By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – The McLean County Museum of History’s 2022 History Makers include leaders in insurance, education, philanthropy and community service. Norris Porter, Museum Director of Development, revealed this year’s class of McLean County History Makers: • Deanna Frautschi and Alan Bedell, whose love of nature and generous souls exemplify a community spirit…… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – Despite concerns about higher costs, the Bloomington City Council Monday night approved the lowest of three bids to build a swimming pool and make other improvements at O’Neil Park on the city’s west side. The council voted 7-2, accepting the $13.87 million bid submitted by contractor P.J. Hoerr. The city…… MORE
By A.J. Harris BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington Ward 1 City Council member and mayor pro tem, Jamie Mathy will resign his position, effective Tuesday. According to a statement, the resignation is the result of a business conflict that will no longer allow Mathy to hold a position on the council under state law. Mathy made the…… MORE
By Heart of Illinois ABC University administrators released a statement after American State County and Municipal Employees Union Local 1110 voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike. The university released the statement on its website: “Today, March 28, 2022, ISU learned AFSCME Local 1110 announced its membership voted in favor of a strike authorization. While we…… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL (Heart of Illinois ABC) – The City of Bloomington and Town of Normal will be honoring military heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice with banners honoring active duty fallen or missing-in-action military service members. The American Gold Star Families Organization started the banner program in Peoria several years ago. The…… MORE
A new swimming pool and other improvements at Bloomington’s O’Neil Park would cost more than $2 million above what was budgeted for the project if the city council accepts the lowest bid at its meeting Monday night.… MORE
Amid an invasion in Ukraine, gas prices in Illinois have been down over the past week.… MORE
The latest salvo in the opioid crisis is a bill to immunize people from prosecution when they seek treatment or tests. Perhaps you’d be reluctant otherwise.… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON-Walter Offutt is the first man to join newly acquired head coach of the Illinois State men’s basketball team Ryan Pedon’s coaching staff. Offutt comes from the University of Toledo, where he has worked as an assistant for the rockets since 2019. Pedon and Offutt worked together at the University of Illinois…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Now there is a bill inspired by the falling-out between a big insurance company and a big health provider in Springfield. A non-renewal between Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois and Springfield Clinic has customers scrambling. “Most of our consumers and constituents were complaining about the lack of providers 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…