Category Archives: Local News

One person wounded as Bloomington Police probe pair of shots fired incidents over the weekend

One person wounded as Bloomington Police probe pair of shots fired incidents over the weekend

By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON -The Bloomington Police Department is investigating two shots fired incidents that happened over the weekend. Bloomington police officers heard gunshots just before 9:00 p.m. on Friday being fired near their location, in the 300 block of West Graham Street. Officers canvassed the surrounding area and located evidence of a shots fired…MORE

Winner of Top Chef coming to Bloomington’s Epiphany Farms

Winner of Top Chef coming to Bloomington’s Epiphany Farms

By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – A Top Chef winner is serving up meals in Bloomington-Normal over the next month. Chef Ken Myszka from Epiphany Farm says his good friend and Top Chef Season 3 winner, Hung Huynh, will help cook at the location for the next four weeks. Myszka spoke with WJBC’s Scott Miller. “Over…MORE

Civil rights lawsuit filed by ISU protestors lands in federal court

Civil rights lawsuit filed by ISU protestors lands in federal court

By WMBD-TV PEORIA – A lawsuit filed in May by Illinois State University students protesting the ongoing conflict in Gaza has been moved to federal court. And within a day, the seven students involved have asked, through their attorney, for a judge to bar the school from taking further action against them while the suit…MORE

Severe storms possible tonight

Severe storms possible tonight

By WMBD-TV CENTRAL ILLINOIS – After nearly two weeks of dry weather, showers and storms have made a return to central Illinois. While this storm system will not be as impactful as other events this summer, a few severe storms are possible Thursday evening and overnight. STORM TIMING The main window for severe weather chances…MORE

Thousands of volunteers needed to pack one-million meals

Thousands of volunteers needed to pack one-million meals

By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL – State Farm is teaming up with Illinois State University and US Hunger to pack one million meals. But they need your help. State Farm is looking for 5,000 volunteers to help pack meals. The insurance company is accepting volunteers as young as five-years old. This is State Farm’s first time hosting…MORE

OSF St. Joseph Medical Center receives recognition for nursing excellence

OSF St. Joseph Medical Center receives recognition for nursing excellence

By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – The nursing staff at OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center is celebrating after receiving an excellence award Wednesday morning. According to a press release from the center Wednesday, the nursing staff was recognized for nursing excellence at OSF St. Joseph, the first designated hospital in McLean County. The center is 1…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…