PeoriaStory

Coal ash ponds in the Peoria area

PEORIA, IL -- From a news release:

Sierra Club Statement on New EPA Coal Ash Protections

Illinois Residents Urge Financial Assurances from Polluters to Protect from Contamination, Disaster

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced the first-ever federal standards for the storage and disposal of coal ash aimed at protecting thousands of communities from the 140 million tons of ash pollution produced annually by America’s coal plants.

Coal ash, the toxic by-product that is left over after coal is burned, contains toxic heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, selenium and other health threatening substances. The public health hazards and environmental threats to nearby communities from unsafe coal ash storage have been documented for decades, including increased risk of cancer, learning disabilities, neurological disorders, birth defects, asthma, and other illnesses.

For years, environmental and public health organizations have called on the EPA and the Obama Administration to impose common-sense protections for retired and active coal ash sites that treat the disposal of this toxic waste stream with the same level of scrutiny as other dangerous substances.

“While EPA and the Obama Administration have taken a modest first step by introducing some protections on the disposal of coal ash, they do not go far enough to protect families from this toxic pollution,” said Holly Bender, Deputy Director of the Sierra Club Beyond Coal campaign.

“We welcome federal efforts on this issue, but we’re disappointed that the standard allows utilities to continue disposing of coal ash in ponds and does not incorporate strong federal enforcement. The standard still leaves people to largely fend for themselves against powerful utility interests that have historically ignored public health in favor of delayed action.

The state of Illinois has already issued several notices of violation to coal plant operators for coal ash contamination, and citizens groups like the Sierra Club are working to enforce a patchwork of state-specific coal ash standards. The EPA’s new rule will act as a starting point to give Illinois citizens more tools to protect their communities.”

There are over 90 coal ash pits across Illinois, and water contamination has been found at every site tested.  Simply dumping toxic coal ash in these toxic ponds is an outdated and dangerous disposal method. Most of the ponds are unlined and were built in floodplains, on top of mines, and near rivers and lakes where they threaten Illinois’ water supply. The threat is also growing - more than 3.1 million tons of coal ash waste are produced in Illinois every year.

In Illinois, unique concerns about the cost of cleanup loom large for the state and its taxpayers. The state’s coal plant operators have a rocky financial history, creating serious concerns about their ability to pay for cleanup, either in the case of an accident or when the plant is replaced with cleaner energy sources.

“We know all too well that Illinois’ coal plant operators are not afraid to file for bankruptcy and walk away, potentially putting Illinois taxpayers on the hook for coal ash clean up.” Bender noted.

 “The state must include in its final regulations a financial assurance provision to protect taxpayers and their drinking water by placing the financial obligation for coal ash dump cleanup squarely on polluters like NRG and Dynegy, so the public doesn’t get stuck with the bill for a disaster.”

Overview of major coal ash polluters in Illinois:

• NRG Energy: NRG Energy dumps coal ash waste in 11 ponds across the state of Illinois, concentrated in the northern and central regions of the state.  Most notably, NRG’s Waukegan coal plant discharges coal ash into ponds that sit on the shores of Lake Michigan, and monitoring wells show significant infiltration of coal ash pollutants in the water below the ponds. In 2012 the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) issued notices of violation for groundwater exceedances of dangerous pollutants at the coal ash ponds at all four of the company’s Illinois coal plants. NRG purchased coal plants from bankrupt Midwest Generation, and has thus far made no financial commitments to the communities that live with this coal ash pollution on a daily basis.

• Dynegy: Dynegy has coal ash waste in 41 ponds across the state of Illinois, concentrated in the central and southern regions of the state. Several Dynegy ponds sit dangerously close to wildlife and recreation areas along the Illinois River and the Middle Fork Vermilion River, Illinois' only National Scenic River. Dynegy’s subsidiary, Illinois Power Holdings, was purposefully underfunded and has no capital reserves earmarked for coal ash cleanup.  

• 
  
• The Edwards coal ash pond at Bartonville.

• City Water, Light & Power Springfield: CWLP dumps coal ash waste adjacent to Sugar Creek, which flows into the Sangamon River.  In 2010, EPA found arsenic contamination in groundwater at CWLP’s ash ponds at levels nine times the Safe Drinking Water Act levels.

