Michael Rucker has made resurrecting the story of the Duryea, the second automobile produced in the United States his life, of late.

Rucker, president of the Peoria Regional Museum Society, researched and found that Charles Duryea made a speech at Bradley Tech sometime in late 1890s. Charles, he said, predicted,
“Peoria is to run thick with automobiles one of these years, whether you believe it or not.”

 Cutting the cost of elections, giving elected officials more time to do their jobs and encouraging better voter turnout are the aims of a new law sponsored by State Sen. Dale Risinger (R-Peoria).

Signed by Gov. Pat Quinn March 17 in his Capitol office, Senate Bill 355 moves Illinois’ primary election from the first Tuesday in February to the third Thursday in March, in even-numbered years.

Google announced earlier this month it wants to build a small number of experimental fiber networks with ultra high-speed broadband in trial locations across the country.

Peoria wants to be among them. 

IF YOU GO
Dunlap Schools Strategic Plan  Community Forum
DATE: March 2
TIME: 7 p.m.
PLACE: Dunlap Valley Middle School
 

Health care reform from Washington, D.C., may be a long ways off but health care transformation in the Greater Peoria Area is almost upon us.
That is the prognosis of Dr. Gail Amundson, CEO of Quality Quest for Health of Illinois.
For three years, Quality Quest has worked to impact the delivery of health care in the Greater Peoria Area.

The kickoff for a fundraising effort for Peoria Promise, last week, became more than an effort to get people to open their wallets.
Michael Bryant, CEO of Methodist Medical Center and chairman of the CEO Roundtable, also made it a forum to discuss the shortcomings of education in Peoria and promise those shortcomings will be examined and addressed.

As the village of Dunlap continues to expand, changing its patrol contract with the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department could reduce what some residents are calling “a rash of crime” in the area.
A discussion on that topic was brought to the table Feb. 10 at the Dunlap Village Board’s meeting, where Peoria County Sheriff Mike McCoy stopped by to discuss crime prevention. 
“We’ve been trying to get around to all of the villages and communities we have contracts with,” McCoy said.

A rally and informational meeting about the Illinois Fair Map Amendment is planned for 9 a.m. Saturday at Childers Banquet Center.

Lydia Ellis can have temper issues at meal time and diaper-changing time.
Her mother’s solution to a testy baby — sign language.

When Paula Bergstresser, executive director of the Rotary Club of Peoria-North, began looking for a service project for first-year members to get involved with, the South Side Mission came to mind.
South Side Mission spokesperson Meg Newell is very grateful for that.

Ill. Sen. Dale Risinger (R-Peoria) announced today the federal government has issued a warning that Illinois is a hot spot for mortgage fraud.

The city released a list of area's that will likely be locales for sewer work next week.

Dwain Deppolder has been trying for years to get Peoria County residents to  imagine unthinkable destruction hitting the region and getting prepared for it.
But, he has not made much headway.

The mood at the election party was relaxed, as about 50 supporters filled the room at Aggatucci's Wednesday evening in support of John Vespa's bid for 10th Judicial Circuit Judge.
"My supporters and I have just finished six months of hard work, today we are getting the results," said John Vespa. "I am very optimistic, however I do not have a crystal ball. The TV here will give me the result, and that result is it...whether I like it or not."

Final election results