No livestock, no carnival, no nothing; plus what’s next for Expo Gardens with City Council playing realtor again? And how about those Sutters
Straight Talk: Embarrassing — our fair has no heart
Sky Art announces winning artists for 2025
Jaton Sales (“Reflected in Youth”) and Jack Couri (“Jungle Dusk”) will have their artwork transformed into vinyl wraps displayed on the brick walls of the Skylight Lobby at the Peoria Civic Center
The Watch: Peoria County Board meets at the jail to discuss overdue renovations
Fixes could cost $20M to $31M; rebuilding would be quarter billion; Election Commission talks pay raises; City Council approves licenses; plus updates from GPSD, Springdale Cemetery, Airport Authority
The Watch: Tri-County Regional Planners adopt safety plan: Zero Fatalities
This will guide highway management policy and road design, aiming to eliminate traffic deaths by 2050
The Watch: Dunlap pulls off land swap for athletic facility
School leaders made a deal with a local farmer to gain additional ground to extend the building site. The $8.5 million center is being built on the corner of Cedar Hills Dr. and Legion Hall Road
An open invitation to learn a lot with OLLI at Bradley
Ice cream social Aug. 6 at BU student center, Titanic talk with Dr. Robert Ballard on Sept. 26 at RIverfront Museum two free events to promote Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
Aug. 22 court date for insurer’s lawsuit over WTVP scandal
Former exec Linda McLaughlin, who is accused of financial malfeasants that was discovered in 2023, seeks to dismiss case
Black Panther plaque puts Peoria on map
Late Mark Clark, who helped start a local chapter and a free breakfast program in Peoria, honored at Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church
Arts Alerts: ‘A Few Good Men,’ ‘Frozen the Musical,’ ‘Beetlejuice, Jr.,’ ‘Oklahoma!’ at local theaters
Whisper and Shout: Open mic night, Country Rock Classics: A Weekend Honoring CCR and the Eagles, Garage Band Open Stage,
Wildlife Prairie Park has its ‘Wild Nights/Wildfire Concerts’ and Pour Bros.’ Courtyard Concerts continue
CAT-ASTROPHES: A century of Caterpillar has a dark underbelly for central Illinois and the world
According to the UN report: “Since October 2023, Caterpillar equipment has been documented in use carrying out mass demolitions … and crushing Palestinians to death.” And Cat arguably went to war against its own union employees long ago.
Inland Art: Reverie of Nicholas Africano
Master of materiality, local artist from Normal reaches out and touches viewers of his unique art
WCBU: Former and current professors suing Bradley University over cuts
Lawsuit claims university violated its handbook, breaching contracts
Labor roundup: Labor Day parade moving to West Peoria
Carle Health announces 612 layoffs; Trump Defense Department renaming ships that recognize labor leaders; veterans group blast cuts
Peoria County Bicentennial: ‘One of the prettiest cities in America’
Construction of Peoria County Courthouse illustrated ‘modern’ makeover for the city and Ladybird Johnson was most impressed at the dedication in 1965
Letters: Trump, GOP should be ashamed, but they’re not
Donald Trump is a narcissist. He cannot be shamed, he does not know right from wrong. So it is not Trump to be condemned, but whoever carries out his plans, his wishes, his self aggrandizement, his violation of the Constitution.
Nature Rambles: Subshrubs, Leadplant case in point
Unique species’ symbiotic relationship with Earth creates cross between shrub and herbaceous plant
Screens: Check out what you can see by pointing and clicking this month
‘Human Footprint’ series will address the notion of ‘The Enemy of My Enemy …,’ on PBS; ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ anime manga series and ‘The Gringo Hunters’ are on Netflix; ‘Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story’ is a documentary about the iconic 1975 Spielberg film on National Geographic; ‘Washington Black’ tracks adventures of George Washington “Wash” Black on a Barbados plantation on Hulu
Be calm: Paint cows
Need a break from current events? Enjoy the playful ‘Cows in the Gallery’ this month at the Peoria Art Guild
Giants of our planet
You can learn a lot about Sauropods, the Earth’s ‘Largest Dinosaurs,’ at interactive exhibit at Riverfront Museum
The Watch: Peoria County Board approves solar farm in Kickapoo
Deal with Ameren to power 420 homes; Dunlap school board expanding construction on prep training facility; plus updates from City Council, Tri-County Regional Planning and Airport Authority
League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria observers attend and report on local government meetings.
The Watch: Air travel at Gen. Wayne A. Downing up, but consumer confidence in safety waning
Director of Airports Gene Olson noted that REAL ID deadline was May 7 and longer wait times are anticipated.
The Watch: ICC Board of Trustees works to provide housing for students
The ICC Foundation, along with the school’s administration, closed the student housing near the East Peoria campus without consulting the Board of Trustees.