Category Archives: Local News

ISU basketball legend visits local therapy clinic

ISU basketball legend visits local therapy clinic

By HOI ABC NORMAL – An Illinois State University basketball legend was in the Twin Cities Sunday to talk about the importance of a local therapy resource. Doug Collins, whose number 20 is retired by the Redbirds, held a special press conference at Marcfirst – an organization that specializes in speech & language, physical and…MORE

Volunteers needed for Special Olympics Illinois next weekend

Volunteers needed for Special Olympics Illinois next weekend

By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Thousands of Special Olympics athletes from across the state will be in Bloomington Normal to compete in the Special Olympics Illinois State Summer Games later this week. This annual event will be held predominately at Illinois State University with additional competition at Normal Community High School and Kingsley Junior High.…MORE

Global candymaker Ferrero North America set to announce another Bloomington expansion

Global candymaker Ferrero North America set to announce another Bloomington expansion

By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – Global confectionery giant Ferrero North America will be expanding by building a production center at its existing Bloomington site. The company – known for making Nutella, Ferrero Rocher, Tic Tac, and Kinder Joy – plans to unveil details of its expansion plans at a Monday news conference. An alert sent…MORE

Gun shots reportedly fired near Rainbow Avenue in Bloomington

Gun shots reportedly fired near Rainbow Avenue in Bloomington

By Jake Fogal On Sunday, Bloomington Police officers were summoned to the 2200 block of Rainbow Avenue in response to a fight call. Several residents called to say that bullets had been fired shortly after. BPD officers arrived on the site and discovered physical evidence of a shooting. No injuries have been reported, no suspect(s)…MORE

Dashcam video shows attack on ISP trooper during McLean County traffic stop

Dashcam video shows attack on ISP trooper during McLean County traffic stop

By HOI ABC CHENOA – New dashcam video shows an Illinois State Police trooper trying to help the driver of a traffic stop near Chenoa, before being attacked. The 11-minute video, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, shows state trooper Matthew Niehaus conducting a traffic stop on Randy Turner for speeding, allegedly at 109 miles…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…