logo
East Peoria mayor firm in stance on future of Par-A-Dice Casino, blasts Peoria

East Peoria mayor firm in stance on future of Par-A-Dice Casino, blasts Peoria

Yahoo01-03-2025
East Peoria Mayor John Kahl is steadfast in his stance that the city of Peoria is potentially straining the relationship between the two cities by its continued pursuit to lure the Par-A-Dice Casino to its side of the Illinois River.
Kahl said as much to an audience at the Par-A-Dice Casino Hotel on Friday during his State of the City address in which he said he knew the emails he sent to Peoria Mayor Rita Ali about the casino would go public. In those emails he said Peoria was threatening to "forever strain" the relationship between the two cities, and on Friday he told the East Peoria audience at the casino that he stuck by those words.
Kahl said during his speech that East Peoria would "protect" the rights of private businesses to make their own decisions and the city would not tell businesses "what to do" or "where you have to be," appearing to take a veiled shot at Peoria for its efforts to bring Boyd Gaming to its city.
Kahl told reporters after his speech that he would support whatever decision Boyd Gaming makes on the location of its planned new casino.
"Boyd, whatever their decision is they take in front of the gaming board, and they approve it," Kahl said. "That's their decision to make. I've made myself clear to Boyd a couple years back when all of this kicked up if you will, what East Peoria's position is. We've had a great partnership with them, and I like to think that speaks volumes."
Kahl, too, voiced his displeasure with Peoria's efforts, which have included showing Boyd Gaming at least three possible locations it could build a new land-based casino.
"Let Peoria keep running their mouth on whatever they hope to do, hope to see, can't speak for them," Kahl said.
More: 'David vs Goliath': How East Peoria won the riverboat casino battle three decades ago
A rift between leadership in Peoria and East Peoria has been growing for months after Boyd Gaming signaled last year that it was planning to build a new casino facility somewhere in the Peoria area.
Boyd Gaming has operated the Par-A-Dice Riverboat Casino in East Peoria since 1993.
However, where the battle seen between East Peoria and Peoria today stems from is a 1991 agreement signed between the two municipalities that dictated that if a land-based casino were to ever be built in the region, it would have to be on Peoria's side of the river.
Last year when Boyd signaled it would be building a new casino — one that would likely be land-based — Peoria began an effort to entice the company to its side of the river and remind it of the terms of the 1991 agreement.
Kahl, however, believes that Peoria is overstepping and is ignoring the benefit the casino brings to the region as a whole. Currently the gaming tax revenues generated by the casino are split equally between the two cities.
"I think a lot of people have this misconception about the Par-A-Dice," Kahl said Friday. "The revenues are split 50% on each side. I don't know why they can't wrap their arms around that. Boyd has really done a tremendous job of supporting this entire region, and I hope people understand that."
However, all the other taxes — such as those generated by property taxes, sales taxes and hotel taxes — stay in the host city.
Kahl called Peoria's comments on the matter "nonsense."
"There's a benefit to this region and for some reason, they don't see the benefit apparently based on some of their comments, which are nonsense," Kahl said. "Boyd's done a good job of supporting this entire region, and I can't say enough good things about the entire company."
Boyd Gaming's CEO Keith Smith told shareholders in January that Boyd hoped to build a casino with an estimated price tag of $100 million to replace the Par-A-Dice Riverboat Casino in East Peoria. He said they hoped construction could begin in early 2026.
More: Peoria, Boyd Gaming have discussed potential locations for a land-based casino
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: East Peoria mayor says Peoria's casino comments are 'nonsense'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

A look back at Hulk Hogan's iconic shirt-ripping video, which happened at RNC in Milwaukee
A look back at Hulk Hogan's iconic shirt-ripping video, which happened at RNC in Milwaukee

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

A look back at Hulk Hogan's iconic shirt-ripping video, which happened at RNC in Milwaukee

