When my commenters write that this most recent scandal at District 150 — in which employees are accused of selling equipment over the Internet — is far more wide reaching than has been reported, they are right.
This is what I hear: The investigation essentially started on Friday. Since then, Interim Superintendent Norm Durflinger has...
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Misc
Stuff that just doesn’t fit anywhere.
‘Stormin’ Norman’ is kicking ass and taking names at District 150
Secretary Ray is a liberal weenie
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood attended something called the “National Bike Summit” and made a big policy announcement:
Today, I want to announce a sea change. People across America who value bicycling should have a voice when it comes to transportation planning. This is the end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized.
We are...
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State Rep. David Leitch owes Peoria County taxpayers a $6.6 million apology
I’m going to quote a few paragraphs from C.J. Summers, who’s been all over the Firfefly scandal:
Not quoted anywhere is Rep. David Leitch, the former VP at National City who is credited with orchestrating the public-private partnership. He was quoted in the Journal Star back in 2007 as saying this deal was “the most...
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Firefly failed, but…
Covering Peoria for 11 years, it was very easy for me to become jaded and dark, as the city and county invested in things that just didn’t seem to make much sense, and they turned out to be even bigger failures and calamities than even the skeptics had predicted at the outset. But before...
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More Maddow versus Schock fallout
At the risk of being accused, again, of having a crush on Rachel Maddow, I cannot resist running the following limmerick, found here:
There’s a vapid young freshman named Aaron
whose worldview is woefully barren.
He was clearly miscast
and was tied to the mast
When “Rach” made his world Sub Saharan.
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More B.S. from GateHouse Media about fired reporter
Dan Kennedy has obtained a internal memo that GateHouse Media bosses sent to publishers about Claire O’Brien, the reporter they tossed under the bus when she wanted to fight a court order to testify.
It says:
But we can assure you, without violating any privacy or confidentiality concerns, that GateHouse Media vigorously stood behind Ms....
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Rep. Gordon to hold town hall meeting at Alzheimer’s Association
Press release:
PEORIA, IL – State Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) will be hosting a Town Hall Meeting on Monday, March 15th at 6:00 p.m. at the Peoria Area Alzheimer’s Association, located at 606 West Glen Ave. in Peoria
“At the town hall meeting, I’ll update local residents on the happenings at the state level and solicit...
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Irish dancers invade Peoria area
Press release:
Isle of Erin Irish Dancers, a group of lively Irish dancers from Peoria, will be performing at several locations across Central Illinois to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
* Saturday, March 13, 5:00 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Church in Bloomington, 1209 W. Locust St.
* Sunday, March 14,...
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Please donate
I was hoping to avoid this this month, but I would appreciate any small donations, which will go to keeping Peoria Pundit and Blog Peoria Project open and running this month. Thank you in advance. Please use the PayPal button at right. A PayPal account is not necessary, as credit/debit cards are accepted.
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Bill Brady in town on Monday
Via Blogging While Republican, State Senator and GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady will be in town Monday at a state-wide thank you tour. Click the link for details.
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Jehan Gordon: Too early to consider changing new FOIA law
I received the following email from State Rep. Jehan Gordon:
Billy,
I saw your post about the Freedom of Information Laws and I wanted to send you my comments.
The new FOIA reforms, which I supported, are a significant step forward for the state and the cause of government accountability. I believe it makes it easier for...
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Want discipline in District 150? Be careful what you wish for
When I went to Glen Oak School, we had an English teacher who was a real prick. He was one of those disciplinarians what everyone thinks we need. In reality, he was one of those assholes whose tiny, fragile ego demanded that absolute respect from the pre-teenagers in his charge.
One day, during class, he...
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Sen. Jim Bunning shows testicular fortitude
Kudos to Sen. Bunning, who blocked an unemployment benefits extension:
The House of Representatives passed the extension by voice vote, and the Senate was expected to go along. Then along came Bunning, a fiscal conservative, who objected because Congress didn’t pay for the $10 billion bill.
He said lawmakers kept talking about fiscal discipline and the...
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Peoria blogoshere update 2/26/2010
Here are some links I maybe should have/ought to have posted in the past couple of weeks:
PeoriaIllinois had two good links about the accuracy of the Peoria Journal Star, here and here. And apparently there’s a McDonald’s Restaurant that’s charging patrons to eat inside.
The only journalist in Peoria who’s covering the issue of red-light-cameras...
