Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis heaped praise onto the Manual Rams boys basketball team, with finished 2nd in the state at the tournament held this weekend at the Peoria Civic Center. Coach Derrick Booth praised his players, coaching staff and school administrators. He noted that many members of his team are in the top 10 of [...]

From a press release:

WHAT: Mayor’s Incentive – Peoria Promise Media Conference
WHEN: Monday, February 11, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.
WHERE: Woodruff High School’s Conference Room
1800 NE Perry Avenue
Peoria, IL 61603

The Mayor’s Incentive, Peoria Promise will present a detailed plan for Peoria Promise’s funding including donors and a Gala to be [...]

Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis had this to say about why he sought the help of Paul Vallas, the former head of the Chicago and Philadelphia school systems:
“This isn’t saying anything negative about the current school administration or board, but I think clearly, clearly something very dramatic has to happen in District 150 that hasn’t happened. [...]

Today’s links via the Journal Star, unless noted:

Kudos to Terry Bibo for finally getting into print what I had been wondering all along. WTVP has never missed a payment on the debt it incurred on it’s new studio. Instead, Bank of America has demanded full payment immediately because the number of pledges differs from that [...]

From a press release:
Congressional candidate Jim McConoughey has received a major endorsement in his campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives. Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis has publicly come forward supporting the Peoria-area business leader and proven job-creator as the best choice.
“I have been blessed with broad support from Peorians and I now ask you [...]

I don’t do the day-to-day police reporting that PJS reporter Leslie Fark does for the Journal Star. But I’ve done a little bit of it, not so much these days. And I can say that the Peoria Police Department has in the past asked me to fill out a Freedom fo Information Act request for [...]

Someone’s posted a rumor that Barbara Van Auken is considering a run for mayor of Peoria. Naturally, some other names are being thrown out there. I have NOT discussed this issue with Councilwoman Van Auken, but I doubt she’d run against Mayor Ardis. Lets just toss another name into the mayoral mix: At large council [...]

Cindy Ardis-Jenkins and I have been exchanging phone messages for a week. We finally touched base a few moments ago.
She said there’s going to be a formal announcement on Nov. 15 that is seeking the GOP nomination for the state representative job now held by Aaron Schock.
“It was really a surprise” when she was approached [...]

Lack of funding for district projects had two district council members demanding changes at the Peoria City Council’s first meeting over the 2008 budget.
Barbara Van Auken was angered that the preliminary $22 million capital improvement budget had no funding for the Sheridan Triangle facade improvement program in her 2nd District. It was especially galling because [...]

Cindy Ardis-Jenkins, sister to Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis, has decided to run for the Republican nomination for the Illinois House of Representatives from the 92nd District. She will face either Jehan Gordan or Allen Mayer, who are running for the Democratic nomination. Gordan announced several weeks ago, while Mayer will announce at noon tomorrow.

UPDATE: Welcome Romenesko readers. Feel free to browse, kick the tires, comment, etc. If you find this site mildly entertaining, consider tipping the staff (right sidebar).
Gene Weingarten is a columnist for the Washington Post. He recently learned that the Peoria Journal Star is going to give his column a test-run. Most journalists avoid cliches like [...]

Unless noted, all links are via the Journal Star:

Charles Grayeb isn’t running for re-election to his at-large seat on the Peoria City Council, Jennifer Davis reports in today’s Word on the Street column. She also says that 5th District councilman Patrick Nichting isn’t going to seek at at-large position. My two cents: I’m going to [...]

Several times this month, I’ve questioned the independence and bravery of the Peoria City Council, specifically Mayor Jim Ardis, on the issue of building a hotel that would be attached to the Peoria Civic Center. It turns out that some of the facts on which I came to this conclusion were probably in error.
Several weeks [...]

At-large council member Chuck Grayeb advised Mayor Ardis to begin following the letter of the law — in this case, city code — and start cutting off any speaker who uses dares to criticize a city employee by name during the public comments section of city council meetings.
The followed a complain by citizen Mike Langley [...]

“They can’t vote yet, Councilman Morris.”
That was Mayor Jim Ardis to Councilman John Morris who was taking just a bit too long shaking hands with three students from Von Stuben Middle School following their presentation at the start of Tuesday’s Peoria City Council meeting.