Category Archives: Local News

How to prevent cooking fires this Thanksgiving

How to prevent cooking fires this Thanksgiving

By WMBD-TV PEORIA – The American Red Cross is releasing information on how to avoid cooking fires this Thanksgiving. Jayce Eustice, a Communications Manager for the American Red Cross, said that the day before and the day of Thanksgiving have the highest chance of a cooking fire. Cooking fires happen in 158,000 homes every year,…MORE

Remembering fallen heroes, one star ornament at time

Remembering fallen heroes, one star ornament at time

By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – More than 400 star ornaments were placed on Christmas trees during a ceremony honoring Gold Star families and their loved ones who made the ultimate sacrifice. Hundreds attended the 9th annual Fallen Heroes Tree of Honor ceremony at Central Illinois Regional Airport, where Gold Star Families were recognized and loved ones’…MORE

Woodford County urging people to lock doors after burglaries

Woodford County urging people to lock doors after burglaries

By WMBD-TV GERMANTOWN HILLS – One car has been reported stolen after a spree of robberies and break-ins occurred on Friday night. The Woodford County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook that a group of people had been seen walking around Germantown Hills in the Far Hills and Maple Lane areas, looking to see if houses…MORE

Bloomington fire Tuesday evening causes ‘considerable smoke and heat damage’

Bloomington fire Tuesday evening causes ‘considerable smoke and heat damage’

By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – Additional units were needed to battle a house fire in Bloomington on Tuesday, the department said. When members of the Bloomington Fire Department arrived just after 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the house, located near the intersection of the 200 block of Magnolia and Meadowbrook Drives, the saw heavy smoke and flames.…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…