Daryl Scott

Corn Stock Theatre opens its 60th summer season with The Music Man. The musical, which tells the story of con man Harold Hill, won five Tony awards on Broadway and was adapted to  film in 1962. Brian "Fox" Ellis has this review for Peoria Public Radio and the Live Theatre League of Peoria.

Opinions expressed are those of the reviewer, not those of Peoria Public Radio or the Live Theatre League.

Pekin city officials have issued an evacuation notice for some residents in the northwestern side of town. In a press release Monday afternoon, Pekin City Manager Joe Wuellner said the impending flood conditions were the reason for the evacuation order, which will remain for the area until the waters recede. Residents in need of assistance can contact the American Red Cross shelter at the I.C.C. Cougar Plex in East Peoria, or call (309) 677-7171.

Our series of community roundtable discussions on "Don't Shoot Peoria" concludes this week, as our panel discusses the final chapters of David Kennedy's book.

Author David Kennedy is our guest this week, explaining what he has learned from attempts to implement the program in communities across the nation. Finally, our panel offers their closing thoughts on the "Don't Shoot" initiative.

The roundtable discussion of "Don't Shoot" resumes this week with a panel discussion of how the initiative was implemented in High Point, North Carolina. Did the program work effectively there? To find out, we talk to U.S. Attorney Rob Lang for analysis. We'll also examine the key ingredients of the "Don't Shoot" program with Michigan State University Criminologist Dr. Ed McGarrell. Follow along with the book, and join WCBU for the third "Don't Shoot" roundtable discussion this week.

This is the second of four panel discussions on Peoria's "Don't Shoot" initiative. This week, our panel talks with Carl Cannon, and with representatives from Common Place and the Peoria Public Library. The panel also discusses the successes and failures of similar initiatives in Boston and Baltimore.

For more information, visit www.dontshootpeoria.com

"Don't Shoot" is a community-wide effort to reduce gun violence in the Peoria area. The local initiative ties in with the book "Don't Shoot" by criminologist and author David Kennedy. This program is collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement, prosecutors, as well as community members and leaders. This is the first of four roundtable discussions of the "Don't Shoot" project on WCBU, and it examines the history of the anti-violence initiative and how it will apply to the Peoria region.

"Don't Shoot" Author David Kennedy talks with Peoria Public Radio's Tanya Koonce about his strategy to reduce gun violence and the Peoria initiative.

What is “Don’t Shoot?”

 It’s an aggressive multi-strategy anti-gang and gun violence program designed to decrease shootings and get the most dangerous criminals off the streets. Led by Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis, the initiative creates partnerships among federal, state and local prosecutors, law enforcement, outreach specialists, community leaders and media. Never before has Peoria seen such comprehensive collaboration from key stakeholders in implementing a zero-tolerance message towards violence.

 The centerpiece of the program is a focused deterrence strategy enhanced by an innovative community-wide education and outreach program crafted to thoroughly incorporate all segments of the citizenry of the Greater Peoria area. Using offender-based policing strategies, police and prosecutors send a specific message to a number of high-risk individuals that gun violence will not be tolerated. Then, the strategy includes communication about community programs that will provide services to help them on the road to a better and more productive life. As part of the message, these high-risk individuals are told that any future gun violence will result in the full force of federal and state law enforcement. They are put on notice and they know law enforcement eyes are on them.