Job offers outside Bloomington are on the table for the city’s Manager.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Bloomington Police achieves accreditation for the first time since 2019
For the first time since 2019, Bloomington Police received accreditation from the Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program.… MORE
Amtrak appoints new member to national board
The long wait for Normal Mayor Chris Koos is over, after being nominated to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation Board of Directors in 2020, he was accepted onto the board on Monday.… MORE
Congressman LaHood tours facilities at Heartland Community College
U.S. Congressman Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap) made a stop in Normal to tour manufacturing and agricultural facilities at Heartland Community College.… MORE
15-year-old charged as an adult in connection with Bloomington shooting
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – A 15-year-old boy could face up to 30 years behind bars if convicted of charges connected to a shooting in early February. Colin Harris appeared in McLean County Circuit Court this week after being charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm and other counts in connection…… MORE
Normal gets federal dollars for infrastructure projects, Sorensen announces
By WMBD-TV NORMAL – U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen said there was $2.4 million for projects within the town of Normal. In the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill that passed the House, the Rockford Democrat secured money to make Normal safer and healthier, his office said. The spending bill now advances to the Senate for passage and then heads to…… MORE
McLean County Housing Coalition updates report on housing difficulties
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – Affordable housing is a national issue, and McLean County is no different. The McLean County Housing Coalition updated its report on housing and homelessness in the area for 2024, and the picture that was painted wasn’t pretty. The county has a shortage of about 7,000 housing units, and the homelessness rate is rising. Janet Hood…… MORE
Phone outage resolved at two OSF Healthcare locations
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – OSF Healthcare reported that it has been having issues with its phone lines for the past several days, but reported late Thursday night that the issue was repaired. According to OSF Healthcare Public Relations and Communications Coordinator Patti Penn, issues with incoming calls were affecting OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in…… MORE
Illinois State Police: One arrested in Bloomington area for human trafficking
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – The Illinois State Police arrested one man during an anti-human trafficking operation in the Bloomington area, the agency announced late Thursday. On March 20, the Trafficking Enforcement Bureau of the state police “conducted an operation focused on identifying individuals who compel others into the commercial sex industry through force fraud and coercion,…… MORE
Bloomington Police release St. Patrick’s Day enforcement results
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington Police Department arrested several impaired drivers during it’s St. Patrick’s Day holiday enforcement campaign. BPD partnered with the Illinois Department of Transportation and other law enforcement agencies across the state for the holiday. The Department announced it made three DUI arrests and issued ten seat belt citations during…… 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…