For years, citizens’ groups in Illinois have pushed state agencies to not only ensure that polluters be required to provide financial assurances for clean up, but also to require the removal of coal ash from failing pits to high and dry landfills, allow for the assessment and prevention of damage to rivers and lakes and provide more opportunity for public input.

“Dynegy’s Vermilion coal plant near Champaign has burned its last lump of coal, but the toxic legacy of the plant lives on through its dangerous coal ash pits, which continue to leak into the water supply” said Joyce Blumenshine of the Heart of Illinois Group of the Sierra Club Illinois Chapter.

“Dynegy’s Champaign County ash dump is a red flag for other communities, like Peoria, where Dynegy dumps toxic ash next to the Illinois River. The EPA’s federal coal ash rules give Illinois the chance to put the burden of cleanup back on the polluters, not on our communities.”

“Coal ash ponds leak and they fail. Communities in Tennessee and North Carolina have learned those devastating lessons. The coal ash ponds at NRG’s Waukegan plant that sit right next to Lake Michigan already have documented water quality impacts” said Maryfran Troha with Clean Power Lake County, a citizens’ group working to move Lake County beyond fossil fuels to clean energy.

“Federal protections against dangerous coal ash are long overdue, and with such a long history of contamination on Waukegan’s lakefront it’s time for NRG to remove its own toxic legacy on our lakefront. NRG should not wait another day to draft a plan to remove coal ash from the site, and ensure money is set aside to clean up their lakefront site so taxpayers won’t have to foot the bill when they leave.”

“CWLP is in a financial tailspin, and  its unlined coal ash ponds pose a high risk to ratepayers and water quality,” said Scott Gauvin Vice Chair of the Sangamon Valley Group of the Sierra Club. Illinois Chapter. “As ratepayers, we’re already on the hook to pay for CWLP’s coal dependence.  We’re counting on Illinois to take strong action to clean up coal ash pollution here in Springfield and across the state.” - 30 -

 

 

2014 edition of Downstate Story now online

PEORIA, IL -- from a news release:

DOWNSTATE STORY  VOL. 23  NOW AVAILABLE FREE ON THE WEB

Ten new short stories by Illinois, Midwestern and other writers are featured in the 2014 edition of Downstate Story, Peoria's only literary magazine for fiction. Downstate Story is now being published only on the Web at www.downstatestory.com

The writers in this issue are Pepper Bauer of Mapleton, IL; Barbara Schmidt of Laura, IL; Gordon Petry of Pekin, IL; Cathryn Goodman of Glen Ellyn, IL; Mardelle Fortier of Lisle, IL; Grazina Smith of Chicago, IL; Tom Graham of Greenfield, IN; Mary Rodriguez of McFarland, WI; David A. Goldstein of Lake Oswego, OR; and Matt LeShay of Culebra, PR.

These outstanding writers include several with long lists of publications in other literary magazines, and some have authored books.

Published by Downstate Story, Inc., an Illinois not-for-profit corporation, the annual publication aims to present original fiction by Illinois writers and writers with ties to Illinois and the Midwest as a quality alternative to today's mass-market publishing.

For this Web edition, readers are asked for donations to help defray publishing costs.  All writers are paid for their work.  

Downstate Story’s Facebook page can be accessed at www.Facebook.com/downstatestory

 

The Dec. 15 Meeting

PEORIA, IL -- I was unable to attend the Dec. 15 meeting of the Peoria District 150 school board.  Terry Knapp's comments during the public comment period on the district's tax levy were recorded and are posted here.

D150 Dec 17 - 2

 

He noted that too many students are being bussed, and that the district has not yet recovered from the closing of Woodruff High School, which has resulted on chronic truancy.

Bussing causes other problems as well, he said, mentioning recent attacts on the district's staff.

He also mentioned the expensive consultant from North Carolina who apparently is producing "poor results" since the students rank below those in Chicago and East St. Louis.

Sharon Crews also commented, and here are her remarks:

NCLB has declared many inner city public schools to be failures.  For the first time, schools and teachers were ranked according to their students’ test scores on just one yearly test.  Group success or failure was considered more important than individual success or failure. 

Evaluating teachers by student test scores on standardized tests is an easy but very unfair way of judging the competence of a teacher.  A test evaluates a student’s ability to comprehend and remember what a teacher has taught.  Evaluators have to find a way to determine if teachers are presenting appropriate material and using methods conducive to learning.

