September 2010
S M T W T F S
« Aug    
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  

Follow PeoriaChronicle on Twitter

Recent Comments

  • Boblee: Last year at Peoria High, we were squished on those bleachers like sardines. People talked and screamed...
  • The Mouse: Anyone willing to bet against Martin’s prediction? If so, I’ll take that bet!
  • Jon: No, Sharon, I’m not paid by D150 or the charter school. I do appreciate your example of the diffculties in...
  • Sharon assumes: that Jon is paid for PR by the charter school or district 150, so are we to assume she is paid for PR...
  • Sharon Crews: Jon, I erred in declaring a reason why these young people left the charter school–I do not know...
  • Jon: Charlie – I’m know at least one person for whom I’m pretty sure English takes much less effort...
  • Mahkno: At least when it dies, a bunch of County Board members will be on record for endorsing the bait n switch and...
  • Martin Palmer: You wonder.What a hoot! Other than Merle possably 2nd it it will die a quick death.
  • Sharon Crews: Emerge, the “if your school is a failing school”–lots of luck in trying to get a...
  • daveadams: Thanks Jon for digging up the numbers for the surrounding districts. Peoria’s growth in costs is...
  • Frustrated: Sorry Charlie – but science and math in the higher MS grades and HS require more effor for most...
  • charlie: “May(be) some (are)leaving Quest because the study of math and science involved a lot of...
  • EmergePeoria: … and if people are “fleeing” the charter school because of the math and science,...
  • maddy: Perhaps the city could arrange for Park ‘n Ride service from the respective high school parking lots for...
  • EmergePeoria: Sharon: If the school in your attendance area is a failing school, you have a choice to go to other...

MLB Standings

Categories

Orange Prairie Road extension: State-funded sprawl

On Thursday night (7/15), the City of Peoria hosted an open house for the Orange Prairie Road Extension project. They distributed a handout which you can see by clicking here (PDF).

The first question to ask is: Why are we building a new road in the middle of a cornfield on the northwest end [...]

Illinois’ budget woes catch the attention of the New York Times

Illinois is so bad that even the New York Times is taking notice.

For the last few years, California stood more or less unchallenged as a symbol of the fiscal collapse of states during the recession. Now Illinois has shouldered to the fore, as its dysfunctional political class refuses to pay the state’s bills and refuses to [...]

Quinn says time limits on campaign signs violate free speech

Following up my last post, I ran across this press release from Governor Quinn’s office explaining his support for HB 3785:

Governor Quinn Signs Legislation Protecting Free Speech in Illinois
Municipalities Cannot Restrict Political Signs on Residential Properties

CHICAGO – June 3, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today signed a bill into law that prevents municipalities throughout Illinois from restricting [...]

State eliminates time limits for campaign signs

Roof-top signs, “floppy-man” signs, and temporary banners were just some of the signs discussed at Tuesday’s Sign Review Committee meeting. But one thing the committee can do little about is political signs.

A new Illinois law set to take effect January 1, 2011, limits the city’s home rule authority to limit how long political signs [...]

Hotel news recap

There were a couple of hotel-related news items over the weekend:

Gov. Quinn approved tax credits for the Wonderful Development. Incidentally, the Journal Star reported the bill number as SB2535, but it’s actually SB2534. The gist of Quinn’s comments was that these tax credits will help provide jobs for union workers, and that will spur economic [...]

Come watch the rich get richer

From my inbox, this notification from the City Clerk’s office:

WE HAVE JUST BEEN ADVISED AND YOU ARE HEREBY NOTICED THAT A MAJORITY OF A QUORUM OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, HAVE BEEN INVITED AND MAY ATTEND TO WITNESS ILLINOIS [GOVERNOR] PAT QUINN SIGN THE HISTORIC TAX CREDIT FOR THE PROPOSED HOTEL PROJECT ON MAIN [...]

“Raise my taxes!” the people cried

I never thought I’d see the day that I’d read this in the paper: “…the crowd turned to face the Capitol and shouted ‘Raise my taxes.’”

A rally of 15,000 people from throughout the state roared in anger and frustration outside the state Capitol on Wednesday, protesting budget cuts affecting education and social services…. Sen. Dave Koehler, [...]

Note to D150 employees: Illinois offers whistleblower protection

Another potential scandal at District 150 was revealed last week by the WEEK-TV news team:

Sources tell us district 150 security this week was notified of employees possibly selling District 150 computers illegally over the Internet.

Those sources say there was a raid at the district’s Ricketts Center and several shredders and computer hard drives were confiscated.

Meanwhile, the [...]

Civic leaders line up to tout Wonderful Development

I regret that I couldn’t make it to the Illinois Finance Authority’s public hearing on Tuesday regarding the Wonderful Development (i.e., the proposed downtown Marriott hotel project). It looks like I would have been the only dissenting voice. The Journal Star reports that “Every person who publicly spoke before the authority was in favor [...]

Koehler wants do-nothing job

State Sen. Dave Koehler has applied for the job of Lieutenant Governor of Illinois. The Lieutenant Governor of Illinois has no significant purpose or duties, and lawmakers are considering eliminating the position completely. At least one Lieutenant Governor has resigned due to boredom. So… I’m not sure what Koehler sees in the position, [...]