The calendar is filling up for Bloomington’s Arts and Entertainment Department as the city is looking forward to more visibility for the arena and performing arts center.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Normal Town Council amends Human Relations Code, adding gender identity as protected class
In an unanimous vote, the Normal Town Council amended its Human Relations Code in a win for the LGBTQ+ community.… MORE
IWU to launch three new majors in the fall semester
Illinois Wesleyan University plans to offer three new majors in the fall 2024 semester.… MORE
LeRoy raising fines for using fireworks
The LeRoy Police Department is warning its residents that they will face increased fines if they launch fireworks this summer.… MORE
Prices at the pump down over the past week as summer travel heats up
Prices at the pump are down almost $0.15 in the past month as summer travel ticks up. … MORE
Former Reditus CEO facing new federal charges relating to healthcare and mail fraud
A Morton man, who previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of Reditus Laboratories, faces new charges, this time relating to healthcare fraud.… MORE
McLean County tornado count up to 5 from June 13 storms
By WMBD-TV MCLEAN COUNTY – Thunderstorms last Thursday, June 13, left their mark on eastern McLean County, carving out a notable path of wind damage. The National Weather Service in Lincoln has identified five separate tornado touchdowns. They are still finalizing their reports. But what happened to cause this? Has this happened before? First, let’s look back…… MORE
City of Bloomington addressing water utility billing glitch
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – Residents in the City of Bloomington will not have to pay a utility tax on their water bill next month due to an issue identified on the city’s utility bills. According to Bloomington’s Communication & External Affairs Manager Katherine Murphy, an issue was identified in the processing of the utility tax…… MORE
Twin Cities nonprofit aids in successful adoption of four siblings
Expanding her heart, not once, not twice, but four times. Hilary Pacha, a single mom and her 13-year-old son, Elijah, have grown their family from two to six this year.… MORE
Normal Police are adding extra patrols through July 4
Independence Day is approaching, and Normal Police plans to beef up traffic enforcement for the July Fourth celebrations.… 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…