By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON -Following the impending retirement of Police Chief Rick Bleichner, Town of Normal City Manager Pamela Reece announced Steve Petrilli as the next Chief of Police for the Normal Police Department. Petrilli becomes the 17th Chief of Police for NPD in it’s history. “I have served the Normal Police Department and the…… MORE
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 0.8 days suitable for field work during the week ending April 10, 2022. Statewide, the average temperature was 44.0 degrees, 3.4 degrees below normal. Precipitation averaged 0.87 inches, 0.16 inches above normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 4 percent short, 50 percent adequate, and 46 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture…… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington council members approved a larger, $269 million dollar budget Monday for fiscal year 2023, up 7% from this year. The highlight is nearly $57 million in capitol improvement projects. It also increases public safety spending by 10%. One council member voted no, in part because she felt city staff…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Following a homicide committed on Friday night, McLean County Coroner Dr. Kathleen Yoder identified Friday’s shooting victim as 17 year old Kanye A. Stowers of Peoria. Stowers was pronounced deceased on Saturday at 12:25 a.m. Preliminary autopsy opinion indicates that Stowers died from a gunshot wound. Toxicology testing is pending.…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – It’s scholarship season for students in high school and college, and the Golden Apple Scholar Program is looking to assist folks interested in teaching. The Golden Apple Scholar Program has extended their application date from April 1st to the 15th. Chief Program Officer and Golden Apple Scholar Kesa Thurman Stovall…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Average gasoline prices in Illinois have dropped almost 9 cents in the last week, averaging $4.34 a gallon. According to GasBuddy’s survey of over 43 hundred stations in Illinois, prices in the state were 24.1 cents lower than a month ago. “Gas prices have continued to move in the right…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – For those who may have been asleep when the Fiscal Year 2023 budget was passed in the wee hours, Gov. Pritzker and other Democrats reinforced their highlights Saturday morning at the Capitol. “Gas, grocery, and property tax relief,” Pritzker said in his office. “More support for local government than ever…… MORE
By HOI ABC NORMAL – Some progress was reported Friday after 12 hours of negotiations between Illinois State University and the union representing about 350 employees, who have threatened a strike over wages. A union spokesperson said Friday’s session was the longest since ISU and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local…… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – Police say a man was shot and killed Friday night in what is being investigated as a homicide. Just after 11:30 p.m., Bloomington police responded to the 400 block of East Mill Street for a disturbance call. Police say just before arriving on scene, gunshots were heard in the area.…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Some things about the last day of session were new – adjourning in April, not May, for one. Not new – partisan disagreement. Just before 6 a.m. Saturday, lawmakers passed a FY 23 budget of $46.5 billion, one Republicans say is salted with one-time gimmicks that will expire after 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…