Gordon-Booth to host I-Cash day

State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, will team up with the Office of the Illinois State Treasurer on Monday, April 29, for an I-Cash Day at various locations throughout the area.

This event had been rescheduled due to adverse winter weather conditions.

"Illinois banks and businesses are required to turn over any unclaimed...

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Movie review: Go see "Zero Dark Thirty"

(10 stars)

(157 minutes, Rated R for graphic violence, war scenes, torture scenes, and language)

The cloud of controversy that "Zero Dark Thirty" generated during its national release last weekend has regrettably pulled focus away from where it should be — on an outstanding piece of filmmaking.

Sadly, this misplaced attention is grossly unfounded. Casual filmgoers, movie...

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Knight: Let the people vote

The April 9 election had a low turnout – 12.3 percent in the city of Peoria, 15.68 percent in the county, and an overall 13.6 percent figure – but that doesn't mean Americans think voting is unimportant.

Some apparently think voting is so important, they're trying to limit it.

In...

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Yellow Dot program can save lives

Information critical in 'golden hour' of treatment

The Yellow Dot program rolled out for 2012 by the Illinois Department of Transportation focused on seniors because they often have health issues that first responders need to know in case of an accident.

But that kind of information can be critical regardless of the age of an accident victim, so IDOT is expanding the program for all drivers and passengers.

It's...

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Bustos uses information from tour for student loan legislation

Cheri Bustos came away from a tour of community colleges in west-central Illinois pleased with the attention those schools are giving to filling job skills needs in the region.

But the new Democrat U.S. Representative for the 17th District also recognized areas where she can help build and sustain momentum and pledged to do so, she said Tuesday as she prepared to head back to Washington, D.C.

She fulfilled the pledge upon her return...

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Movie review: "Lincoln" a must-see film

(150 minutes, Rated PG-13 for graphic violence and imagery.)

(9 stars out of 10)

Steven Spielberg was once quoted, "Every time I go to the movies, it's magic, no matter what the movie is about."

No other filmmaker today is as beloved as Spielberg. He is the only director with five movies in the American Film Institute's List of "100 Best Movies of All-Time" (Can you name them?  They are: "Raiders...

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Wildlife Prairie bill passes out of State House, onto the Senate

Legislation that would put Wildlife Prairie State Park back into private ownership was approved by the Illinoise House of Representatives on Friday, announced State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, the bill's chief sponsor.

Specifically, adoption of the bill by the General Assembly would allow the Friends of Wildlife Prairie...

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Movie review: "Argo" is worth seeing

Just when you thought good, original filmmaking was dead in Hollywood, a film like "Argo" appears and restores your faith, however temporarily, in American moviemakers.

This movie proffers all those elements that make a movie great: historically based suspense (some say the best stories are those you cannot make up), comedy splashed throughout, terrific, understated acting, dramatic cinematography and crisp writing. "Argo" is a welcome...

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LaHood column: Illinois Senate 'finally' getting serious about pension reform

This week, the Illinois Senate finally seemed to get serious about the pension funding crisis. The perception of getting serious and the reality of being serious are two separate issues; however, a small step was taken.

Senate Bills 1 and 35 were acted on by our chamber, with mixed results. I joined with my colleagues on both sides...

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Don't feed us animals!

I don't doubt that a couple conventioneers in Tampa threw peanuts at a CNN camerawoman the other day. There is no reason for the woman or other witnesses to lie about it.

I do, however, wonder if it was racially motivated because the camera operator, Patricia Carroll, is African American or if it was an attack on journalists in general.

One of the peanut throwers said "This is how we feed the animals." Well, ya know, journalists...

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Peoria will host regional neighborhood conference

Peoria will be the focal point for 22 Midwestern cities and more than 400 of their representatives in September when it hosts the 2013 Regional Neighborhood Network Conference.

The conference, which represents a coalition of big and small cities such as Cincinnati, Indianapolis and last year's...

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Literarea Review: "James Madison and the Making of America"

The TV show doesn't give me enough airtime and I can't wait for the next magazine to come out so I decided to post a new literary review anyway. You're welcome!

James Madison and the Making of America
By Kevin R.C. Gutzman

As...

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Time to learn about Affordable Care Act

Recognizing the difficulty in knowing all the ins and outs of the Affordable Care Act, especially since it is constantly in motion as its implementation nears, the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce is giving area business owners and leaders a chance learn.

Even though implementation is almost more than nine...

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Nominee: Carl Cannon

Local Not for Profit: Peoria Public Schools Foundation

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A two-way street

Carl Cannon strives to make...

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Bustos column: Why sequestration is wrong

In just a matter of days, deep across-the-board budget cuts that were designed to be so painful that they would never see the light of day are set to kick-in.  These cuts, also known as sequestration, could deal a big blow to the economy of our region and lead to job losses. 

That is...

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Nominee: Bonnie Noble

Local Not for Profit: Peoria PlayHouse Children's Museum

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A natural fit

Bonnie Noble’s vision for...

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Bustos to open Peoria office

U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, the new Democrat congresswoman from the 17th District, will open her Peoria office at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 23.

The office is in the Strong Business Center at 3100 N. Knoxville Ave., Suite 205.

Bustos, who defeated incumbent Republican Bobby Schilling in November to return the...

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Nominee: Dr. Jasti Rao

Local Not for Profit: The Children's Hospital of Illinois

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Doing research to save lives

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