Category Archives: Police and Fire

House fire Wednesday night on Bloomington’s west side

House fire Wednesday night on Bloomington’s west side

By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington Fire Department was called Wednesday night for a house fire on the city’s west side. Crews responded around 8:50 p.m. to 709 West Market Street. When firefighters arrived, they located the blaze in the back half of the home. Crews had the fire under control around 9:30 p.m.…MORE

Bloomington Police sergeants and lieutenants get higher pay under new union contract

Bloomington Police sergeants and lieutenants get higher pay under new union contract

By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington Police sergeants and lieutenants will receive pay raises, and they’ll have to submit to random drug and alcohol testing each year under terms of a new, four-year union contract. The deal approved unanimously Monday night by the Bloomington City Council calls for the 21 union members to get 2.5%…MORE

Bloomington man jailed on $1 million bond for 15 sexual assault charges

Bloomington man jailed on $1 million bond for 15 sexual assault charges

By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – McLean County prosecutors on Friday charged a Bloomington man with 15 counts of predatory criminal sexual assault involving a child younger than 13. Prosecutors say David Oliver, 51, faces mandatory life in prison if he’s found guilty on any of the charges because of his conviction in 2000 for sexually…MORE

Bloomington man arrested for predatory criminal sexual assault

Bloomington man arrested for predatory criminal sexual assault

By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington Police say a man has been arrested for predatory criminal sexual assault. Police say that man is David L. Oliver, 51. Police say the arrest happened early Thursday and that the investigation remains ongoing. The circumstances behind the incident are still pending.MORE

Lexington Police investigating several business burglaries

Lexington Police investigating several business burglaries

By Neil Doyle LEXINGTON – Authorities in Lexington are working with the McLean County Sheriff’s Office and Illinois State Police to solve seven burglaries to three different businesses that have happened since mid-November. According to a Facebook post, Lexington Police say they have several persons of interest and are working to develop a suspect(s). The…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…