Thanks to the Federal Reserve, investors received a bonus gift ahead of the holidays as the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) surged to the highest in nearly two years. … MORE
Category Archives: Ask The Expert: Business
HCC announces $7.5 million electric vehicle training academy
A new electric vehicle workforce development program is coming to Heartland Community College at the tune of $7.5 million.… MORE
Crop report: Winter weather brings “concern about wheat crop”
This week’s reminder of winter should not be of much concern to Illinois farmers, according to Mark Schleusener, state statistician for the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.… MORE
Marketing Specialist with Savant Wealth Management calls COVID relief a bailout
After Congress passed a $1.9 trillion ‘American Rescue Plan,’ proposed by President Joe Biden, a Bloomington Financial Advisor says the bill is a “bailout disguised as a COVID relief plan.”… MORE
Rivian prepares for possible plant expansion in Normal
Rivian Automotive is looking to significantly expand its footprint at its plant in west Normal, while adding hundreds of workers to produce electric vehicles.… MORE
Financial Advisor: Economy could see boom thanks to COVID-19 vaccine
With the first COVID-19 vaccine administered in Illinois on Tuesday, and talks of a second COVID-relief stimulus underway, the economy could see a large increase due to “pent up demand.”… MORE
Financial Advisor: Market volatility due to a variety of issues
Between a lack of a second stimulus and election uncertainty, one Central Illinois advisor says with a week until the election, markets are going to be rocky.… MORE
Stocks on the rise after President Trump tweets support for a focused stimulus plan
Wall Street stocks are on the rise after President Trump announced he would like to provide aid to airlines along with individual stimulus checks to Americans in the hope that lawmakers could pass a smaller aid stimulus package.… MORE
State Sen. Jason Barickman: Closure of restaurants and bars will be ‘devastating’
On Sunday, Gov. Pritzker announced starting Monday night through March 30 due to COVID-19; however, one local lawmaker said Pritzker’s decision could have a rippling effect on the economy.… MORE
Local Wealth Advisor: Fed rate cut “is not going to help right now”
By Blake Haas BLOOMINGTON – To bolster the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Reserve announced Sunday a rate cut, and one local financial advisor says the cut will not help. The Federal Reserve, led by Chair Jerome Powell, cut rates by a full percentage point to zero. The benchmark rate is now a…… MORE
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…