Bloomington city manager David Hales said there’s no timeline for how long the Illinois State Police investigation into U.S. Cellular Coliseum’s operations could take.… MORE
Category Archives: Scott Laughlin
Mental health training at Illinois prisons to continue after fight at Pontiac
The head of the Illinois Department of Corrections said training for corrections officers to handle mentally ill inmates will continue even after a prison fight last month raised safety concerns among some officers.… MORE
Sen. Brady: AFSCME asking for too much
Gov. Bruce Rauner has been told by a judge to continue negotiating with the state’s largest employee union.… MORE
Bloomington doctor 1st to serve in Navy Reserve Medical Corps initiative
A shortage of medical professionals in the Navy reserves stuck a chord with a Bloomington doctor who plans to serve.… MORE
District 87 rolls out one-to-one initative
District 87 officials hope they are bridging the digital divide by equipping each student in grades six 6 through 12 with a take-home laptop computer.… MORE
Rep. Brady: State needs to get schools caught up on funding
Unit 5 officials have said slow state aid is partly to blame for the busing problems that the district has faced during the first week of school.… MORE
Disney design team to help Bloomington with signage
The company that designed the entrance to Disney World will help design new welcome signs in Bloomington.… MORE
LaHood wants EpiPen makers to explain sharp cost increases
U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Dunlap, said makers of EpiPens pens have gone too far and he’d like to see congressional oversight.… MORE
Unit 5 boss apologizes for transportation woes on first day
Unit 5 Superintendent Mark Daniel is trying to calm the nerves of upset parents after a series of problems busing students on the first day of school.… MORE
Frerichs holds hearing in Normal over unpaid death benefits
Families who haven’t been paid death benefits are encouraged to share their story with Illinois State Treasurer Mike Frerichs who is hosting a public hearing at Normal’s council chambers on Wednesday.… 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…