When a newspaper closes, local governments in the area tend to borrow more, spend more, hire more workers and raise taxes, according to a study on the matter.… MORE
When a newspaper closes, local governments in the area tend to borrow more, spend more, hire more workers and raise taxes, according to a study on the matter.… MORE
After Illinois lawmakers patted themselves on the back and told taxpayers the budget they passed this year was balanced, a bond issuance tells potential buyers that the state budget is $1.2 billion in the red.… MORE
McLean County’s new state’s attorney said local law enforcement might have to think out-of-the-box to combat gang violence.… MORE
Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed into law a pair of bills aimed at curbing Illinois’ brain drain that’s resulted in sharp enrollment declines at the state’s public universities and community colleges.… MORE
McLean County has a new state’s attorney.… MORE
The major party candidates for Illinois Attorney General are debating about whether they want to debate each other.… MORE
Bloomington aldermen are not interested in further discussions about providing representation on the city council for residents of Lake Bloomington, north of the Twin-Cities.… MORE
A second person has announced plans to run for the Bloomington City Council seat held by departing Alderman Diana Hauman.… MORE
Kelly Pyle took her seat as a Unit 5 School Board member at the August 8 board meeting. (Photo by Howard Packowitz/WJBC) By Howard Packowitz NORMAL – Unit 5’s newest school board member and two other recently appointed members have a common link. They were all members of the district’s Citizen’s Advisory Council. Kelly Pyle,…… MORE
The city’s finance director will provide updates during the council’s second meeting of every month, according to Tim Gleason, Bloomington’s new city manager.… MORE
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.” …
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…
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…
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…