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A new personal rule
If I pump gasoline into my car, and I walk in to bay, and if I find there are 10 people waiting at the cash register to pay, and there are three cash registers inside the store but there is only one in operation and there are two workers there who are NOT at...
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Open thread Friday (2/26/2010)
Kinda busy today, so I’ll just going to let anyone comment on whatever they want. Have fun and don’
t be abusive and obey The Rules.
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Peoria Undriveability update: Primary streets being plowed
From my inbox:
Date: February 22, 2010
Released by: Alma Brown, Communications Manager
Subject: CITY CREW UPDATE
City crews are plowing primary streets. Motorists can expect to find streets somewhat snow pack and will need to reduce speed while driving. Conditions will improve throughout the day on primary streets as pavements continue to warm. ...
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Ford and Maddow take on Schock
It’s an interesting segment. Rachel Maddow points out the innacuracy of insisting that reading an accused an accused terrorist his Miranda rights somehow is contrary to national security or is something new with President Obama:
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Help support Peoria Pundit/Blog Peoria Project
The hosting bills are due for both sites. Donations via PayPal areappreciated.Please use the donation button to the right.
Thank you in advance.
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Peoria Driveability Update: Let’s be careful out there
From my inbox:
Date: February 8, 2010
Released by: Alma Brown, Communications Manager, 494-8554
Subject: CITY CREW UPDATE
City crews are maintaining primary intersections with a sand/salt mix, and primary hills with straight salt. Plowing operations will begin with accumulations over (2) inches. Expect a slow morning rush with snow covered streets and reduced viability from...
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About Peoria Pundit
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 The Blog Peoria Project, which promotes community-based citizen journalism in his hometown, Peoria IL. Call me at (309) 863-5748 and leave a message.
Recent Blog Peoria Posts
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Day by Day: Skin status update 3/20/2010 March 20, 2010Billy Dennis
Today’s strip: Chris Muir is hearing my pleas. Sam is again in the low-cut, skin-tight little black dress. Chris treats up to a front view and a maddeningly curvaceous profile.
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Day By Day: Skin status update 3/19/2010 March 20, 2010Billy Dennis
Today’s strip: Now this is more like it. Sam is in a skin-tight, low-cut little black dress. There’s a front view and a side view. You go, Chris!
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It’s official: The Captain America movie is going to suck March 20, 2010justiceblogofamerica
Via Slashfilm:
Now there’s a slight update: according to IESB, the shortlist is now only three names: Chris Evans (Sunshine, The Fantastic Four); Channing Tatum (G.I. Joe, Stop-Loss) and Sebastian Stan (Gossip Girl). I’ve stumped for Evans before, but am a bit surprised that he’s still on the list, because of that Fantastic Four association. But that’s no big deal in the long run, as the Marvel Studios film universe has nothing to do with the Fox version of Marvel’s characters. (Confusing!) Evans is easily the best choice here.
Feh. We need a traditional square-jawed hero for this role, not some pretty boy. Evans is an X-games sorta guy. Cap is a baseball/football/track letterman kinda guy. And the FF movies sucked and that kinda stink don’t wash off.
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Iron Man 2 Trailer (OFFICIAL) | Home Video Marketing March 20, 2010Billy Dennis
if you guys think this is amazing, wait till the Avengers movie comes out. dakkota92 Says: March 19th, 2010 at 4:03 pm. he wanted more money they said no soo he quit. SilentWorld13 Says: March 19th, 2010 at 4:08 pm …
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Mail It To Team-Up: Captain America Cartoon and My theory about … March 20, 2010Billy Dennis
Of course this would mean that he could be a villain in Iron Man 3 or even the Avengers movie. Now what if each major villain of the Marvel heroes banded together? Mandarin for Iron Man, Red Skull for Captain America, Loki for Thor, …
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Captain America News Round Up « Fangirl's Handbag March 20, 2010Billy Dennis
As for Chris Evans, he was the best part of the Fantastic Four, so why not keep him for a spot in the Avengers movie instead? Sebastian Stan / Wilson Bethel Sebastian Stan and Wilson Bethel are unknowns to me. I don't watch Gossip Girl …
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Star Trek vs X-Men Trailer – MoviesOnline March 20, 2010Billy Dennis
Leave it to film fans to do something cool. Below you can checkout a fan trailer for X-Men vs Star Trek. Back in the day MARVEL did a cross over comic…
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Bryan Singer Embraces More 'X-Men'; Regrets 'Superman Returns … March 20, 2010Billy Dennis
And what about that X-Men 4 news? There were hints in recent months that the 'X-Men' movie franchise would be moving ahead and away from prequels — and with Singer involved, no less — but this is a veritable official announcement. …
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[NEWS] «Could 'X-Men 4′ Be in Bryan Singer's Future?» – X-Men … March 20, 2010Billy Dennis
The “X-Men” film series feels like it has become a cinematic entity akin to the “Star Trek” franchise — a property that seems destined to navigate some seriously choppy waters, alternately exciting and infuriating fans, and probably …
Latest Film News – Theiapolis.com – http://cinema.theiapolis.com/ -
Watch the Movie Trailer of the Upcoming X-Men Sequel Online | Find … March 20, 2010Billy Dennis
X-Men Origins: Wolverine is the upcoming sequel to the all famous X-men Series which is a superhero film based upon the fictional Marvel.
