A family is remembering their 17-year-old son after his shooting death in Bloomington nearly two weeks ago, asking “how,” “why,” and “who.”… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Bloomington man sentenced to federal prison in Chicago cocaine trafficking case
By HOI ABC CHICAGO – A federal judge has sentenced a Bloomington man to 16 years in prison after a jury last year found him guilty of trying to traffic cocaine in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood. Tekoa Q. Tinch, 34, was convicted of attempting to possess cocaine with intent to distribute. Federal prosecutors said Tinch…… MORE
National Donate Life Month celebrated in Springfield
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Phillip Hanks is used to giving an “organ recital.” “I received a pancreas, a liver, upper / lower intestine, liver, (Did I say liver already), kidney, and stomach. The Joliet area man was a bodybuilder who used too much protein, creatine, and then ibuprofen. Almost one year ago, he received…… MORE
State awarding $12M to communities around the state for sidewalks and bike paths
More than $12 million is being awarded to communities around the state to ensure students get to school safely.… MORE
Illinois State University union employees ratify contract
AFSCME Local 1110, the union that represents approximately 350 employees in Illinois State University janitorial, grounds, catering, dining center and retail dining areas, has overwhelmingly ratified a new contract.… MORE
Teacher hiring across Illinois hits record numbers
Illinois added nearly 5,700 teachers during the last school year, more than the past five years combined.… MORE
ISU and AFSCME agree to contract raising paying wages
By Jake Fogal BLOOMIGNTON – About 350 building, grounds and dining services employees of Illinois State University have ratified their new union contract in voting on campus that started early Tuesday morning and stretched past midnight. More than 92% voted to approve the terms of an agreement reached last week as University workers were prepared…… MORE
Connect Transit eyes bus service to Rivian
By HOI ABC NORMAL – Connect Transit would add bus service to Rivian Automotive in west Normal perhaps as soon as August or September as part of a budget that the public transportation system’s board will vote on in May. At the end of March, just over 5,000 people were working at the electric vehicle…… MORE
Former McLean County piano teacher guilty on all counts in 2nd trial
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – Former McLean County piano teacher Aaron Parlier was found guilty on all 12 counts in his second trial, with the most serious conviction carrying an automatic life in prison. Parlier’s second trial involved a second student for crimes that happened between 2005 and 2018. In closing arguments, Parlier claimed that…… MORE
Governor lifts mask requirement for public transportation
By IIS Radio and Blake Haas SPRINGFIELD – Masks are no longer required on public transportation in Illinois. In light of Monday’s federal court ruling, Gov. Pritzker is amending a current executive order so that citizens would not have to wear a mask riding public transit, in a transit station or at the airport. On…… 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…