Planting new trees is a key part of investing in “public spaces,” according to Reimagining the Civic Commons, which for years advocated for reinvigorating public spaces such as parks in Chicago and other Midwest cities and also stressing how developing…
Author Archive for Bill Knight
Arts Alerts: Memorable murals, Nutcracker Ballet, Blues, ICC Philarmonic and A Christmas Carol Radio Play
by Bill Knight • • 0 Comments
ART Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Peoria Riverfront Museum recently unveiled “The Amethyst,” one of the world’s tallest geodes, now on display as part of its permanent collection. Big Picture Peoria has eight “augmented-reality-enabled” murals of renowned native Peorians on…
Beauty of a winter lion: Poetry of Byron DeHaan
by Bill Knight • • 1 Comment
As winter increases its mean freeze, there’s something warm and inviting about Byron DeHaan. The long-time director of public affairs at Caterpillar for decades helped instill a sense of corporate citizenship at the Fortune 500 company, and the 96-year-old resident…
Midterm election scorecard tallies totals from Peoria County
by Bill Knight • • 0 Comments
Peoria-area voters weighed in on a host of national, state and local races and issues on Nov. 8. Here are details on key winners and their victory percentages from unofficial results from balloting in Peoria County, where the turnout was…
Peoria County voters choose to eliminate auditor
by Bill Knight • • 0 Comments
Peoria County voters on Nov. 8 overwhelmingly approved eliminating the County Auditor’s Office, but related court actions remain active: a renewed claim to stay all proceedings and restore the authority of the office, a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to maintain…
Election Commission staking out nuisances like voter intimidators, Big Liars
by Bill Knight • • 0 Comments
Local and federal law enforcement are on alert for disruptions in the Nov. 8 election in Peoria, where threats have included possible attempts to intimidate voters, plus a campaign of correspondence apparently intended to disrupt the election’s preparations and execution.…
Two Auditor requests for ballot injunction denied by judge; Referendum on whether to keep office left up to voters
by Bill Knight • • 1 Comment
Two attempts to block the Nov. 8 referendum on whether or not to keep the Peoria County Auditor office failed in the last month as Judge James Mack denied requests by Peoria County Auditor Jessica Thomas and community advocate Karrie…
Arts Alerts: Mars, Keith Urban, Oak Ridge Boys, Bill Burr, Holiday Inn, Regifters
by Bill Knight • • 0 Comments
ART The 10-foot artwork “Mars,” by U.K. artist Luke Jerram, is a highlight of “Mars: The Exhibition,” continuing in November at the Riverfront Museum. The interative display will be here through Spring. MUSIC Keith Urban is set to play…
Who’s dissing you? Be sure you’re not missing out because lawmakers are lying about the SAFE-T Act
by Bill Knight • • 2 Comments
Information is power, it’s said, but increasingly — especially with today’s sophisticated, speedy technology — so is disinformation. In elections, maybe such fearmongering was always powerful. Commentator H.L. Mencken in 1918 wrote, “Democracy tends to degenerate into a mere combat…
SAFE SPACE: Jim and Laura Sniff provide special kind of fun on their farm
by Bill Knight • • 5 Comments
At press time, a few shows remain in the Blue Ridge Community Farm’s fall concert series, but there’s no end in sight for Jim and Laura Sniff’s activities — or the love behind it in Chillicothe. A self-described “farm kid”…