Most people don’t think of a prickly thistle as being a rare and desired species. Roadsides are often lined with some type of thistle. Most of these are seen as noxious weeds that are invasive species brought from other continents.…
I met Jan Brandt many years ago when her gallery and studio space was located at the historic Coca-Cola Bottling Plant on Bell Street in Bloomington. I was seeking a new gallery to visit beyond my typical stops in Peoria…
In artist Preston Jackson’s sweeping exhibit “Bronzeville to Harlem: An American Story,” the sculptor tells narratives of American migration and immigration, hope and opportunity, freedom and the struggle for equality through hundreds of small bronze and steel figures, relief sculptures,…
The Peoria area has a history filled with innovation from the first car built by Duryea to the current Natural Fiber Welding. What is perhaps less known are the past Peorians who led the way for equality, equity and understanding…
U.S. Federal Judge Joe Billy McDade spoke at the graduation of the Peoria Park District’s Elite program recently and called for establishment of a student CCC program like one implemented as part of the New Deal during the administration of…
When the annual World Economic Forum draws the wealthy and powerful to Davos, Switzerland, things happen. The 2019 initiation of a 1 trillion tree planting scheme (https://www.1t.org/) – 1t for short – is an example. Does it mean that the…
BY DAVID ZALAZNIK Ben Dwyer died May 26, 2021 of ALS. I don’t remember exactly when Ben and I met. He was a photographer at WMBD-TV for almost 40 years here in Peoria and I started in late November 1989…
When my husband and I were engaged, we often wondered what topics or situations would cause arguments between us. We had read about typical ones: money, in-laws, where to spend Christmas dinner, putting the cap on the toothpaste, how many…
A sincere thank you and appreciation to the West Peorians who volunteered on a hot and humid June 5 to pick up litter in our community. I saw many out doing this clean-up to keep West Peoria clean. For those…
Workers’ Rights Amendment on Illinois ballot next year. A labor-backed Workers’ Rights Constitutional Amendment passed the House in May on a bipartisan 80-30-3 vote. Having earlier passed the Senate 49-7, the amendment is set to go before voters in the…
GALESBURG — Started in 2014 as a student initiative, the one-acre Knox College Farm has blossomed into a chemical-free operation that produced more than 2,300 pounds of food last year used in the school cafeteria and shared with the community.…
BY GARRY MOORE In many cities throughout the country, African Americans will observe Juneteenth–the name given to a unique American occurrence that marked the end of slavery in Texas. It’s also referred to as Black Independence Day (an alternative to…
Renée Mullen is science savvy, and she was totally caught off guard by some totally unscientific public policy. Mullen has a PhD and taught in the science department at Eureka College for years. She has conducted scientific research around the…
Maybe you’ve realized: You’re being robbed. But it’s no burglar; it’s not at gunpoint. Your tips are stolen by your boss, or you regularly work 50 hours a week with no overtime pay, or you’re handed cash at the job…
The In 2018, the Kroger grocery store chain closed two of its Peoria stores in two predominately low-income, African American neighborhoods. Unfortunately, there have been no suitable options to take the place of these stores. The closing of these stores,…
Plans are underway to recognize the only Peoria person to receive a Hollywood Oscar, movie industry’s highest award. Tami Lane, a graduate of Woodruff High School and Bradley University, received the 2005 Academy Award for Best Makeup in the movie…
Illinoisans could spend the summer contemplating the consequences for jobs, climate and the energy industry, feeling hope or disappointment. At press time, it seems as if Illinois lawmakers could put the state on track toward a future of caring for…
The saga of renaming Peoria schools continues, as does the national debate over removing statues of historical figures. Advocates for renaming Peoria schools have been charged with “cancel culture” because they want to correct the myths and fables of American…
BY DALE GOODNER We have a growing dilemma, a potential catastrophe, that is hiding in plain sight. Insect populations all over the world are disappearing. What we are losing are the “good guys,” –– countless beneficial insects, such as bees,…
The pandemic may be abating here. Fallout continues. Peoria Housing Authority met virtually April 5. Jackie Newman, CEO, reported the revamped PHA offices had a soft opening. Staff will assess needs and adjust restrictions as necessary to comply with COVID-19…
Eagerly from Seattle, Wash., I watched her first announcement to run for mayor, reading the Peoria Journal Star, visiting her website — all the time wondering what I could do to ensure that her run was successful and that the…
There are a few special places left in this world. If you are taking a hike in some of the natural areas that we are blessed to have in Central Illinois, you might observe a harbinger of just how special…
