By Neil Doyle NORMAL – McLean County’s largest school district is adding two early release days due to staffing shortages caused by the pandemic. In a Facebook post Thursday, Unit 5 says the pandemic has caused a great deal of pressure on its school system and has created staffing shortages for a variety of reasons.…… MORE
By Neil Doyle PONTIAC – An Aurora man has been arrested after an armed robbery Wednesday afternoon in Pontiac. Police say the armed robbery happened around 12:54 p.m. at the BP gas station located at 319 West Howard Street. A masked suspect entered the store and displayed a handgun before demanding money and forcing the…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – There’s skepticism over the government’s coronavirus numbers. And the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health says there is something to that. Dr. Ngozi Ezike gives one example: “Because of the ubiquitousness of omicron,” Ezike said during Gov. JB Pritzker’s news conference Wednesday, “there are people who maybe went…… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINTON – A national theater chain is bringing vaccinated-only show options to select theaters around the country. The Bloomington location for Marcus Theaters is adding the option – starting Friday, January 21. Vaccine-only shows will be available for two titles every day, according to a release. Showtimes will be clearly marked on…… MORE
The Habitat for Humanity of McLean County welcomes a new Executive Director with more than 37-years of experience. … MORE
The aviation industry is warning against the rollout of 5G band networks across the country, but one airport in central Illinois says the rollouts are not affecting their airport.… MORE
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – A local lawmaker and some of his family have tested positive for COVID-19. State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) says he and his wife, along with their daughter, tested positive for the virus last week. Barickman told WJBC’s Scott Miller he’s on the mend, but he developed several symptoms throughout the…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON-Habitat for Humanity in McLean county is calling for volunteers to assist at the Bloomington restore. The Bloomington ReStore is a non-profit home improvement store and donation center that sells new and gently used furniture, appliances, cabinets, home accessories, building materials, and more at deeply discounted prices. Linda Healy, Director of Development…… MORE
By Neil Doyle and HOI ABC NORMAL – KN95 face masks are being distributed to the entire campus community at Illinois State University. ISU is procuring a stock of KN95 masks to make available to every student, faculty, and staff member, according to a university coronavirus update. “KN95 masks are shown to provide wearers with…… MORE
By HOI ABC NORMAL – A Normal Town Council member is indicating he’ll request another council vote on a proposed $180,000 outdoor fitness center because town staffers gave him wrong information in which he based his vote earlier this month. The council at its January 4 meeting voted 4-2 to work with the National Fitness…… MORE
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.” …
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…
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…
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…