Category Archives: Local News

Normal to rename aquatic center for former mayor

Normal to rename aquatic center for former mayor

By WMBD-TV NORMAL – The Town of Normal announced its plans on Tuesday to rename the Fairview Aquatic Center. According to a press release from the town, they will rename the center to the Kent M. Karraker Aquatic Center in honor of the town’s former mayor. Normal Mayor Chris Koos shared the news with Karraker’s family…MORE

Partnership providing veterans with free tickets to Bloomington shows

Partnership providing veterans with free tickets to Bloomington shows

By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – The city of Bloomington announced a new partnership on Friday that will be giving back to area veterans. The city’s Arts & Entertainment Department stated that it has partnered with the nonprofit organization Vet Tix to provide local and regional veterans with tickets to live events free of charge. The tickets would be for events…MORE

Illinois hunters bag record number of turkeys

Illinois hunters bag record number of turkeys

By WMBD-TV SPRINGFIELD – The 2024 Illinois spring turkey season netted a statewide record of 17,208 turkeys harvested, according to an Illinois Department of Natural Resources news release. This is an increase from last year’s total of 16,123 turkeys and bests the previous record of 16,659 turkeys in 2006. The top five counties were Jo…MORE

Illinois Poison Center sounding alarm on increased calls during summer

Illinois Poison Center sounding alarm on increased calls during summer

By WMBD-TV CHICAGO – The Illinois Poison Center is warning residents of the increased presence of foodborne illnesses as the warmer months roll in. Why now and not winter? Basically with outdoor celebrations, hot food fails to stay hot and cold food fails to stay cold, increasing the risk of food poisoning. That, plus bugs…MORE

Use caution and care when traveling Memorial Day weekend, experts say

Use caution and care when traveling Memorial Day weekend, experts say

By WMBD-TV PEORIA – Memorial Day is right around the corner, and travel experts expect it to be one of the busiest times of the year with more 40 million people traveling across the country. Not only is the holiday a day when airports and highways are filled with eager vacationers, but it’s also a…MORE

With Memorial Day around the corner, boaters stress safety on the river

With Memorial Day around the corner, boaters stress safety on the river

By WMBD-TV PEORIA – Memorial Day is Monday, and that means plenty of boats will be on the water this weekend. Safety is paramount given the number of boats that will be on the Illinois River, some for the first time this season. Michael Christman is a vessel examiner with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and emphasized…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…