By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – The city of Bloomington is a step closer to turning a downtown eyesore into a housing solution. Monday night, the council unanimously passed an agreement between the city and a developer to revitalize the CII East building downtown. The privately-owned building on East Street has been vacant for many years,…… MORE
By HOI ABC DWIGHT – A section of Interstate 55 was closed Monday evening after police chased the driver of a stolen ambulance from Chicago to Dwight. Illinois State Police said the chase ended about 6:30 p.m. when the ambulance stopped and a suspect was taken into custody. Authorities said I-55 was closed in both…… MORE
By HOI ABC NORMAL – Normal’s very own American Idol is making her claim for national glory. Leah Marlene advanced to the Top 10 Monday night, singing Bob Dylan’s ‘Make You Feel My Love.’ On her Facebook page, Leah expressed gratitude for everyone who voted for her to continue on in the competition. “I can’t believe…… MORE
The Tazewell County Emergency Management Agency is looking for volunteers.… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – A new bus route by Connect Transit was announced last week that would journey to the western edge of town to Rivian Automotive. Connect Transit General Manager David Braun says that two routes will be active seven day’s a week from Uptown Normal and Downtown Bloomington, each benefiting more than…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Gas prices in Illinois are on the rise for the first time in over a month, up about 6 cents over the week, averaging $4.41 a gallon. The national average is up 4.4 cents over the week, averaging $4.11 a gallon. “For the first time in over a month, the…… MORE
By HOI ABC NORMAL – Normal’s own Leah Marlene is advancing to the next round on ‘American Idol,’ voted in Sunday night on the singing competition. The 20-year-old Marlene was the first to be announced to move on to the next round by getting enough votes from the audience, after performing ‘Happy Together’ by the…… MORE
By HOI ABC NORMAL – Parents, students and more came together at Normal West High School Saturday to learn about the latest updates within the Unit 5 school district. The district hosted a ‘Community Engagement’ session where administration members talked about recent successes and challenges. Superintendent Kristen Weikle touched on challenges the district faces, including…… MORE
BLOOMINGTON (Heart of Illinois ABC) – There’s movement in Bart McNeil’s 23-year old McLean County murder case. McNeil is serving a 100-year sentence for the murder of his three-year-old daughter Christina. Two Illinois groups that work to exonerate wrongful convictions are re-affirming the reasons the court should hear new and so-far unconsidered evidence in the…… MORE
By Neil Doyle NORMAL – In celebration of Earth Day, Connect Transit will be suspending fare collection on all public transportation services for Bloomington-Normal. “A single person choosing to use public transportation instead of driving can reduce up to 20 pounds of CO2 emissions in one day,” according to a news release from the public…… 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…