Category Archives: Local News

New zero-emission bus plant to open in Peoria area; create 90 jobs

New zero-emission bus plant to open in Peoria area; create 90 jobs

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Gov. JB Pritzker said a zero-emission electric bus company will open a manufacturing plant in the Greater Peoria Area — the first for the company within the country — that will create 90 jobs. Damera Corporation, a Canadian transit solutions provider, plans to open its first U.S. assembly plant and invest more than…MORE

What Trump’s cuts to federal climate research could mean for Illinois

What Trump’s cuts to federal climate research could mean for Illinois

By ISABELLA SCHOONOVERMedill Illinois News [email protected] CHICAGO — The Trump administration took the unprecedented step of halting work on the next National Climate Assessment last week, dismissing all 400 volunteer scientists who were tasked with writing the new version of the report. Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford was among those dismissed in his volunteer capacity…MORE

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…