More than 600 people plan to protest Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump’s scheduled campaign rally in Bloomington on Sunday.… MORE
Category Archives: Dan Swaney
Retiring BHS drama teacher helps students get ‘hooked’ on school
Bloomington High School’s long-time drama teacher will soon be taking her final bow.… MORE
Durbin: Supreme Court battle shows ‘dysfunction of Washington’
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said an attempt by Senate Republican leaders to block any Supreme Court nomination from President Barack Obama feeds the public’s mistrust of government.… MORE
Barickman campaigns for Rubio in Iowa
A state senator from Bloomington is helping Marco Rubio’s presidential campaign.… MORE
Normal council to consider balanced budget in March
The Town of Normal is progressing towards a balanced budget for the new fiscal year that begins April 1.… MORE
BCPA and Coliseum operations could be handled by one company soon
The Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts and the U.S. Cellular Coliseum may be run by the same company soon.… MORE
Barickman: Spending plan for local governments ‘problematic’
State Sen. Jason Barickman said lawmakers are showing they can work together to get things done in passing a nearly $2 billion spending bill to fund local government services, but the Bloomington Republican told WJBC’s Dan Swaney this stop-gap plan falls short.… MORE
CIRA to add 4th daily flight to Chicago
American Airlines will be experimenting with a fourth daily round-trip flight between Central Illinois Regional Airport and O’Hare Airport in Chicago.… MORE
Normal Town Council to discuss sales tax revenue next week
The town of Normal will start collecting one-percent more in sales tax starting Jan. 1, but what that revenue will be spent on is still up in the air.… MORE
Laborers have their day amid heated battle with Rauner
Local laborers will gather to celebrate on Monday under the backdrop of a contentious battle with the governor.… 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…