Storms across Central Illinois cause power outages, downed trees

Tree limbs and power lines were knocked down as the storm rolled through Bloomington-Normal around 3:30 p.m. (Blake Haas/WJBC)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – A strong storm rolled through the Twin-Cities and Central Illinois Monday afternoon, causing power outages across the area.

Ameren Illinois and Corn Belt Energy report many are still without power across Central Illinois. According to outage maps, Ameren said about 1,000 people in Bloomington-Normal are still without service while Corn Belt reports 568 without power.

Around 3 p.m., Ameren activated its Emergency Operations Center in response to the severe storms.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

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…