Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has announced the company will purchase 100,000 electric delivery vans from Rivian Automotive.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Barickman: Vaping needs more research, education
State Senator Jason Barickman wants more research done on vaping and e-cigarette products, but he doesn’t think the industry should be completely banned.… MORE
Rivian will make 100,000 electric delivery vans for Amazon
Electric vehicle maker Rivian will be adding new delivery vans to its lineup.… MORE
Effingham County Board aims at bringing back Illinois House to multi-member districts
An effort underway in Effingham County could be dismissed as a longshot or a downstate political minority blowing off steam, but a longtime political observer said the county-level push to revert the Illinois House back to multi-member districts, rather than single-member districts, could make the chamber more representative and even-keeled.… MORE
Illinois’ lawsuit-friendly environment worst in U.S.
A poll of business attorneys across the nation found that Illinois has no equal when it comes to lawsuits.… MORE
IDOC: two-year audit finds employee misuse of ‘sick leave, vacation time and overtime’
A new two-year audit of the Illinois Department of Corrections found employee misuse of sick leave, vacation time and overtime, something that a prison watchdog said not only hurts taxpayers, but can put inmates and employees at risk.… MORE
Downtown axe-throwing venue targets city approval
A government panel had anything but an axe to grind Wednesday about plans to convert a vacant building near Downtown Bloomington into a sports and fitness business in which axe-throwing is the main attraction.… MORE
Bloomington’s Renner backs another mayor in 2020 Presidential race
Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner is weighing in on the 2020 race for the White House by supporting South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg for the Democratic Presidential nomination.… MORE
UPDATE: Robustelli won’t seek re-election to McLean County Board; IWU student announces candidacy
A Democrat on the McLean County Board is not running for re-election next year, and an Illinois Wesleyan University student wants to replace him.… MORE
Robustelli not seeking re-election to McLean County Board
A Democrat on the McLean County Board said he’s not running for re-election next year.… 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…