By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – Despite concerns about higher costs, the Bloomington City Council Monday night approved the lowest of three bids to build a swimming pool and make other improvements at O’Neil Park on the city’s west side. The council voted 7-2, accepting the $13.87 million bid submitted by contractor P.J. Hoerr. The city…… MORE
By A.J. Harris BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington Ward 1 City Council member and mayor pro tem, Jamie Mathy will resign his position, effective Tuesday. According to a statement, the resignation is the result of a business conflict that will no longer allow Mathy to hold a position on the council under state law. Mathy made the…… MORE
By Heart of Illinois ABC University administrators released a statement after American State County and Municipal Employees Union Local 1110 voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike. The university released the statement on its website: “Today, March 28, 2022, ISU learned AFSCME Local 1110 announced its membership voted in favor of a strike authorization. While we…… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL (Heart of Illinois ABC) – The City of Bloomington and Town of Normal will be honoring military heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice with banners honoring active duty fallen or missing-in-action military service members. The American Gold Star Families Organization started the banner program in Peoria several years ago. The…… MORE
A new swimming pool and other improvements at Bloomington’s O’Neil Park would cost more than $2 million above what was budgeted for the project if the city council accepts the lowest bid at its meeting Monday night.… MORE
Amid an invasion in Ukraine, gas prices in Illinois have been down over the past week.… MORE
By Heart of Illinois ABC BLOOMINGTON – Higher gas prices are taking a bite out of the profits of Central Illinois food truck owners. Tony Williams owns ‘Uncle Tony’s Food For The Soul’ and has served barbecue and soul food on weekends in the Twin Cities for six years. Williams said he’s never had to change his…… MORE
Unlike Unit 5, District 87 is not looking to downsize its bottom line next school year.… MORE
According to a CEO of a local nonprofit, the twin cities are experiencing a ‘housing crisis for those with low income.… MORE
A Bloomington Telecommunicator is receiving recognition for helping a caller through a pre-hospital delivery in early March.… 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…