Teachers can only teach—they can’t learn for the student.  Unfortunately, an individual student’s ability to learn is often impeded by internal and external roadblocks to learning. The low ranking of many of our schools shows that District 150 is failing miserably in its efforts to identify and rectify the learning difficulties of many of its students.

Your much bragged about balanced literacy program and your $300,000 consultant have done nothing to prove your claims that the program contains all of the components necessary for students to master written and oral communication. 

Teachers are sometimes miracle workers who can figure out some of the impediments students bring to the classroom—but that clairvoyance cannot be demanded.  Many administrators have forgotten the sadness they felt when they realized that a particular student just didn’t understand what they tried so hard to teach. 

When there are individual successes, they should be celebrated.  Every school should present the kind of data I have presented you tonight—Charter Oak data proves that students can and are succeeding in District 150. Fourteen of 92 third graders exceeded NCLB standards in reading and 37 met standards.  Of the 35 who tested below standards, eleven tested from only one to 10 points below standards.  Only 6 of 92 were given the “warning” label and they didn’t hit rock bottom. The distribution of scores, I believe, very much follows the bell curve configuration --a concept that would be rejected by those who believe that all students should perform at optimum levels. 

I believe that more Charter Oak students would have exceeded or met standards if fifteen had not left at the end of their second grade year.  Eight of the fifteen left District 150.  At a time when the board is asking taxpayers for more money,  Dr. Lathan, together with the faulty perception that no child can succeed in District 150, is chasing families away.  Remember Lathan in 2012 took out a PJS ad, stating that 150 was a failing, dysfunctional district.  -30-

 

Experienced reporter works weekends to make ends meet

PEORIA -- Here's a story that is so sad and disgusting people need to read it. Dean Olsen formerly worked at the Journal Star.

http://jimromenesko.com/2014/10/23/meet-the-medical-reporter-who-took-a-part-time-job-at-mcdonalds-to-make-ends-meet/

WIU's terrific symphony concert

MACOMB, IL --  The Western Illinois University Symphony Orchestra's Dec. 10 concert was extraordinarily well done.

The orchestra, made up of students apparently recruited from throughout the world (Romania, Mexico, Ecuador, the Philippines, as well as Illinois and the Midwest), played professionally three difficult but georgeous pieces, one with a world class guest pianist, Michael Lewin.

In the intimate setting of COFAC Recital Hall with its excellent accoustics, the orchestra, conducted by faculty member Richard Hughey, played Schubert's Overture in D Major, D 590; Symphony No, 97 in C Major, Hob. 1/97 by Haydn, and with Lewin, Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major, Op. 19. 

Lewin was fabulous -- a brilliant pianist, worthy of his international reputation. 

This concert was very high quality, an event that would garner $75 tickets or more in Chicago or New York.  But it was free.

Students who play at this level have loads of talent as well as discipline.  Close your eyes and you would never believe these are college students. But their youth and enthusiasm plus their professionalism, from their playing to their formal dress, made for a lovely concert.

 -- Elaine Hopkins  

Eavesdropping bill passes in Illinois

PEORIA, IL -- Here's something that flew under the radar, an eavesdropping bill.  The ACLU issued this statement on Dec. 5:

This week, the Illinois House and Illinois Senate passed Senate Bill 1342, a measure designed to replace the Illinois Eavesdropping Act which was struck down by the Illinois Supreme Court earlier in 2014. The ACLU of Illinois worked closely with members of both the House and Senate to secure passage of a measure that restored all-party consent for audio recording conversations in Illinois and provides needed protections for civilians audio recording public officials doing their public duty in a public place. While the ACLU welcomed these developments that the measure also included an expansion of authority for police to record conversations without a judicial warrant. Read the ACLU’s full statement:

It is good that the new eavesdropping statute enacted during the veto session generally protects our reasonable expectations of privacy in our conversations, phone calls, and electronic communications from unwanted recording or interception, and that it does so without intruding on our First Amendment right to expose government misconduct by recording the non-private conversations of on-duty government officials. The new statute does this by prohibiting the recording and intercepting of only *private* conversations, unless there is all-party consent or a warrant. So the new statute generally provides that police, informants, or other members of the public cannot record our private conversations without our permission. Also, we cannot be arrested or prosecuted under the new statute for recording on-duty government officials who are talking to the public as part of their jobs, because those conversations are not private. The new statute respects the appellate court ruling in the case the ACLU brought against the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office: on-duty police officers have no reasonable expectation of privacy in their conversations in public places.

