A Little Free Pantry in front of the West Bloomington Revitalization Project got new looks on Monday. … MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Barnett not seeking re-election to McLean County Board
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – A Republican who has represented Bloomington’s east side on the McLean County Board since 2016 is not seeking re-election. “It has been the honor of my lifetime to represent the people of Bloomington on the McLean County Board, but I have decided now is the right time to step down and…… MORE
State Farm seeks to hire 1000′s of new workers, plans 2 job fairs
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – State Farm Insurance said Monday it is looking to hire more than 3,400 employees, and have scheduled two virtual job fairs in the coming days to meet with prospective candidates. In a news release, State Farm said it’s hiring full-and-part-time workers across the country after “a record breaking year of…… MORE
100′s of local government workers to receive pandemic pay
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – Elected McLean County government leaders are opting to pay bonuses to all county employees who worked during the early months of the pandemic instead of using the money as an incentive to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Roughly 750 union and non-union employees, who worked on-site instead of remotely from March…… MORE
Normal Police launch new social media campaign
By Blake Haas NORMAL – In an attempt to stop thieves in their tracks, the Normal Police Department is launching a social media campaign called “Manhunt Monday.” Each week, the department displays photos of alleged criminals while in the act. Brad Park, Public Information Officer with the Normal Police Department, said the social media campaign…… MORE
Local NAACP VP: Has Dr. King’s dream become a reality?
By Blake Haas BLOOMINGTON – The Vice President of the Bloomington-Normal NAACP Chapter says we still have a ways to go to bring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dreams to fruition. While some significant progress has been made on a local and national level, Dr. Carla Campbell-Jackson said opportunities are on the horizon for the…… MORE
BPD probing Monday afternoon shots fired incident
By Blake Haas BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington police are asking for the public’s help in solving a shooting incident that happened Monday afternoon. BPD says around 12:45 p.m. officers responded to Towanda Ave. and E. Jefferson St. Investigators say they found physical evidence that a shooting had occurred. There were no reported injuries and no suspect…… MORE
Despite five-fold increase in testing, Reditus Labs is processing COVID-19 tests within 48 hours
The omicron variant, winter travel and the reopening of schools has caused a surge in demand for testing at Reditus Labs.… MORE
Former Bloomington piano teacher sentenced for child porn and sexual assault
A Former McLean County piano teacher was handed down a 450-year prison sentence in a McLean County courtroom on Friday.… MORE
Prolific Central Illinois robber pleads guilty in federal court
A Sangamon County man pleaded guilty Wednesday to four counts of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of bank robbery, one count of armed bank robbery, and one count of attempted escape from the Livingston County Jail.… 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…