Illinois Wesleyan University has named a 12-member search committee to find the school’s 20th president.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Charges dropped against former Congressman Aaron Shock
Former Central Illinois Congressman Aaron Shock has been cleared of federal criminal charges alleging misuse of campaign funds.… MORE
Illinois State University Mennonite College of Nursing receives $2.8 million grant
Illinois State University has a new pulse in the College of Nursing thanks to a new grant.… MORE
Lyons: Illinois has put student-athletes in bad spot
Illinois State University Athletic Director Larry Lyons is making sure student-athletes are prepared for new laws in the state that include sports betting and recreational marijuana.… MORE
Illinois State University and Heartland Community College hits record enrollment numbers
Illinois State University freshman enrollment is the largest freshman class in over 33-years, increasing by 1.2 percent over the last academic year.… MORE
New law helps active-duty and former military personnel who live within commuting distance pay in-state tuition rates
Thanks to a new law, passed with bipartisan support from the legislature, active-duty and former military personnel who live in other states within commuting distance of Illinois can pay in-state tuition rates to attend Illinois public universities, colleges and community colleges.… MORE
U of I student group calls noose incident racist, unwelcome
A University of Illinois student organization is calling for an extensive and open investigation after a man from Normal was arrested for hanging a noose on campus.… MORE
USDA state statistician: ‘large percentage of corn and soybeans are rated poor’
Illinois’ cash crops could be of concern to some, as a relatively large percentage of corn and soybeans are rated poor-to-very-poor. That’s 19 percent for corn and 17 percent for soybeans.… MORE
Normal Council hears from key Uptown backers, okays tax rebates for new brewpub
The Normal Town Council’s use of tax breaks to generate Uptown development won the applause of some community leaders who addressed the council Tuesday night.… MORE
Wells named president at OSF Children’s Hosptial
A rural Danvers man has been named president of OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital.… 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…