Looking ahead to the fall semester, representatives from Bradley, Illinois State and Illinois Wesleyan Universities said despite the obstacles they had during the spring, most students can start the new school year without worry.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Country star Scotty McCreery bringing ‘Fall of Summer’ Tour to Bloomington
A country artist who has sold more than four million albums and achieved five No. 1 hits plans to make a stop in Bloomington in October.… MORE
American Red Cross short 19,000 blood donations in July
The American Red Cross faces an emergency blood shortage due to the extreme heat.… MORE
Local health department bringing awareness to lead poisoning
By WMBD-TV MCLEAN COUNTY – Following recent news of possible lead contamination in cinnamon products, the McLean County Health Department is giving parents tips about preventing lead poisoning in children. Lead is a natural metal found in the ground that should not be consumed. It can show up in imported products like spices, jewelry and…… MORE
Deadly Eureka fire displaces multiple families
By WMBD-TV EUREKA – One person is dead and multiple families are displaced after a Friday night fire in Eureka. The Woodford County Coroner’s office has identified the victim as 58-year old Jennifer Adams. Adams was pronounced dead at the scene and died from injuries she sustained in the fire, according to a news release.…… MORE
In month since SCOTUS bribery decision, Madigan-related corruption cases forge ahead
Attorneys on both sides of the federal corruption case against former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan didn’t agree on much this past month, but they are aligned on one thing: they’re prepared to go to trial on Oct. 8 in Chicago. … MORE
Normal Police issue over 200 citations in July
A traffic campaign in Normal throughout July lead to hundreds of citations.… MORE
Illinois State University raises $35.4M in 2024 fiscal year
The numbers are in, and Illinois State University collected more than $30 million in private donations in the past fiscal year.… MORE
Sangamon County Sheriff on watching Sonya Massey shooting video: ‘I was sick to my stomach’
Sangamon County sheriff Jack Campbell made the rounds of local and national media Thursday to try to get his side of the story out about one of his former employees – now jailed for the shooting death of a Black woman, Sonya Massey, last month. … MORE
Narcan vending machine installed to address McLean County overdose deaths
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – Chestnut Health System announced that it has installed a Narcan vending machine to address the increasing number of overdose deaths in McLean County. According to a Chestnut Health System news release, the vending machine providing free Naloxone/Narcan will be located at Chestnut Health’s 1003 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive location. “The…… 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…