Life is more than mere existence. It’s survival and growth – as individuals, as a species, and as inhabitants of a planet teeming with life. But living has historically trod two paths: faith and reason, or religion and science.…
Author Archive for Bill Knight
Bill Knight
by Bill Knight • • Comments Off on Bill Knight
Demographics are destiny, it’s been said. Not necessarily, of course, but a new book by Paul Taylor – scheduled to speak at the Peoria Area Labor Management Council (PALM) at 11:15 a.m. May 19 at the Par-A-Dice Hotel – offers…
Government assistance or entitlement: County Board recipients see no hypocrisy
by Bill Knight • • Comments Off on Government assistance or entitlement: County Board recipients see no hypocrisy
At the March meeting of the Peoria County Board, Dist. 14 Board member Brian Elsasser wore a white striped tie and light purple shirt, a natty complement to his customary two-piece black suit, attire befitting a prosperous business man;…
COAL: Edwards plant improves but still pollutes
by Bill Knight • • Comments Off on COAL: Edwards plant improves but still pollutes
The E.D. Edwards Energy Center in Bartonville along the Illinois River reduced the amount of toxins it released in the last decade, but it continues to spew dangerous chemicals and is still burning coal. Further, according to both environmental activists…
Offbeat but not off-balance: Peoria’s NYT bestselling author/illustrator Skottie Young
by Bill Knight • • Comments Off on Offbeat but not off-balance: Peoria’s NYT bestselling author/illustrator Skottie Young
New York Times best-selling graphic novelist and Peoria illustrator Skottie Young might be offbeat, but he’s not off-balance. Whether work and fun, his job and his family, or words and pictures, Young is about balance, despite a visual style that’s…
Cubs manager has Peoria connection
by Bill Knight • • Comments Off on Cubs manager has Peoria connection
For years, the Joe Maddon-Peoria story has been that in 1984 Maddon introduced himself to the new Peoria Suns owner Pete Vonachen by saying, “Hi, I’m Joe Maddon, and I’m your manager. I just want you to know that I’ve…
Country music trend sparks pushback
by Bill Knight • • Comments Off on Country music trend sparks pushback
Counting on Miranda Lambert’s Feb. 21 concert at the Civic Center Arena to feature some version of “Somethin’ Bad,” her hit duet with Carrie Underwood, is like hoping for comic Rodney Carrington to stroll over from his performance in the…
Still popular, Bro Country sparks pushback
by Bill Knight • • Comments Off on Still popular, Bro Country sparks pushback
Many Country music promoters and programmers may have noticed some reaction to bro country, but the pendulum isn’t yet swinging away from the popular style. “Swinging away from ‘bro country’? Highly doubtable – not yet anyway,” says Chris Michaels, program…
Help the homeless
by Bill Knight • • Comments Off on Help the homeless
“… bring the homeless poor into your house.” – Isaiah 58: 7 February is Black History Month, so it’s tempting to see emotional objections to the Peoria Housing Authority’s investigation into relocating Taft Homes as racism. However, if giving the…
Poverty and homelessness up, but not ‘criminalized’ here
by Bill Knight • • Comments Off on Poverty and homelessness up, but not ‘criminalized’ here
As winter temperatures drop, homeless people may be more visible, either scrambling on the streets to find emergency shelter or seeking momentary refuge in public spaces like libraries. Homelessness and the poverty that can drive it continue. In a 2014…