By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 1.3 days suitable for field work during the week ending April 17, 2022. Statewide, the average temperature was 49.1 degrees, 2.9 degrees below normal. Precipitation averaged 0.97 inches, 0.08 inches below normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 1 percent very short, 3 percent short, 40 percent adequate, and 56…… MORE
By HOI ABC NORMAL – Leah Marlene is through to the next round of American Idol. The 20-year-old Normal, Illinois native was the sixth contestant to find out she was voted into the top 14 by the viewers of the popular singing competition show. Marlene sang ‘Heal’ by Tom Odell during the Sunday night performances. She…… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe , Normal Mayor Chris Koos and a town council member attended their respective city council meetings virtually Monday night because they’re recovering from COVID-19. Mayor Mwilambwe said he tested positive for the virus last week, but was tested again Monday and it came back negative. Mwilambwe…… MORE
By HOI ABC NORMAL – The Normal Town Council has taken the first step toward reviving plans to redevelop a large part of Uptown Normal even as one council member said the town appears to be setting the wrong priorities. The council voted 6-1, with Stan Nord voting no, for a memorandum of understanding to…… MORE
The now-removed CEO of Reditus Labs in Pekin starts the week speaking out against the administrative and legal claims he’s facing.… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Gas prices are still high across Illinois as the average price rose 0.9 cents over the week, sitting at $4.35 a gallon. According to GasBuddy, prices in Illinois are 18.2 cents lower than a month ago and $1.34 higher than a year ago. GasBuddy price reports show the cheapest station…… MORE
By HOI ABC NORMAL – The Town of Normal has been working to redevelop the Uptown area for more than half a decade. That dream may soon become reality as the council will review the plans from a new developer at Monday night’s meeting. Eagle View Partners has submitted plans for Trail East and Trail…… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – McLean County Sheriff’s Deputies will soon be wearing body cameras, following the lead of many other police agencies. The county board Thursday night unanimously approved a nearly $328,000 contract with Axon Enterprise Inc. for 53 body cameras, enough for all of the department’s officers. Sheriff Jon Sandage said his deputies…… MORE
By HOI ABC NORMAL – The union representing about 350 buildings, grounds, and food services workers at Illinois State University said they’ve reached a tentative agreement on wages, averting a threatened a strike. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1110 said in a news release the tentative contract “advances the goals the…… MORE
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) warns that cases of COVID-19 are slowly rising in many areas of the state.… 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…