Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner is singing the praises of City Manager Tim Gleason, who faces the task in the coming days of hiring the city’s next police chief.… MORE
Category Archives: Politics
McLean County Libertarian seeks state leadership post
McLean County Libertarian Party Chair Steve Suess announced Wednesday evening he’s running to become chair of the Libertarian Party of Illinois.… MORE
Gov. Pritzker: ‘we need to hold everybody accountable’ after report finds toxic workplace at Capitol
Now that a report of a toxic workplace at the Capitol is out, Gov. JB Pritzker’s glad the culture of harassment, intimidation, and bullying is now known to all.… MORE
Davis, LaHood visit Twin-Cities for Q&A
Congressmen Darin LaHood and Rodney Davis made a stop in Bloomington Tuesday to discuss trade and infrastructure with local community members.… MORE
Former council member: Crabill represents racists too
The t-shirt that Bloomington City Council member Jeff Crabill wore at Monday night’s council meeting caused a social media uproar, and prompted a response from the person who previously held Crabill’s job.… MORE
Report finds harassment at Illinois Capitol
A report just out Tuesday lays bare the culture of sexual harassment and bullying at the Capitol. It rises from the Springfield connections to the #MeToo movement.… MORE
Narrow council majority backs Bloomington cannabis task force
A Bloomington City Council member wants the city to become a “cannabis pervasive” community that would take advantage of the economic benefits of a new state law legalizing recreational marijuana use.… MORE
Crabill’s fashion statement reveals political divide
West side Bloomington resident Surena Fish didn’t expect to speak at Monday night’s city council meeting, but she said she was so offended by the shirt Council member Jeff Crabill was wearing that she had to speak out.… MORE
Pritzker launches Connect Illinois, initiative for broadband statewide
Grade school principal Ken Gilmore contrasts today with the earlier days of the “information superhighway.”… MORE
Council to discuss new video gaming rules, marijuana regulations
Bloomington city council members will soon discuss possible restrictions on video gaming, and perhaps lay the groundwork for local rules on recreational use of marijuana.… 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…