Hulk Hogan, the wrestling legend from the 1980s and 90s, has died at 71. TMZ first reported the news. Tributes are already pouring in on social media, including an iconic clip of Hogan tearing off his shirt at the Republican National Convention — which took place in Milwaukee last July. Hogan spoke for nearly 10 minutes on the final night of the convention, shortly before President Donald Trump took the stage and accepted the nomination. Most memorably, about a third of the way through his remarks, Hogan shrugged off his suit coat, ripped his "Real American" shirt in half and revealed an orange Trump-Vance cut-off shirt. "What happened last week when they took a shot at my hero and they tried to kill the next President of the United States, enough was enough," Hogan said during the moment. "And I said let Trump-a-mania run wild brother, let Trump-a-mania rule again. Let Trump make America great again." The convention began just days after an assassination attempt on Trump, which shifted the tone of the multi-day event in downtown Milwaukee. Hogan spoke for several more minutes after the shirt-ripping spectacle, focusing on the image of Trump's strength that Republicans aimed to project on the convention stage. "Over my career, I've been in the ring with some of the biggest, some of the baddest dudes on the planet," Hogan said. "I know tough guys. But let me tell you something, brother: Donald Trump is the toughest of them all." Trump apparently approved of Hogan's speech, raising his fist in the air and blowing Hogan a kiss. Hogan was born Terry Gene Bollea in Augusta, Georgia. He retired from wrestling in 2012 after a 35-year career and six WWE championships. He was a registered Republican and expressed political ambitions. In 2018, former Trump advisor Roger Stone urged him to run for U.S. Senate in Florida. Trump has a long history with Hogan and the WWE. Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO and president Dana White also had a speaking gig at the RNC. More: Why are Linda McMahon, Hulk Hogan and Kane at RNC? WWE has taken over the Republican National Convention. Hogan returned to Wisconsin this year to promote his beer brand, including most recently in March with stops in Appleton, Beaver Dam, Watertown, Oconomowoc, Kenosha, Lake Geneva and Silver Lake. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Remember when Hulk Hogan ripped off his shirt at RNC in Milwaukee?

Trump remembers 'great friend' Hulk Hogan as 'MAGA all the way' after wrestling icon's tragic death
Trump remembers 'great friend' Hulk Hogan as 'MAGA all the way' after wrestling icon's tragic death

Fox News

timean hour ago

  • Fox News

Trump remembers 'great friend' Hulk Hogan as 'MAGA all the way' after wrestling icon's tragic death

President Donald Trump has joined the masses mourning the loss of WWE legend Hulk Hogan. Trump, who had a strong relationship with Hogan for years, which included the wrestling great speaking at the Republican National Convention last year, wrote a tribute on Truth Social for the "Hulkster." "We lost a great friend today, the "Hulkster." Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way — Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart," Trump wrote. "He gave an absolutely electric speech at the Republican National Convention, that was one of the highlights of the entire week. He entertained fans from all over the World, and the cultural impact he had was massive. "To his wife, Sky, and family, we give our warmest best wishes and love. Hulk Hogan will be greatly missed!" The wrestling icon, whose real name is Terry Bollea, died after suffering a possible "cardiac arrest" at his home in Clearwater, Florida, TMZ Sports reported on Thursday. Emergency personnel rushed to Hogan's home where he was seen being carried out by ambulance. "Clearwater Fire Department and Clearwater Police Department personnel responded to a medical call at 9:51 a.m. today in the 1000 block of Eldorado Avenue on Clearwater Beach," a statement from Clearwater Police Department read. "The nature of the call was for a cardiac arrest. A 71-year-old resident, Terry Bollea, also known as Hulk Hogan, was treated by Clearwater Fire & Rescue crews before being taken by Sunstar to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased." The WWE also issued a statement on Hogan's death. "WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away," the company wrote. "One of pop culture's most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. "WWE extends its condolences to Hogan's family, friends, and fans." Hogan allegedly had a health crisis weeks before his death, though his wife, Sky, denied the reports. She said her husband was "strong" and recovering from surgeries. In July 2024, Hogan endorsed Trump for president at the RNC, where he said "Let Trump-a-mania make America great again" – an ode to his Hulk-A-Mania moniker. Hogan expressed how upset he was to hear about the attempted assassination on Trump, saying they "took a shot at my hero." Then, in Hogan fashion, he ripped his shirt to reveal a Trump-Vance 2024 shirt. "Enough was enough and I said, let Trump-a-mania run wild, brother. Let Trump-a-mania rule again. Let Trump-a-mania make America great again," he screamed while flexing his pythons. Hogan's support of Trump goes well beyond 2024, as he told TMZ in 2015 that he would want to be Trump's running mate before his first term as president, where Mike Pence ran with him as vice president. The current vice president, JD Vance, also shared his condolences to Hogan's family and the wrestling world on Thursday. "Hulk Hogan was a great American icon. One of the first people I ever truly admired as a kid," Vance wrote on X. "The last time I saw him we promised we'd get beers together next time we saw each other. The next time will have to be on the other side, my friend! Rest in peace."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store