By IIS Radio SPRINGFIELD – The first Black woman to sit on the Illinois Supreme Court was sworn in Thursday. After taking the oath at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, new Justice Lisa Holder-White spoke about the historic moment. “As I see it, taking my oath in this place today recognizes…… MORE
By HOI ABC NORMAL – The Normal Township Board of Trustees accepted the resignation of Supervisor Sarah Grammer on Thursday, and named a long-time Illinois State University administrator as her replacement. Grammer said in a Facebook post that she’s resigning because her family is moving to Wisconsin. Grammer, a Democrat, was first elected as township…… MORE
By HOI ABC NORMAL – Rivian’s plan to put up a wind turbine at its local factory has won the backing of the Normal Planning Commission. Commissioners Thursday evening voted unanimously in favor of the company’s wind energy project to provide Rivian’s newly-made electric vehicles with their first “all green” charge. The commission’s endorsement goes…… MORE
A Chicago man is facing felony charges in McLean County for allegedly driving onto a landing area at Central Illinois Regional Airport.… MORE
By HOI ABC EL PASO – War-ravaged Ukraine has received a potentially life-saving shipment from Woodford County. The El Paso Emergency Squad posted on its Facebook page that the former El Paso EMS ambulance was delivered and crossed the border into Ukraine. The ambulance has more than 200,000 miles on its odometer, and it’s filled with donated…… MORE
By IIS Radio SPRINGFIELD – The director of Illinois State Police is discussing current red flag laws. ISP director Brendan Kelly says they have carefully analyzed how they handled the review of a clear and present danger report and issuance of a FOID card to the Highland Park shooting suspect. During a media briefing, he…… MORE
Electric-vehicle manufacturer Rivian Automotive (RIVN) is on track to build 25,000 vehicles in 2022.… MORE
The McLean County Coroner’s Office is releasing the identification of a 22-year-old Normal man who died in a car crash in late June.… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Later this summer, American Idol finalist and Normal native Leah Marlene will headline a hometown concert alongside Idol contestant Fritz Hager at the Corn Crib. Marlene announced via her Facebook Tuesday that another music act will take the stage. That being former American Idol winner Maddie Poppe. Poppe won the…… MORE
By HOI ABC TAZEWELL COUNTY – Tazewell County Sheriff’s Deputy John Shallenberger has received a national honor for helping reverse a troubling trend of teenage drivers dying on local roadways. Shallenberger on Sunday received the Innovation in the Classroom Award at the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) Conference. He was selected by a…… 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…