Category Archives: Local Sports

Redbird men 2nd, women 5th in preseason MVC polls

Redbird men 2nd, women 5th in preseason MVC polls

Illinois State men’s basketball is picked to finish as runner-up in this season’s Missouri Valley Conference race while the Redbirds are selected to finish fifth on the women’s side.MORE

Redbird football dominates SIU on Homecoming

Redbird football dominates SIU on Homecoming

 Illinois State racked up over 400 yards on the ground against Southern Illinois, as the No. 12  Redbirds (5-1, 2-1 MVFC) ran away from the Salukis (1-5, 0-3 MVFC) by a score of 51-3 on a sunny afternoon at Hancock Stadium on Homecoming in front of 11,247 fans.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…