By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – State Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) may be getting more publicity than the other Republicans running for governor, but one political watcher says he still has serious flaws as a candidate. John Jackson, a visiting professor of political science at Southern Illinois University’s Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, says Bailey lacks…… MORE
By Jake Fogal Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced Friday that expiration dates for driver’s licenses and ID cards have been extended an additional three months – from Jan. 1, 2022, to March 31, 2022. This extension does not apply to commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) and CDL learner’s permits. “During the pandemic, my office…… MORE
By WJBC Staff BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington public works is shifting crews, adding temporary help and scheduling additional overtime hours to catch up with the large volume of leaves and brush still to be collected throughout the community. The pickup process continues because of the volume of leaves that fell much later in the season, according…… MORE
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – A local agriculture cooperative is looking for donations to help the tornado victims in Mayfield, Kentucky. Bloomington-based Evergreen FS started collecting donations this week to help those who have been impacted. The company is asking community members to help fill a semi-truck trailer with several different items. “Primarily new clothing,…… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington-Normal NAACP Vice President Carla Campbell-Jackson has filed a lawsuit against State Farm and hired civil rights attorney Ben Crump to represent her. Campbell-Jackson is suing the insurance giant for discrimination and retaliation she claims she faced during her nearly 30 years with the company. During a press conference in…… MORE
26 inmates and six staff members at the McLean County Jail have tested positive for COVID-19, despite the detention facility’s protocols and procedures.… MORE
BLOOMINGTON – Hospital beds in McLean County are at capacity as health officials report 162 new cases of COVID-19.… MORE
By Jake Fogal NORMAL-The Illinois Community College Board has awarded Heartland Community College with a $1,050,000 Workforce Equity Initiative Grant to support programs and support. The grant engages African american, Latinx, and low-income learners to get career training that can move them quickly into the workforce. Director of Public Information at HCC, Steve Fast, shared…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – State lawmakers and one of the big teachers’ unions in the state are arm-in-arm on a new proposal to try to make schools safer. Legislation – still being drawn up – would crack down on school districts which do not follow security mandates. And it’s easy for State Rep. Fred…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Among those getting a new job in the New Year is Toi Hutchinson. She is a former state senator from Chicago’s south suburbs and has been Gov. JB Pritzker’s chief advisor on cannabis. But she is taking to the national stage as president and CEO of the Marijuana Policy Project.…… 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…