Category Archives: Local News

Thousands of volunteers needed to pack one-million meals

Thousands of volunteers needed to pack one-million meals

By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL – State Farm is teaming up with Illinois State University and US Hunger to pack one million meals. But they need your help. State Farm is looking for 5,000 volunteers to help pack meals. The insurance company is accepting volunteers as young as five-years old. This is State Farm’s first time hosting…MORE

OSF St. Joseph Medical Center receives recognition for nursing excellence

OSF St. Joseph Medical Center receives recognition for nursing excellence

By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – The nursing staff at OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center is celebrating after receiving an excellence award Wednesday morning. According to a press release from the center Wednesday, the nursing staff was recognized for nursing excellence at OSF St. Joseph, the first designated hospital in McLean County. The center is 1…MORE

Illinois State Board of Education announces new teacher recruitment campaign

Illinois State Board of Education announces new teacher recruitment campaign

By WMBD-TV PEORIA – The state of Illinois is in short supply of teachers, but a new recruitment campaign is aiming to get more educators in classrooms. On Monday, The Illinois State Board of Education announced their newest $6 million statewide campaign to get more teachers hired in schools. During the 2023-2024 school year, Peoria…MORE

Midwest Food Bank sends relief to Hurricane Debby victims in Georgia, Florida

Midwest Food Bank sends relief to Hurricane Debby victims in Georgia, Florida

By WMBD-TV MORTON – Midwest Food Bank announced Monday afternoon that it’s sending much-needed relief to storm victims of Hurricane Debby in Georgia and Florida this week. The bank said it partnered with The Salvation Army to launch an initiative to help storm victims of Hurricane Debby that caused widespread damage and destruction in parts…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…