John Lewis: Peace inspires positive change
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- Published on Saturday, 12 April 2014 03:39
- Written by Kerri Rae Hinman
By Kerri Rae Hinman
John Lewis has been arrested, beaten and nearly killed in the name of peace. But the Congressman from Georgia refuses to be bitter, for that would get in the way of loving his fellow man, his preferred way of living.
Quoting his good friend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Lewis said that “Hate is...
Koehler bill would provide tornado relief
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- Published on Thursday, 10 April 2014 18:11
- Written by Paul Gordon
A bill that would assist cleanup efforts of those who were victims of the Nov. 17 tornado that ripped through central Illinois has passed the Illinois Senate and is now in the House.
The bill, proposed by State Sen. David Koehler, D-Peoria, would allow the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to reimbursement local...
LaHood named Distinguished Fellow at IPL, Bradley University
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- Published on Wednesday, 21 August 2013 15:47
- Written by Paul Gordon
Ray LaHood, who served on President Barack Obama's cabinet after 14 years representing Peoria in Congress, was named the first Honorary Senior Distinguished Fellow for the Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service at Bradley University.
LaHood, who recently stepped down as U.S. Secretary of Transportation, was the first Bradley graduate and first...
Quinn cites need for more infrastructure work
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- Published on Tuesday, 08 April 2014 18:22
- Written by Paul Gordon
Much has been done toward infrastructure improvements in Illinois during the last five years, Gov. Pat Quinn said Tuesday. But he said the last thing the state should do now is rest on its laurels.
“We have done a lot in the last five years and we want to do much more in the next five years,” said Quinn, who plans to appoint a bipartisan...
Rated PG: Sandberg didn't fit into one category
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- Published on Monday, 22 July 2013 16:56
- Written by Paul Gordon
I like it that people are, for the most part, being honest about Gary Sandberg when talking about him after his passing last week.
Often a person becomes different in death than he or she was in life and people gloss over their controversial times. Few are doing that in this case; considering Sandberg's controversies were played...
Bustos: Compromise was needed to get Farm Bill passed
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- Published on Thursday, 06 February 2014 18:33
- Written by Paul Gordon
While the new federal Farm Bill doesn't contain everything for everybody, it is still one that will bring some certainty to farmers for the next five years, U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-17, said Friday.
Bustos, speaking to about 50 farmers at an event at the Peoria County Farm Bureau on the day the new Farm Bill was signed into law,...
Bustos joins Problem Solvers in introducing legislative package
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- Published on Thursday, 18 July 2013 18:42
- Written by Paul Gordon
U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos on Thursday joined several other members of Congress in introducing bills aimed at bringing bipartisan common sense legislation out of Capital Hill, including one of her own.
The East Moline Democrat introduced the Government Transformation Act, which would reduce waste and duplication in government, as part of...
Bustos introduces new bill to help veterans
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- Published on Wednesday, 04 December 2013 17:43
- Written by The Peorian
Hoping to prevent the expiration of job-creating tax credits, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, D-Moline, introduced legislation on Wednesday that would also expand those tax credits.
Bustos, the first term Democrat representing the 17th District, which includes much of Peoria, introduced the Jobs For Heroes Act that would keep two federal business tax credits set to expire at the end of the year, credits that are designed to spur job creation...
Bustos introduces another Farm Bill in U.S. House
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- Published on Wednesday, 26 June 2013 17:31
- Written by Paul Gordon
Dissatisfied with action taken last week by the U.S. House of Representatives, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos joined two of her Iowa colleagues on Wednesday to introduce another five-year Farm Bill in the House.
But the bill introduced Wednesday by Bustos, the 17th District Democrat from Moline, isn't really a new bill....
Roadway designated to honor Ray LaHood
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- Published on Monday, 04 November 2013 12:50
- Written by Paul Gordon
For Ray LaHood, public service has always meant giving back to the community, doing whatever it takes to make the community better. That's what he tried to do during his 34 year-plus as a public servant.
But, he said Monday, he never expected the community to ever give back to him the way it is doing now.
"I am very humbled by this, to...
Koehler: Natural gas pipelines to be modernized
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- Published on Wednesday, 29 May 2013 15:47
- Written by The Peorian
Natural gas pipelines throughout Illinois will be modernized and thus more safe under legislation approved by the Illinois Senate and sent to the governor for signature.
The Natural Gas Consumer, Safety and Reliability Act, sponsored by State Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, will also create about 1,000 new jobs statewide, including 150 new jobs in central Illinois as Ameren Illinois invests $330 million over the next 10 years to improve its...
Frizzi Toons: On the Wild Side
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- Published on Friday, 01 November 2013 13:22
- Written by Donn Frizzi
LaHood column: East-west route is a win-win!
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- Published on Friday, 24 May 2013 15:57
- Written by State Sen. Darin LaHood, R-Peoria
AMTRAK ridership keeps increasing every year, and Illinois routes lead the nation. We are blessed to have such a vast network of rail services across our state, but we sadly lack a primary passenger rail route that runs east-west across central Illinois.
A route that would stretch from...
Frizzi Toon: We're going buggy!
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- Published on Friday, 25 October 2013 15:00
- Written by Donn Frizzi
Bustos supports Farm Bill from ag committee
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- Published on Thursday, 16 May 2013 15:38
- Written by Paul Gordon
Congresswoman Cheri Bustos said Thursday she believes the proposed five-year Farm Bill sent from the House Agriculture Committee to the House Floor will be helpful to the number one industry in her district.
While that meant compromising on a couple matters she didn't like, Bustos said helping farmers in her 17th District gain certainty, particularly in crop insurance initiatives, was enough to get her vote for approval in committee.
Frizzi Toon: Can you say blood suckers?
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- Published on Tuesday, 22 October 2013 18:53
- Written by Donn Frizzi
Part of I-74 may be renamed to honor LaHood
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- Published on Wednesday, 15 May 2013 17:04
- Written by Paul Gordon
Ray LaHood doesn't believe he deserves any special recognition for his many years of public service, but he nonetheless feels honored by a proposal in the Illinois General Assembly to rename part of Interstate 74 in his honor.
State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, introduced the legislation to rename I-74 from the Murray Baker Bridge to the Sterling Avenue exit the Ray LaHood Highway, a stretch of about six miles. It would honor both...
Frizzi Toon: Happy Halloween from the biggest goblins of all!
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- Published on Thursday, 17 October 2013 18:51
- Written by Donn Frizzi
Gov. Quinn signs bill transferring Wildlife Prairie Park to private ownership
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- Published on Saturday, 11 May 2013 18:20
- Written by Paul Gordon
Looking out over the prairie, it appeared that even the buffalo and deer and those noisy geese had come to watch what was a festive occasion Saturday at Wildlife Prairie Park.
Many of the animals were just below the deck where Gov. Pat Quinn signed the bill officially transferring ownership of the park back into private hands, to the Forest Park Foundation.
Frizzi Toon: Shutdown? What shutdown?
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- Published on Thursday, 03 October 2013 14:31
- Written by The Peorian
Bustos wants to restore Pell grant flexibility
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- Published on Thursday, 09 May 2013 15:26
- Written by Paul Gordon
U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos on Thursday introduced legislation that would return flexibility to college students who rely on Pell grants for tuition assistance.
Bustos, the 17th District Democrat from East Moline, said the bill, which she titled the "Access to Education and Training Act," will allow those students access to Pell grant assistance year-round instead of just during fall and spring semesters.
