On Oct. 15, the homeless tent encampment will be moved from its current location next to Home Sweet Home Ministries into the Bloomington Salvation Army shelter.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Social Security Administration opting for digitized signature requirements for more than 30 forms
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – The Social Security Administration is establishing a policy that could ease a burden on millions of it’s customers. The SSA is beginning to transition away from a physical signature requirement, and moving to a more electronic friendly method, Digital Signatures. Martin O’Malley, Commissioner of Social Security, thinks these changes will…… MORE
Farmington school employee’s trial for solicitation set for December
An employee of Farmington Central Elementary School will appear next in court in December on charges she tried to solicit a child for sex.… MORE
Person found at Normal recycling plant identified
By WMBD-TV NORMAL – A 34-year-old Springfield man was identified as the person who was found dead amid recycling materials at a Normal facility last week. Dion M. Macklin was found in the materials that were being processed at Midwest Fiber, Inc. plant in Normal, said McLean County Coroner Kathy Yoder. The coroner said the…… MORE
Bloomington to close Eastview Church encampment
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – The City of Bloomington has announced it will close the unhoused encampment in Eastview Christian Church’s parking lot. It will partner with Eastview, Home Sweet Home Ministries, and the Salvation Army to offer support to the unhoused people in the camp. In addition to the closure, the city council will consider…… MORE
Business damaged during shooting incident in Bloomington
The Bloomington Police Department is investigating after a shooting incident near Veterans Parkway and Washington Street on Friday.… MORE
Two teens arrested for weapons charges in Bloomington
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – Two teenagers have been arrested and taken to the McLean County Juvenile Detention Center in connection with a shots fired incident from Thursday. According to Bloomington police, officers were sent to the intersection of Washington and Howard streets at about 3:15 p.m. Thursday after several people called, saying they heard gunshots.…… MORE
Local superintendents give progress reports at “State of Public Schools” event
The “State of Public Schools” has returned as McLean County stakeholders gathered at Heartland Community College to learn about the changes and challenges in the local public school systems.… MORE
Macomb Officers released after being shot; suspect remains barricaded in home
The Macomb police officers who were shot by an unnamed person have been released from a Peoria hospital, the police chief said Thursday morning.… MORE
Multiple Central IL fire departments fighting downtown fire in Lincoln
Firefighters are actively responding to a large fire in downtown Lincoln.… 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…