The first Thursday in May is the day for the annual event.… MORE
Category Archives: Police and Fire
Bloomington man arrested after Monday shooting incident
A Bloomington man was arrested after a shooting incident near the 400 block of Valley View Circle Monday.… MORE
ISP provides update after Monday’s pileup on I-55 south of Springfield
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – A day after the chain reaction collision that killed six people along Interstate 55, State Police director Brendan Kelly told reporters in Divernon two of the victims cannot be identified, and he wants the public’s help. One person, he said, was in a blue Chrysler 300, and the other person…… MORE
Coroner identifies victim in deadly I-55 vehicle and pedestrian crash
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – McLean County Coroner Dr. Kathy Yoder released the identity of the person who died in a vehicle vs. pedestrian crash on I-55 near milepost 158 in McLean County Friday. Yoder said 58-year-old David E. Williams of Bloomington died from multiple blunt traumatic injuries after being struck by an automobile on I-55.…… MORE
Danvers man indicted for 1st-degree murder in strangulation case
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – A Danvers man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Melissa Ostrom. 41-year-old Josh Livingston was arrested Wednesday and is being held at the McLean County Jail, according to a news release from the Bloomington Police Department. No bond information is available. Ostrom was reported missing on April…… MORE
Coroner identifies victim of motorcycle crash in Normal
By WMBD-TV NORMAL – The McLean County Coroner’s Office has identified the victim of a motorcycle and car crash Friday night in Normal. According to a Normal police press release, 22-year-old Douglas Wriston of Warren, Michigan died in the crash. The cause of death is still pending. Officers were called to the I-55/74 overpass on…… MORE
Kitchen fire Thursday afternoon in Normal
By WJBC Staff NORMAL – The Normal Fire Department responded to a kitchen a fire Thursday afternoon at 1806 Truman Drive. Firefighters were called to the home in the Greenbriar subdivision around 3:30 p.m., where they found heavy smoke in the kitchen. According to a news release, fire crews were able to control the blaze…… MORE
Arson suspect arrested in Bloomington
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – On Wednesday, Bloomington Police arrested 39-year old Micah Davis for arson. Davis is accused of setting small fires on the west side of Bloomington during the overnight hours of April 15 through April 16. The fires were along West Market and Washington Streets. Police said Davis set a vehicle and trash…… MORE
Bloomington police looking for person of interest in arson cases
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington police are asking for the public’s help finding a person of interest in multiple purposely set fires. According to Bloomington police Facebook, The Bloomington Police Department and Bloomington Fire Department responded to four separate fire scenes across the far west side of Bloomington along W. Market and W. Washington, In each incident…… MORE
Normal Police Department getting new gadgets for crime prevention
By WMBD-TV NORMAL – In an effort to prevent crime and protect officers the Normal Police Department is getting new equipment. The police department was awarded $500,000 in a Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Grant. The purpose of the grant is to help with community development and crime prevention. Some items had to be…… 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…