More than 91% of employees at the Peoria Public Library are living “paycheck to paycheck,” according to a survey of staff this winter. What’s arguably worse for them — and maybe embarrassing for the City of Peoria and taxpayers –…
Author Archive for Bill Knight
Bill Knight: Defending Democracy, citizens, never stops; up next are local races
by Bill Knight • • Comments Off on Bill Knight: Defending Democracy, citizens, never stops; up next are local races
Citizenship never stops, really. It didn’t end with voting in November, and it requires participation between now and April 4. That’s when the consolidated local election — held in the spring of odd-numbered years — will pick local representatives to…
Arts Alerts: February kicks off with Laugh for a Cause at Mission BBQ, Heartland Festival Orchestra playing West Side “Stories”
by Bill Knight • • Comments Off on Arts Alerts: February kicks off with Laugh for a Cause at Mission BBQ, Heartland Festival Orchestra playing West Side “Stories”
ART • On Feb. 9 the Fine Arts Society of Peoria will present Chicago artist Juarez Hawkins at the Peoria Riverfront Museum to lecture on David C. Driskell, who’s credited with using his work, writing and teaching to promote the…
Peoria County claims attorney Justin Penn charging too much in Auditor court proceedings
by Bill Knight • • Comments Off on Peoria County claims attorney Justin Penn charging too much in Auditor court proceedings
Attorneys representing Peoria County in Auditor Jessica Thomas’ lawsuit filed a blistering objection to her lawyer’s Dec. 7 request for $42,087.50 in fees plus $766.64 in expenses, calling it an “exorbitant demand.” “The County never agreed to such exorbitant and…
Overwhelming support: VAC helps veterans get benefits, but Peorians pay for non-residents
by Bill Knight • • Comments Off on Overwhelming support: VAC helps veterans get benefits, but Peorians pay for non-residents
Peoria County has more than 9,000 military veterans, according to the Census, and hundreds seek help with issues ranging from disability benefits to housing. The county’s Veterans Assistance Commission advocates for them while maneuvering a new federal law providing…
Arts Alerts: Zen and the Art of Sprinkler Maintenance, Nate Craig coming to Jukebox
by Bill Knight • • Comments Off on Arts Alerts: Zen and the Art of Sprinkler Maintenance, Nate Craig coming to Jukebox
BOOKS • Writer (and Community Word co-owner) Burt Raabe will be signing his poetry collection “Zen and the Art of Underground Sprinkler Maintenance” and reading selections at I Know You Like A Book on Jan. 11. • Former U.S. Attorney…
‘Disappointing’ majority will be handicap of this GOP
by Bill Knight • • Comments Off on ‘Disappointing’ majority will be handicap of this GOP
On October 16, 1854, in Peoria, Abraham Lincoln argued against expanding slavery and touched on a citizen’s role, that when he governs himself that is self-government, “but when he governs himself and also governs another, that is more than self-government.…
Judge: County Auditor shall earn check until office voters eliminated closes
by Bill Knight • • Comments Off on Judge: County Auditor shall earn check until office voters eliminated closes
Peoria taxpayers are paying outside attorneys to sue the county and also to defend the county in a 13-month-old lawsuit by County Auditor Jessica Thomas, whose office was changed by the County Board in 2021 and eliminated by voters in…
Park District trustee planting trees of hope
by Bill Knight • • Comments Off on Park District trustee planting trees of hope
The prime time when trees were center stage passed with fall’s spectacular colors gone or muted into stands of dark-brown red oaks. But forests in the city may yet be in the wings, awaiting their cue. There are initiatives to…
Five ways investing in public spaces helps reduce violence and crime
by Bill Knight • • Comments Off on Five ways investing in public spaces helps reduce violence and crime
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…