By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – If prosecutors have DNA evidence available, they can’t resist using it. A U of I researcher has found the odds of a sex assault conviction are nine times greater than with no DNA. It’s not foolproof, but Ted Cross, a professor of social work, says his research underscores the importance…… MORE
By HOI ABC NORMAL – McLean County’s largest school district is planning a series of public engagement sessions – the first three scheduled later this month – in a process that might result in a tax hike referendum to reduce multi-million dollar budget deficits in the coming years. At Wednesday night’s Unit 5 school board…… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – A District 87 School Board member is resigning her elected position because she’s moving out of the district. Tammy Houtzel informed the board of her resignation at Wednesday night’s meeting. The resignation is effective May 1. Houtzel is moving to LeRoy, according to Superintendent Barry Reilly. Houtzel was first elected…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – An engineer whose job with the government is to respond to such things has critical new information about the deadly Amazon warehouse collapse last year. Attorney Jack Casciato of Clifford Law Firm in Chicago says the evidence is damning. “Within the last few weeks,” he told an online news conference,…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The trade associations for Illinois agriculture celebrate a $750,000 victory in the just-passed state budget. Illinois Corn Growers Association president Marty Marr, who farms at New Berlin, near Springfield, says the state has needed more veterinarians. “Discussion began about how important this area, of having field vets, is, in case…… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON (Heart of Illinois ABC) -A Bloomington High School student has pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a weapon after bringing a loaded gun to school, according to McLean County State’s Attorney Don Knapp. Tayshaun Johnson, 16, is alleged to have carried and possessed a 9mm pistol to the school on November 4 that…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON -Following the impending retirement of Police Chief Rick Bleichner, Town of Normal City Manager Pamela Reece announced Steve Petrilli as the next Chief of Police for the Normal Police Department. Petrilli becomes the 17th Chief of Police for NPD in it’s history. “I have served the Normal Police Department and the…… MORE
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 0.8 days suitable for field work during the week ending April 10, 2022. Statewide, the average temperature was 44.0 degrees, 3.4 degrees below normal. Precipitation averaged 0.87 inches, 0.16 inches above normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 4 percent short, 50 percent adequate, and 46 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture…… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington council members approved a larger, $269 million dollar budget Monday for fiscal year 2023, up 7% from this year. The highlight is nearly $57 million in capitol improvement projects. It also increases public safety spending by 10%. One council member voted no, in part because she felt city staff…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Following a homicide committed on Friday night, McLean County Coroner Dr. Kathleen Yoder identified Friday’s shooting victim as 17 year old Kanye A. Stowers of Peoria. Stowers was pronounced deceased on Saturday at 12:25 a.m. Preliminary autopsy opinion indicates that Stowers died from a gunshot wound. Toxicology testing is pending.…… 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…