Tell Peoria Business Directory
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AAMCO Tranmissions Unknown Date FormatAAMCO is your local automotive repair specialist from synthetic oil changes to rebuilt transmissions.
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Health and Harmony: Barb & Dick Lulay Shaklee Independent Distributors Unknown Date FormatExtremeHealthMakeovers.com offers top quality products with an impeccable reputation. The Shaklee products are all natural, safe for you and your family, and safe for the environment. Customer satisfaction is guaranteed.
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dESCO, LLC Service Management Software Unknown Date FormatThe Better Way to Run Your Service Company ESC simplifies the management and operations of service companies. ESC will organize and streamline the work flow of both small and large service companies, making them more manageable and profitable.
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Mitch Williams Magic Productions Unknown Date FormatMake your events absolutely unforgettable, with entertainment programs by international award winning sleight of hand artist and speaker, Mitch Williams.
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ExplorePeoria.com Unknown Date FormatExplorePeoria.com is a locally owned & managed information portal website featuring a comprehensive events calendar, free e-newsletter, a business directory, free classified ads, restaurant menus, real estate listings, job listings and much more.
PeoriaChronicle
- Should principals be empowered leaders or branch managers? March 18, 2010The extent to which mechanistic thinking is corrupting our culture might be illustrated in relation to any number of fields of activity. For instance, our educational system suffers disastrously from the dominion of the administrative mind, which is, by the very nature of modern administration, generally mechanistic in its thinking (and therefore unfitted to […]
- Another D150 administrator put on paid leave March 16, 2010District 150 Director of Technology and Library Media Services Mary Ward has been put on paid administrative leave as the district performs an internal investigation. If past is prelude, taxpayers may be paying her to do nothing for a long time. The last administrator to be put on paid administrative leave, Mary Davis, [...] […]
- “Word on the Web” has Urich news conference video March 16, 2010The Journal Star recently started a new blog based on John Sharp and Karen McDonald’s Monday column “Word on the Street.” The blog is called “Word on the Web,” and so far it has been very good. New content is added regularly, and the information is much more timely than the weekly print [...] […]
Merle Widmer’s Peoria Watch
- FireFly - What Community Leaders Said March 15, 2010"Calling FireFly 'the poster child' of Peoria NEXT", National City regional president Doug Stewart said that technology was not in short supply in Peoria. "Ideas are not our problem. The issue is management, first, and capital second. If we are going to hit a home run, FireFly is the closest thing we've got."Doug was probab […]
- FireFly Closer to Burning Bright March 15, 2010So wrote Molly Parker, reporter for the JS in May of 2007. The resolution by the County to guarantee, along with the city, a six million dollar loan to FireFly by National City Bank, State Representative Dave Leitch, Vice-President, who personally urged the County Board to approve this loan. Quoting Ms. Parker,"The resolution passed both committees by v […]
- FireFly & G&D Integrated March 14, 2010On 5/28/07, Jennifer Davis and Molly Parker wrote "Finding a FireFly Fix Over Breakfast" in their 'Word on the Street' Column in the JS. Quoting the column, " braving buckets of snow, former Mayor Dick Carver, current Mayor Jim Ardis, state Representative Dave Leitch and a Peoria businessman showed up for breakfast at Le Peep. Over t […]
CapitolFax
- Reader comments closed for the weekend March 19, 2010
- *** UPDATED x1 *** Afternoon campaign roundup March 19, 2010
- More thoughts about Garrett’s lite guv candidacy March 19, 2010
- Question of the day March 19, 2010
- Cohen claims his religion was a factor March 19, 2010
Pieces of Flair
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