Today’s News: No surprises
Links via the Journal Star:
- To the surprise of no one, OSF Health Plans has been old. The new owner will be Humana Inc. This sale was mentioned back when the city was deciding who employees’ health care provider would be. The decision to pick OSF over rival Methodist saved the city millions of dollars. Employees seemed to prefer Methodist, not that I blame them. But if Methodist wants to steal the contract back, let them make a better offer.
- Pam Adams also doesn’t think much of the criticism being leveled at Barack Obama because of his former pastor’s rhetoric. And she scoffs at the idea that Obama got where he is today because he’s black. To be sure, he’s getting some votes from black people because he’s black. But he got here because he’s smart and one hell of a speaker.
- I’m trying to think of another word for Jim Stowell’s plan to make community service mandatory for Peoria Scholol District 150 students. Oh, yeah: “slavery.” Please. I was a member of the Key Club and other student organizatiosn and did my share of stuff for charity. I would have done none of it had “community service” been required.
- A crane accident killed a Keystone employee.
- Don’t worry, Rolling Acres residents, most murders will continue to happen in Peoria’s ghetto neighborhoods. Now, who is going to assure residents of neighborhoods south of Forrest Hill?
- Two judges have swapped assignments because one of them is involved in a lawsuit here in Peoria over whether bad tires caused the death of his son, who happened to be driving drunk at the time. This is the same judge who was being talked up as a potential candidate for Congress.
- Here are some Peoria County indictments, including a pair who allegedly stole money from an elderly neighbor. See if your friends, family, neighbors or co-workers are on the list.
- Stopping short of a complete withdrawal, Congressional candidate Colleen Callahan wants a time line for an orderly withdrawal from Iraq. Basically, she wants Iraqis made responsible for Iraq. Unlike opponent Aaron Schock, who opposes a time line, Callahan has actually been to Iraq. Maybe Schock gets his advice on Iraq from the same people he gets advice on nuclear disarmament.
- I, too, share a reluctance to turn Constitution Park over to condo development. I think once land has been set aside as a park, it needs to remain just that: Green space that’s open to everyone. Now, if they want to rip out Taft Homes and replace it with condos, more power to them. All subsidized public housing has done is institutionalize poverty and make it more expensive for working people to afford a place to live. If public housing was about alleviating homelessness, they would let homeless people move into PHA properties.
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
I’m NOT surprised that You would say This, Dennis …” Now, if they want to rip out Taft Homes and replace it with condos, more power to them. ” Worried about losing Your, fancy, car?
Save a barely-used and overrated, ” riverfront park “, but go ahead and demolish the public housing for the poor. I’m sure that area’s, TOO, black for Your white sensibilities! As if THEY would, even, notice that You exist.
“Peoria” — Please read up on how to use commas correctly. Your comments are torturous to read. If you have time, brush up on proper capitalization, too.
No Thanks, C.J. Given YOUR own Peoria Chronicle posts, YOU are in no position to comment about grammatical and punctuation errors!
What’s the matter C.J? Did I strike a, racist, nerve when I criticized Your friend?
… Sitting back, munching popcorn, enjoying the show …