rich, and working-class life increasingly resembles pushing molasses up a sandy hill in winter.
Emily Gill: Executive order cannot nix birthright citizenship
Most undocumented immigrants have been hard-working residents of the U.S. for years. Without Birthright Citizenshiip, their U.S.-born children would become stateless persons, with no rights because no government would be obligated to protect them. As the political philosopher Hannah Arendt wrote, citizenship is ‘the right to have rights.’
Bill Knight: ‘Other’ migration has actually not been out of Illinois, but in
Revised data shows that’s there’s actually been an increase in population in the state despite what ‘conservatives’ tell you. The population in Illinois has been stable. In fact, 200,000 taxpayers have been added in the last decade
Isn’t everyone adaptive? Don’t underestimate those with disabilities
Disability access remains one of the biggest yet most overlooked issues in modern society. It is important to us all. That’s why we believe the term ‘adaptive’ is a better way to describe individuals with disabilities — they continually adjust and find ways to thrive in their environments.
Bill Knight: Our country is caught in a numbers crunch
With markets in flux (which is a huge understatement these three weeks since press time), polling flies in face of some ‘mandate’ concocted by those who are in power now. The American people aren’t the ones who are unhinged.
The Watch: Area officials are addressing all of the federal funding freezes
Peoria County approves mini-storage facility at Madison Park Kroger; City Council, Dunlap School District 323, Springdale Cemetery discuss shortfalls
LWVGP observers attend and report on local government meetings.
The Watch: Landfill Committee discusses new #3
Landfill #2 waste receipts are being limited as much as possible in an effort to help extend the time until Landfill #2 is filled, which is estimated at late spring. Waste receipts for January were 6,000 tons less than last year.
The Watch: Peoria County Election Commission sent out 20K ballots
There were 265 different ballot styles in Peoria County for the April 1 election. Vote-by-mail voters can follow their ballots with Ballot Trax after signing up online.
West Peoria News: Security cams heighten safety for our community
City Administrator Kinga Krider speaks to residents at informative meeting covering key topics such as safety initiatives, upcoming events, and local infrastructure updates. And she reminded them about grant program to install home systems; send in your historical photos
Enviromental Calendar for April and May, 2025
A look at events around central Illinois to help raise awareness and protect our planet. All events free unless specified. Contact information for groups with multiple listings included with first event only. Several events encourage pre-registration.
Arts Alerts: ‘Birds of a Feather’ on display at Library; ‘Harvey’ at Shore Acres; Tambora, Nathan Taylor & Friends at CAC
“Diamond of the Season Ball” at Wildlife Prairie Park; ‘Almost, Maine’ at ICC Theater; “Tapestries of Innovation” exhibition is at Contemporary Art Center; Louis CK performing at Jukebox