All links via the Journal Star:

Despite one adverse decision after another from the Surface Transportation Board, the Peoria City Council still seems to be clinging to the idea of closing the Kellar Branch rail line and replacing it with a hiking and biking trail.
My two cents: I defer to C.J. Summers, who sums up the [...]

I recently complained about the danger of having defeated school board members continue to hold office until July.
It seems my fear was well-founded. The election was held last week, and two incumbents were defeated. But the by voting to renew its contract with Edison Schools, the old board essentially thwarted the will of the electorate. [...]

Speaking of Edison Schools, Peoria blogger and County Board member Merle Widmer has two great posts up on this topic, here and here.
edison schools,merle widmer

Apparently, some members of the Peoria School Board think so. Superintendent Ken Hinton wants to drop the contract with the company, but he doesn’t have the votes. So he’s taken it off the agenda for the next meeting.
So the district will continue to spend $1.8 million a year on Edison.
School Board President Alicia Butler says: [...]