A hearing was held in Uptown Normal Tuesday, but there was no decision whether a local restaurant and bar violated terms of its liquor license by defying Gov. JB Pritzker’s COVID-19 restrictions.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
No COVID outbreak at McLean County Jail despite claims otherwise, sheriff says
There is no COVID-19 outbreak at the McLean County Jail, according to the sheriff, despite claims on social media that the virus is a problem there.… MORE
Man convicted of 1991 fatal shooting in Normal jailed on drug dealing charges
A high bond has been set for a Bloomington man jailed on new drug dealing charges because of prior drug convictions and a decades-old fatal shooting that killed a teenager.… MORE
Illinois’ economic comeback continues
The economic recovery in Illinois has a University of Illinois professor somewhat optimistic.… MORE
State reports 126 additional COVID-related deaths
The Illinois Department of Public Health Tuesday reported 6,839 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus and 126 additional deaths.… MORE
MCHD reports 129 new cases of COVID-19
The McLean County Health Department reports 129 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday as the 7-day rolling positivity rate increases to 10%.… MORE
Lawsuit against Bloomington long term care facility alleges ‘gross negligence’ in COVID outbreak death
Bloomington Rehab and Health endured a COVID-19 outbreak in May 2020 that ended with 11 residents dead.… MORE
Normal Council Member roots for local restaurant charged with COVID-19 violations
A Normal Town Council member says he’s hoping a local business is not penalized for defying Gov. JB Pritzker’s COVID-19 regulations.… MORE
IDPH reports 5,059 new COVID cases, 79 additional deaths
State health officials Monday report 79 additional coronavirus-related deaths and 5,059 new confirmed and probable cases.… MORE
Ferrero to host mobile COVID testing site in Bloomington
Ferrero USA and the state are partnering to host a mobile COVID-19 testing site outside the candy makers facility at 2501 Beich Rd in Bloomington.… 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…