Tag Archive for Bill Knight

Bill Knight | Farm subsidies

Somewhat overlooked during the holidays’ government shutdown caused by President Trump’s demand for $5 billion to partly fund a border wall that Democrats don’t support was the delay of some farm subsidies and other payments to farmers. That sparked a…

Knight

Happy re-birthday Three years ago, some 20 Peoria-area journalists and activists came together to buy the Community Word to ensure its future as an independent, locally owned newspaper. Initially launched in 1977, the free monthly now reaches about 19,000 readers…

Knight

The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper” for weeks has received justifiable attention on its 50th anniversary, but the wonderful album didn’t spring full-blown from Lennon’s and McCartney’s heads. It owes a lot to Capitol Records “teammates” the Beach Boys, especially their own…

Members of labor unions mostly know the ins and outs of organizing – or at least a vague notion of the possibilities of working together toward a common goal. Ironically, workers who need unions the most may feel indifferent or…

Few people reside on their ancestral land; few live where they believe their religious faith originally preferred. If they did, more Mormons would populate Illinois, and a lot more Native Americans would demand a return of property throughout the state…

‘Slinkenwolf’

  Beyond a grassy ridge from a tree-covered bandshell, carnival rides twinkle and sparkle in the humid evening, calliope music tinkling softly. It could be almost any year in the last century. The louder music exploding from six Marshall amps…

Hate Crime

“Sticks and stones will break your bones, but names will never hurt you,” goes the children’s rhyme. In Canton, some 40 miles southwest of Peoria, it might be said, “Names will never hurt you, but fists can.” And hate. On…

It’s past time for political prioritization. At a time when the state of Illinois has been unable or unwilling to meet its financial obligations to social-service providers because of the lack of a state budget for 10 months, the state…