By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The morning after the news about the possible reversal of Roe v. Wade broke, Gov. JB Pritzker gathered two or three dozen Democratic lawmakers for a news conference in Chicago – ready for a fight. The group, including State Rep. Kelly Cassidy (far right) (D-Chicago), issued a warning: “It’s not…… MORE
By HOI ABC NORMAL – Normal native Leah Marlene is one step closer to the top spot on singing competition ‘American Idol.’ Marlene advanced to the Top 7 Sunday night, singing ‘When She Loved Me’ from Toy Story 2 as part of ‘Disney Night.’ “THANK YOU with my entire heart, soul and being for all…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Here’s an old joke: it’s pork if it’s in somebody else’s district. But seriously, folks, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) says earmarks are good and always have been. Example: the announcement Monday of a $10.2 million project to consolidate seven buildings – up to seventy years old – into one…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – An engineer whose job with the government is to respond to such things has critical new information about the deadly Amazon warehouse collapse last year. Attorney Jack Casciato of Clifford Law Firm in Chicago says the evidence is damning. “Within the last few weeks,” he told an online news conference,…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Unlimited sick time for covid-related reasons, a new law Gov. JB Pritzker signed for educators, is a godsend for Angela Bulger of O’Fallon. “As a new employee, I am allotted eleven sick days,” said Bulger, an aide. “Without this legislation, any additional days missed because of covid would mean a…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON- The City of Bloomington has a vast surplus of mulch available free for the public. “Recent trimming and tree maintenance have produced a vast surplus of mulch,” said Dave Lamb, City Forester and Assistant Superintendent of Parks, adding “We are happy to provide this service for the community.” There are two…… MORE
By Neil Doyle MCLEAN COUNTY – The McLean County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting traffic enforcement details in the northern part of the county. In a Facebook post, the sheriff’s office says the traffic enforcement will be on the Gridley Blacktop, 1925 East Road and County Hwy. 29, between Gridley and Towanda. “We’d much rather…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – A champion swimmer and a woman whose body was pulled from Lake Michigan a few days ago have two things in common: they are transgender, and they were brought up on the floor of the Illinois House Tuesday. State Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) said the acceptance of transgenderism, including allowing…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON-The LeRoy Police Department has announced the installation of an Amazon hub locker at it’s facility. That mean’s those worried about having items stolen off the porch can rest easy knowing they can pick up orders in the safest space in town. LeRoy Sergeant Nathan Wilkin’s said the locker doesn’t take up…… MORE
Illinois State Police are releasing the identification of a 24-year old East Peoria man who died in a crash last Tuesday in Woodford County.… 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…