Bloomington-Normal’s two mayors recovering from COVID-19

Posted on April 19, 2022

*Mayor Mwilambwe said he tested positive for the virus last week, but was tested again Monday and it came back negative. (YouTube/City of Bloomington)*

BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe , Normal Mayor Chris Koos and a town council member attended their respective city council meetings virtually Monday night because they’re recovering from COVID-19.

Mayor Mwilambwe said he tested positive for the virus last week, but was tested again Monday and it came back negative. Mwilambwe said he’s done with the quarantine period after suffering mild symptoms, but participated virtually in Monday evening’s committee-of-the-whole city council meeting.

Mayor Koos said he’s heading into the quarantine phase, and plans to take another COVID test on Tuesday. Koos compared his illness to a mild flu.

Also resorting to virtual participation at Normal’s Town Council meeting was Councilwoman Kathleen Lorenz. She said she was suffering from a bad cold, and had a slight fever.

Both mayors and Lorenz said they each received two doses of the COVID vaccine, plus a booster.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…