Unfortunately, compared to the last version of the Illinois eavesdropping statute, the new statute significantly expands the circumstances when police and informants may record and intercept private conversations and phone calls without all-party consent or a warrant. We know of no evidence that the prior version of the statute, which required police to seek judicial approval, was any impediment to law enforcement in these instances. We are concerned about the expanded number of cases where no judicial officer will provide a check on police.  On this basis, the ACLU of Illinois opposed the new statute.

Related Articles

Final Judgment and Permanent Injunction Issued in Eavesdropping Case WTTW: IL Supreme Court Strikes Down Eavesdropping Law ACLU v. Alvarez

Today -- action

PEORIA, IL --  From an email/news release:

Here is an event that happens today on Bradley University campus, first at 11:45 am and then again at 12:45 pm.   

 

The announced focus  is Michael Brown's murder  but the issue is also Eric Gardner's filmed torture and death, and Dante Parker and Tamir Rice and hundreds of others. So many people understand this issue of police brutal killings and getting away scot free has to change. (sic)

 

Somehow many of our police officers across the country have become the untouchable enforcers of a new Jim Crow, and this series of court decisions exposes the raw unpleasant wound.  It should not be tolerated. We should not be intimidated and we cannot allow ourselves to be divided.

 

I cannot stand by, and I hope to see some of you there.  When there is no justice in the courts then i believe we have to get into the streets. 

 -- David Pittman

 

I agree.

 -- Elaine Hopkins

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [peoriaareagreens] <[email protected]>
To: peoriaareagreens <[email protected]>
Sent: Thu, Dec 4, 2014 9:58 am
Subject: [peoriaareagreens] Demonstration at Bradley

Hey everyone - FYI, this is happening Friday. If anyone is interested, let me know. I'll be there at 11:45a.

"After the "Dialogue About Ferguson", a small committee came together to organize a Die-In for Friday, December 5th. This event will take place at two separate times; once at 11:45 in front of Bradley Hall, then again at 12:45 in the Student Center . These events will start on time and will only take place during the 15 minute passing period. Further instructions will also be given at the site of the event (so please get there early).

The purpose of this event is to bring awareness to the injustice in the case of Michael Brown, as well as the injustice that occurs everyday to other minorities. By making people aware of these situations we hope to shed light on the inconsistency of the judicial system. Therefore, we fight for equality because it is our rights as Americans to be protected by the law opposed to suppressed by it.

You are encouraged to make signs, personalize posters or bring articles discussing topics such as the Mike Brown case to "die" with. Signs and posters can have phrases like "I am Mike Brown", "I am my Brother's Keeper", "Serve and Protect" or "Black Lives Matter". Articles can discuss cases like the Eric Garner, Dante Parker or Tamir Rice cases.

Please feel free to invite your friends to participate; the more people we have, the bigger statement we will make! I hope to see you all Friday!"


Maegan
[email protected]

12/6/14  Comment via email from Ed Dentino

 

I partly agree and partly disagree with Dave Pittman's comments. 

The Eric Garner situation was probably an over the top 'enforcement' decision on the part of the police to take the person breaking the law into custody.  Did not see that being necessary and the man handling of Garner was seriously damaging and caused his death.  Can't say that was anything but involuntary manslaughter.  No doubt, anyone can be injured in a scuffle and the police themselves are usually hurt in these affairs. 

The Michael Brown situation was initiated by the officer attempting to detain Brown and waiting for a backup.  Brown took advantage of the time and assulted the officer by punching him in the face while he was waiting in the squad car.  That scuffle and following situation caused the officer to shoot Brown to stop further assult.  Don't really see that as being unprovoked assult and the situation and similar ones occur daily.  Most don't result in the person being shot or killed. 

The young boy with the realistic toy pistol was reported.  When the officer arrived, the boy likely waved the pistol or pointed it at the officer.  The officer would not be able to discern the difference in a brief second or two and would, by training and instinct, stop the perceived threat by firing at the boy.  Sad, but officers are going to make split second decisions to keep from being shot or assaulted.

