By HOI ABC NORMAL – Most unvaccinated students, faculty and staff at Illinois State University will no longer have to test weekly for COVID-19. The university says healthcare workers and K-12 staff who are not fully vaccinated are to participate in the on-campus COVID-19 testing program at least once every seven calendar days until becoming fully vaccinated…… MORE
By IIS Radio SPRINGFIELD – The state is expanding health care coverage for adult immigrants. Starting next summer, undocumented immigrants aged 42 and up can apply for the health benefits. Currently adults have to be 55 or older. Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services assistant director Jenny Aguirre says the program is similar to…… MORE
By HOI ABC LEROY – A sign on Route 150 continues to turn heads in Eastern McLean County. The sign for the past several weeks appears to call out liberals using a partial phrase at least one teenager with special needs from the area finds offensive. “This town is an amazing place and should be…… MORE
A local firefighter is in a hospital after battling a blaze on Tuesday near Route 66.… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – A major road project in Bloomington has a green light, and plenty of interest, based on a meeting held Wednesday night. IDOT held a public info session at Bloomington Junior High School. Around 100 people were there for details on Illinois Route 9 improvements, stretching from Market and Martin Luther…… MORE
Central Illinois is in the dog days of summer, and the McLean County Health Department has some advice in dealing with the heat.… MORE
By IIS Radio SPRINGFIELD – This may be another big year for winter wheat in Illinois. According to the July production report, harvested wheat acres are estimated at 720,000, up 110,000 from last year. Crop statistician Mark Schleusener says the yield should be strong. “NASS forecast the 2022 wheat yield to be 79 bushels per…… MORE
By Neil Doyle TOWANDA – A local man has died after a two-vehicle crash Tuesday morning in rural Towanda. Michael Simpsen, 50, of Normal died from extensive multiple blunt force injuries due to a pickup truck and automobile collision, reportedly sustained as the driver of the pickup truck, according to McLean County Coroner Kathy Yoder.…… MORE
A late Monday-night letter to employees confirms Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe is looking at “adopting major cost down efforts” on the heels of a report suggesting layoffs.… MORE
By HOI ABC NORMAL – A man from Normal has been charged with possession of child pornography, Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office announced today. Andrew F. Bachman, 32, was charged in McLean County Circuit Court with 11 counts of possession of child pornography. Each of these are class 2 felonies punishable by three to seven…… MORE
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.” …
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…
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…
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…