Illinois’ governor is reacting to adult-use cannabis sales and the tax revenue generated during the first month.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
ISU Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts prepares for $52 million project
Administrators of the Wonsook College of Fine Arts at Illinois State University have been planning for a huge renovation project for years and now they have $52.3 million to get it done.… MORE
McLean County Jury finds Bollingbrook man guilty of 2018 sex assault charges
A McLean County jury found a Bollingbrook man guilty last week of sexual assault in a February 2018 incident when the victim reported to be drugged and sexually assaulted.… MORE
Sunnyside Community Garden in Bloomington expanding access to fresh food
The Bloomington City Council, without discussion, approved a license agreement Monday night allowing Sunnyside to run the community garden until the end of 2022. The agreement allows Sunnyside to pursue grants and other funding opportunities.… MORE
YWCA offers sexual assault survivors hope through ‘Stepping Stones’ program
Harvey Weinstein’s case played a big part in the ‘Me Too’ movement started by women in Hollywood.… MORE
More winter weather across central Illinois
Another round of winter weather will hit most of central Illinois over the next 24 hours.… MORE
Pair of Bloomington council members want downtown parking deck torn down
Bloomington’s proposed $230.3 million budget for the next fiscal year includes a money to repair a downtown parking garage that at least two city council members would like to see torn down.… MORE
‘Fargo’ TV show films in Pontiac
The spotlight was on Pontiac Monday as hundreds of people were at work shooting scenes for the FX show, “Fargo.”… MORE
Officials discuss automatic voter registration program
Now it’s time for the federal government to look into the problems with Illinois’ automatic voter registration program. Hundreds of non-citizens were registered to vote. Only one did vote, but everybody at a hearing in Springfield agrees: that’s one too many.… MORE
Health advocates want to limit prior authorization by insurance companies
Doctors and patients say they’ve had it with some paper-pusher at an insurance company standing between you and your treatment.… 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…