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
A judge in Tazewell County is signing off on an agreed-upon receivership of Reditus Laboratories. The agreement was finalized during a hearing Thursday in a civil case against company CEO Aaron Rossi.… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – A new historical site will be recognized by The McLean County Museum of History at the beginning of May in association with Abraham Lincoln. Nearing the 157th anniversary of the Lincoln assassination, “Looking for Lincoln” will be displayed near the site of the old Bloomington Train Depot of the Chicago…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – If prosecutors have DNA evidence available, they can’t resist using it. A U of I researcher has found the odds of a sex assault conviction are nine times greater than with no DNA. It’s not foolproof, but Ted Cross, a professor of social work, says his research underscores the importance…… MORE
By HOI ABC NORMAL – McLean County’s largest school district is planning a series of public engagement sessions – the first three scheduled later this month – in a process that might result in a tax hike referendum to reduce multi-million dollar budget deficits in the coming years. At Wednesday night’s Unit 5 school board…… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – A District 87 School Board member is resigning her elected position because she’s moving out of the district. Tammy Houtzel informed the board of her resignation at Wednesday night’s meeting. The resignation is effective May 1. Houtzel is moving to LeRoy, according to Superintendent Barry Reilly. Houtzel was first elected…… 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 – The trade associations for Illinois agriculture celebrate a $750,000 victory in the just-passed state budget. Illinois Corn Growers Association president Marty Marr, who farms at New Berlin, near Springfield, says the state has needed more veterinarians. “Discussion began about how important this area, of having field vets, is, in case…… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON (Heart of Illinois ABC) -A Bloomington High School student has pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a weapon after bringing a loaded gun to school, according to McLean County State’s Attorney Don Knapp. Tayshaun Johnson, 16, is alleged to have carried and possessed a 9mm pistol to the school on November 4 that…… 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…