The numbers are in, and Illinois State University collected more than $30 million in private donations in the past fiscal year.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Sangamon County Sheriff on watching Sonya Massey shooting video: ‘I was sick to my stomach’
Sangamon County sheriff Jack Campbell made the rounds of local and national media Thursday to try to get his side of the story out about one of his former employees – now jailed for the shooting death of a Black woman, Sonya Massey, last month. … MORE
Narcan vending machine installed to address McLean County overdose deaths
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – Chestnut Health System announced that it has installed a Narcan vending machine to address the increasing number of overdose deaths in McLean County. According to a Chestnut Health System news release, the vending machine providing free Naloxone/Narcan will be located at Chestnut Health’s 1003 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive location. “The…… MORE
Bloomington’s library celebrates completed renovations, expansions with ribbon-cutting
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – Thursday, the Bloomington Public Library finally celebrated finishing its expansion and renovations with a ribbon cutting. The building was filled with people who appreciate all the resources a library has to offer. At the ribbon cutting, library staff gave tours to elected officials and members of the community. A teen zone,…… MORE
Man sentenced to 103 years for Bloomington murder
A man was sentenced on Thursday to 103 years in prison by McLean County Judge William Yoder for the death of Jaleel Johnson.… MORE
Sonya Massey, mother called 911 multiple times in days before her death to report mental health crises
The day before she was shot by a Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy, Sonya Massey’s mother called 911 and said her daughter was in the front yard of her mother’s house, talking loudly, acting erratically with her car keys in her hand.… MORE
OSF HealthCare announces retirement of central region CEO
OSF HealthCare announced Thursday that Bob Anderson, central region chief executive officer for the company, will retire next year.… MORE
Long-term solution for ‘tent city’ could include purchasing a local hotel
A long-term solution could soon be in place for those living in tents near Home Sweet Home Ministries.… MORE
Right lane of I-55 shut down after semi crashes into overpass pillar
The right lane of Interstate 55 in McLean County is currently shut down after a truck tractor semi-trailer crashed into an overpass pillar Thursday morning.… MORE
Two solar farms approved by Tazewell County Board
By WMBD-TV PEKIN – In a relatively light agenda at Wednesday’s Tazewell County Board meeting, two solar farms were approved with minor pushback from some board members. One will be placed in Malone Township, while the other will be in a rural area in Mackinaw. Some expressed concerns about solar farms taking away from good…… 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…