A woman in her 80s and a man in his 90s have died from COVID-19 complications, according to local health officials Wednesday.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
CIRA reports travel down 57% in 2020
Like so many other airports across the country, travel was down more than 50% last year at Central Illinois Regional Airport due to the ongoing pandemic.… MORE
Immigration measure moves closer to final Bloomington council vote
A welcoming city ordinance aiming to protect undocumented immigrants in Bloomington from deportation is a step closer to a city council vote.… MORE
McLean County Health Department COVID-19 call center now open
If you have questions about coronavirus the McLean County Health Department’s COVID-19 call center is now up and running.… MORE
4,318 new cases of coronavirus reported in Illinois
The Illinois Department of Public Health Tuesday reported 4,318 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus and 33 additional deaths.… MORE
ISA CEO: Was a good year for farmers
The USDA’s final yield report shows that Illinois is still number one in soybeans.… MORE
District 87 returns to in-person learning
District 87 returned to a hybrid learning model on Tuesday. … MORE
Rivian announces $2.65 billion investment round
Electric automaker Rivian has closed an investment round of $2.65 billion led by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., according to a news release Monday.… MORE
180 new coronavirus cases reported in McLean County; 303 recover
The rolling positivity rate in McLean County has dropped to 6.5% as local health officials Tuesday reported 180 new COVID-19 cases since Friday.… MORE
IDPH announces 3,385 new cases of coronavirus
The Illinois Department of Public Health Monday reported 3,385 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus and 50 additional deaths.… 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…