A Bloomington man faces drug charges in McLean County after police allegedly tore down a bathroom door at Green Top Grocery.… MORE
Category Archives: Police and Fire
Springfield boy in custody after alleged threat on Sandy Hook Elementary School
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – A phone call from Springfield to Newtown, Ct., late Wednesday was an alleged threat on Sandy Hook Elementary School. A fourteen-year-old Springfield boy is in custody and charged with disorderly conduct. City, Sangamon County, and school officials here say after an investigation the boy, a Springfield High School freshman, was…… MORE
Man charged with setting fire to Heyworth home where estranged wife was staying
By HOI ABC HEYWORTH – Heyworth’s police chief calls it one of the most serious crimes to happen in the small McLean County community since he became chief there six years ago. Jason Harris, 33, of Bloomington remained jailed on a high bond Wednesday night accused of starting a fire late on the night of…… MORE
Superintendent scolds vandals for puncturing tires on school buses
By HOI ABC CHENOA – Vandals who punctured tires on seven school buses at a Chenoa elementary school put students’ safety at risk, the superintendent said Wednesday. All 14 front tires of buses parked at Prairie Central Primary West were punctured, and several buses sustained other damage, said Superintendent Paula Crane in a letter to…… MORE
Coroner identifies victim in semi truck and tractor collision near Heyworth
By Neil Doyle HEYWORTH – A McLean County man has been identified after a semi truck crashed into a tractor early Tuesday morning near Heyworth, killing the driver of the tractor. The collision took place on U.S. 51 near County Road 400 North. McLean County Coroner Kathy Yoder has identified the victim as Jay Fitzgerald,…… MORE
Damage estimated at $4M from massive fire at Grand Bear Lodge cabins
By HOI ABC UTICA – Damage to cabins at Grand Bear Resort near Starved Rock in Utica is estimated at $4 million. 61 fire agencies used around five million gallons of water to put out the fire at the resort Monday night that destroyed around a third of the cabins. All of that water had to…… MORE
Bloomington man facing drug charges for allegedly selling meth
A Bloomington man faces multiple drug charges after allegedly setting up a drug deal with an undercover cop.… MORE
Fire destroys several cabins at Utica resort
By HOI ABC UTICA – Several cabins are a loss after fire tore through buildings at Grand Bear Resort near Starved Rock State Park. The flames grew quickly because of heavy winds. A plume of smoke could be seen 20 miles away. Authorities say no injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is…… MORE
Bloomington pawn shop owner robbed at gunpoint shares his story
A Bloomington pawn shop owner robbed and beaten at gunpoint last Wednesday is sharing his first-hand account.… MORE
BPD: New suspect vehicle from armed robbery last week
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – Police are releasing new information about a vehicle that was possibly used during an armed robbery and shooting last week on Bloomington’s southeast side. Officers were called on Wednesday, May 25 around 2:38 p.m. for a hold up at a pawn shop in the 2000 block of Ireland Grove Road.…… 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…