I was present this summer when an unarmed young man in Peoria could have been shot by an officer.  He was just lucky that did not occur and he was apprehended in just a few minutes.  Watching the situation, it would have been understandable that the officer could perceive a threat to be shot at and then shot at the man.  Combination of good luck and good judgement occurred.

I don't perceive a race based issue of enforcement or assault on the part of law enforcement personnel in most cases.  This seems to be a situation that is played for the story.  Officers are humans with emotions and do react with a combination of training and instinct.  Most times, the officer should be given benefit of their judgement.

That said about the situation,  there is the rest of the debate about education, job training, jobs paying reasonable living wages, and politics and laws that favor family living.  Can't say the debate is adding a lot of meaningful discussion to those problems.
Regards,
Ed

Holiday event

PEORIA, IL -- There are many holiday events, some better advertised than others.  Here's one that's a little different, and could be fun. From a news release:

Y’all come!!!  A CHRISTMAS CAROL SING AT THE APOLLO!! 

Led by Edith Barnard and Wes Sedrel i takes place at 2:30 on Sunday, December 14.   The Songfest is followed by a showing of the oft-proclaimed 1951 version of the classic “The Christmas Carol” starring the incomparable Alastair Sims as Scrooge. 

This version is acclaimed by many to be the most popular version of the holiday classic.  The strengths of the production include the opening events of the past in a linear narrative with George Cole playing the young Scrooge in the early segments.

The film has holly, plum pudding and carol singers written all over it, Christmas tunes in the music track, the roaring fires and snow-strewn streets in which everyone makes merry for the festive day. 

Admission is $5.  Free popcorn!  Come early to hear premier classical guitarist Wes Sedrel play Christmas carols and to make sure you get a seat!  Apollo Theater, 311 Main, Peoria. Call 673-4343 for more information.

2 Christmas Gift Certificates for Voice Lesson!!!    Call Edie at 922—9058           First Come, First served  www.PeoriaMusicLady.com                                                      

SINGING IS DIGNIFIED SCREAMING!!!!

           By Edith Barnard

      What happens when we sing? The act of singing generates a concentrated "charge" in the mind/body system, the results of which are more efficient use of the brain, better concentration, and higher states of awareness and receptivity.

The deepened, rhythmic breathing that singing requires, coupled with acoustical frequencies involved in music, act to release stress by stabilizing the heartbeat and increasing the flow of oxygen to the brain.

As all know, you cannot sing and stay depressed. "Singing the blues" raises you from the condition that sparked the song (or elongated scream). When we sing, we are tuning ourselves as instruments. The more in tune with yourself you are, the stronger the bridge you are building to those with whom you are singing and to those who listen and receive the song.

     Singing is a simple, joyful activity, opening people to one another at various levels in a natural, easy way. The shortest distance between two people is a song!  Singing is like charging your battery. Even shy people (and aren't we all?) will feel the change that results from the strong focus of singing. Singing helps us build bridges between and among ourselves.

     Anyone can sing. Have you ever heard a 5-year-old say that they can't sing? Those with whom I've spoken can instantly recall the incident in their childhood when an adult told them to "sing softly while others sing loudly" or to "just mouth the words."

Whenever I hear this sad tale, and I hear it often, I am reminded that it is really a story about the adult who really didn't want to take the time to help the person learn the simple basics of singing. Just as singing can be a learned skill, it can also be quickly unlearned in these sad experiences.

Through risking opening our mouths and "making a joyful noise" we draw on those deep resources of hope and strength common to all.  Singing with friends and colleagues is a testimony to our strength-in-connection. We are not islands in isolation. When we open our mouths to sing, we become part of the current of life; the music of the spheres. So, go ahead and "sing/scream" with delight. It just may be the beginning of your own special song!

 

Edith Barnard,  B.A.   M.A. Public Speaking & Voice Coach

Mentor to Performers of All Ages & Experience

Team Building through DRAMA-on site or at Apollo Theater

Motivational Speaker/Trainer

http://www.BarnardCommunications.com

E-mail, [email protected]

Phone; +1 309 922-9058

http://www.peoriamagazines.com/as/2014/sep-oct/ministers-daughter

“Create Your Own Stage, Your Audience is Waiting!” Edith

http://www.peoriamagazines.com/as/2014/sep-oct/take-10-edith-barnard

“Find Your Voice, Change Your Life!” Edith