Category Archives: Local News

A Bloomington snow leopard will soon have a new home

A Bloomington snow leopard will soon have a new home

By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – One of the snow leopards from the Miller Park Zoo will soon have a new home. According to the city of Bloomington, Shree, a female snow leopard, will leave Miller Park Zoo on May 24 and arrive at Safe Haven Wildlife Sanctuary in Imlay, Nevada on May 25. The recommendation to move Shree…MORE

Two charged in connection with shots fired incident in Normal nearly two years ago

Two charged in connection with shots fired incident in Normal nearly two years ago

By WMBD-TV NORMAL – Two people appeared in court this week on weapons charges stemming from an incident nearly two years ago in Normal, the police department announced. Eric L. Clark-Phifer and Demetrius D. Moore, both 32 and both from Bloomington, stand charged in McLean County Circuit Court with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon…MORE

Woodford County Board approves non-sanctuary status

Woodford County Board approves non-sanctuary status

By WMBD-TV WOODFORD COUNTY – The Woodford County Board voted to approve its non-sanctuary status at its meeting on Tuesday. The passage of the resolution means that the county will not provide taxpayer-funded services for migrants if they were to enter the county. 12 counties across Illinois have declared that status, making Woodford the 13th…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…