More bizarre coverage by Peoria media

Just when you thought you had seen it all -- check this out...

Again -- this topic started a week ago Friday when one mob over on Sheridan threatened people, clogged traffic, led to the police being there in large numbers and bringing in their riot vehicle called the "Armadillo"...
Then the Peoria Journal Star not only chose to ignore the whole story -- they didn't report on it al all until it went natioal and viral via the Drudge Report --
then the PJS rans a series of column - NOT about the mob incident - but about how it really didn't happen, was exaggerated, and was irresponsibly reported via "unvetted" and irresponsible sources....namely sources other then them.

Then this riot on July 4th was also ignored for a couple days by the PJS until now they have to report it because the police videos, the officers sent 911 to the hospital for injuries, and the coverage by other media outlets shows it really was a MAJOR riot and a MAJOR news story.....this all makes the whole story totally undeniable.

BUT -- even when the facts are clear -- the PJS still downplays this as no big deal -- and tries like crazy to insert their own words instead of calling it a riot as it certainly was...

Note these descriptions in their latest whitewash column...where the newspaper declines to call it a mob or a riot even though two different police sources say it was!
Officers were injured as potentially deadly fireworks were aimed at and hurled at them. Here are some more quotes from police...

"It was rowdy, and those fireworks were dangerous,” (Peoria police Capt. Mike) Scally said, estimating that the mortar-type fireworks had a “three- to four-inch” diameter. “They’re designed to go up in the air, not horizontal.”

"As those first fireworks exploded around the firefighters, police radioed for additional backup"

"people also hurled bottles and rocks, according to police."

"Doug Burgess, the Peoria police public information officer, said as many as 200 pepper balls were fired before the crowd came under control."

"Every officer that responded said pretty much the same thing — that it was chaotic and like a riot,” Burgess said. “Every officer received bruises and burn marks.”


SO -- this WAS A RIOT -- it wasn't a so-called riot, or a near riot, or a gathering of revelers, or as was reported in their initial story yesterday -- just check out what the original PJS story said...they described this as an incident ...
"involving a large group of people shooting fireworks at police
and firefighters occurred near the Taft Homes just before 10 p.m.
Sunday, about the same time the fireworks show on the riverfront was ending.

Police had to briefly shut down Adams and Eaton streets, near Taft, as they dispersed the large crowds.
No officers or firefighters were injured..."

So I guess my one question is ..
did they ever actually send a reporter to the actual scene and get any real info -- or did they make their report only from a few snippets of the police dispatcher's report?
Then whe the police video became available proving they had the whole story totally wrong -- then they altered their report but still never actually talked to anyone on or at the scene at any time!

And Luciano has the gall to refer to someone like CJ Summers who reported word for word from an EYEWITNESS who lived at the scene of the previous riot -- Luciano referred to Summers as irresponsible, unprofessional, and "unvetted"...


Also -- TWO other news stories appear related but the PJS does not connect them...

ONE -- is a guy who was stabbed in the back in the very same neighborhood Monday night, the 4th of July....and who claims he was stabbed right across the street from the Taft Homes.
http://www.pjstar.com/news/x1498053671/Police-say-stabbing-victim-uncooperative

Then there's another story that is in the print edition but not online -- about the police being called BACK to Taft homes TWO different times because of a family altercation where a 60+ year old woman was stomped and kicked in the face causing facial fractures, then the cops had to come back and break up even more violence and the various uncooperative family members continued the fighting and feuding well into the night.
In other words -- the cops pretty much spent the night there at Taft en masse well into the wee hours of the morning -- but I guess they're pretty used to doing so.
Seems like this activity is so ordinary in the eyes of the police, city officials, and media, that it is hardly even worth reporting or discussing!

BUT -- in what might be a related and connected story -- check this out...

BOTH WEEK and WHOI have reported on this story - that the Peoria Journal Star is being picketed by a local labor union....
http://www.centralillinoisnewscenter.com/news/video/Labor-Union-Pickets-Peoria-Journal-Star-124739839.html

Apparently the PJS is hiring ordinary people off the street to do the union labor -- and it's getting them in trouble with the unions...

So -- this is a news story as well...but guess what??

The Journal Star is choosing NOT to report on this story -- but I guess I can see why -- because it is embarrassing. There isn't a single mention of this significant picketing in front of the Journal Star corporate buildings for the past couple weeks -- by a large number of picketers...
They report when this happens elsewhere - like when a tiny number of picketers staged a protest in front of a coffee shop -- LINK ---
..but this far larger union activity right on their doorsteps is going unreported.
(I have a strong suspicion it is being unreported because it paints the PJS in a bad light and could cause revenue drop if people cut spending on advertising or subscriptions.)

Makes you wonder if they are also -- just saying -- also hiring non-union people off the streets to do their reporting and writing as well --- gotta wonder???


One more really funny comment in one of the reports....

The TV stations actually did send out reporters to the scene and one of them came up with this comecial report...

"Just one block away from Monday's fireworks on the Riverfront, there was another show going on.
...flames were allegedly ignited by a private fireworks celebration, where several hundred people were gathered.

"As soon as we got there, the fireworks were turned towards them," said Officer Doug Burgess of the Peoria Police Department. "It was absolutely out of hand. That's to put it mildly."
Authorities resorted to pepperball guns to disperse the crowds.

"It's against the law to shoot fireworks within city limits," said Officer Burgess, "but obviously anytime you're assaulting an officer, it's a crime."

Reports say residents even shot fireworks at the fire crews, hitting one firefighter in the right ear. Without the proper gear, he could have been burned.

Some Taft residents say aiming fireworks was in self-defense. But both sides were lucky enough not to suffer major injuries."

http://www.centralillinoisnewscenter.com/news/local/Holiday-Celebration-turns-into-Dangerous-Clash-125046709.html

Really ?? -- the gentle folks at Taft Homes were fearing for their lives when the firemen arrived and fired upon the police a firefighters because it was SELF-DEFENSE!!!!
Now I have heard it all.....