Monday morning saw a brief status hearing in the case of Sean Grayson, the former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy accused of murder in the July 6 shooting death of Sonya Massey, a Black woman, in her Springfield home. Grayson is white.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Local community members hold open forum on the housing crisis
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington Revivalists hosted a public forum at the Bloomington library on Sunday, trying to come up with solutions for the current housing crisis. The group’s mission is to improve their community through bottom-up solutions. Panelists with the Bloomington-Normal Community Land Trust and McLean County Co-Housing discussed issues like homelessness, the…… MORE
Up to 18 cows still on the run in Douglas Co. as search efforts continue
After a semi-trailer hauling 67 cows rolled over on I-57 in Tuscola overnight, authorities and community members alike from Central Illinois have banded together to try and find the missing animals on the run.… MORE
White substance in Bloomington creek found to be paint, fire department says
A white substance found in a creek near the intersection of Airport Road and North Hershey Road in Bloomington was discovered to be paint.… MORE
Teen dies after medical emergency at Normal High School
By WMBD-TV & Jake Fogal NORMAL – A 15-year-old girl is dead after a medical emergency at Normal Community West High School on Thursday. According to a news release from the Normal Police Department, officers initially responded to the high school on a report of a student having a medical emergency at approximately 9:51 a.m.…… MORE
Federals funds secured for Bloomington road project
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – Congressman Darin LaHood visited Bloomington on Thursday as the city prepares for another project. After more than 25 years in the making, Bloomington leaders said they’re ready for the Hamilton Road Project. It’s part of a bigger concept, the southern transportation corridor, which is found in city planning documents dating back…… MORE
Heartland Community College allots $35 million for infrastructure projects
By WMBD-TV NORMAL – Heartland Community College is planning for its future. The college’s Board of Trustees allotted $35 million for general obligation debt certificates. This will be money Heartland can use towards projects including, but not limited to, renovations to their Workforce Development Center and its Hawk Cafe and the Advanced Manufacturing and Technical…… MORE
Forensic pathologist awarded for work with organ and tissue donation
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – In July, Dr. Scott Denton was awarded the Life Saving Partner Award by the Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Network. “I was giving a lecture about why forensic pathologists can help save the living in organ donation. Which is something I don’t get to do often,” said Denton. “So, I…… MORE
Connect Transit to offer free rides to local library cardholders
Connect Transit is teaming up with the Bloomington and Normal Public libraries to provide free rides to library cardholders this September.… MORE
Sweet Corn Circus returns this weekend to Uptown Normal
This weekend the Sweet Corn Circus returns to Uptown Normal to celebrate Bloomington-Normal’s circus and agricultural roots.… 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…