Category Archives: Local News

City of Bloomington addressing water utility billing glitch

City of Bloomington addressing water utility billing glitch

By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – Residents in the City of Bloomington will not have to pay a utility tax on their water bill next month due to an issue identified on the city’s utility bills. According to Bloomington’s Communication & External Affairs Manager Katherine Murphy, an issue was identified in the processing of the utility tax…MORE

Two central Illinois locations ranked in the top 100 places to live in U.S.

Two central Illinois locations ranked in the top 100 places to live in U.S.

By WMBD_TV BLOOMINGTON – Two central Illinois cities made the list of the top 100 places to live in the U.S. according to Livability.com. According to the list, both Bloomington and Peoria ranked in the top 100 best small to mid-sized cities to live in 2024. Bloomington ranked 36 and Peoria ranked 88. Both cities made…MORE

Illinois State Police seeking person of interest in Kewanee homicide

Illinois State Police seeking person of interest in Kewanee homicide

By WMBD-TV KEWANEE – The Illinois State Police are asking for the public’s help in finding a person of interest for a homicide investigation. On June 8, Kewanee police responded to a welfare check on West Division Street near Chautauqua Park, according to an ISP news release. When they arrived, they found an unresponsive man…MORE

Bird test positive for the West Nile virus in Woodford County

Bird test positive for the West Nile virus in Woodford County

By WMBD-TV METAMORA – The Woodford County Health Department reported its first case of a bird testing positive for the West Nile virus in the county this year on Thursday. According to the health department, a dead blackbird in Metamora tested positive for the virus. Health departments around the state monitor mosquitos and birds who…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…