Good or bad, has anyone noticed how much press Peoria, Ill is getting lately?
President Obama was in Peoria to make a speech at a Caterpillar facility. CAT has been in the National News recently with their worldwide layoffs. Jim Owens, CEO of CAT, has been on National TV.
Our recently retired Congressman, Ray LaHood, was appointed to the Obama Cabinet as Secretary of Transportation. Rep. Aaron Schock was elected to replace him. President Bush was in Peoria prior to the election to raise money for Aaron Schock. Rep. Schock continues to make news, he was named by the Huffington Post as the new "Hottie Freshman" in Congress. Maybe it was newsworthy because the media presumes the hotties come from traditionally "cool" areas, like Southern California, not Peoria, Ill?
We also had the new junior Senator from Illinois, Roland Burris, make one of his first public appearances in Peoria, Ill, after he was appointed to the coveted spot formerly held by Barack Obama, by the recently indicted former Governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, in Peoria. There were reporters from around the country in Peoria for Senator Burris's two press conferences here.
Our new Governor, Pat Quinn, decided to jump on the Peoria bandwagon and Peoria was one of his first stops for a Press Conference after he was appointed as Governor to replace Rod Blagojevich.
Michael Jordan was here last week "weeping" while watching his son play on the winning team for the State Basketball Tournament. The state basketball finals, March Madness, were at the Civic Center..
Most Peorians did not even know Philip Jose Farmer, the famous science fiction writer, lived in Peoria until he died here a couple of weeks ago.
Unfortunately, Ali al-Marri, the man accused of being an al_Qaida Sleeper Agent, has been in the headlines with his trial in Peoria. He was living in Peoria, Ill, when he was arrested. His trial has been headline news.
Peoria is finally on the radar screen of national media, not because it is a cliche for vaudeville acts several decades ago.
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