Friday scoreboard, Saturday schedule

Friday’s scoreboard is sponsored by COUNTRY Financial Representative Eric Lapan

Women’s College Basketball–
Bradley 75, Illinois State 65
CCIW Tournament Semifinal at Wheaton–Illinois Wesleyan 78, Carthage 59 (IWU at Wheaton Sat. 7 p.m. for CCIW title & NCAA bid)

Men’s College Basketball–
CCIW Tournament Semifinal at Rock Island–Augustana 89, Illinois Wesleyan 65

College Softball–
Bubly Invitational, Gainesville, Fla.–Syracuse 5, Illinois State 3; #3 Florida 7, Illinois State 0

Boys High School Basketball–
Springfield Southeast 69, U-High 35
Normal West 43, Lincoln 30
Class 2A Regional Championship at Stanford–Central Catholic 98, Macon Meridian 60
Class 2A Regional Championship at Minonk–Fieldcrest 59, Watseka 45
Class 2A Regional Championship at Momence–El Paso-Gridley 57, Seneca 42
Class 2A Regional Championship at Monticello–Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 63, Monticello 52
Class 2A Regional Championship at Tremont–Tremont 65, Peoria Quest Charter Academy 56
Class 1A Regional Championship at Farmer City–Champaign Judah Christian 71, LeRoy 68

Saturday’s schedule:

Exhibition Baseball–
St. Louis Cardinals at Miami Marlins, 12 p.m. (LIVE WJBC-AM 1230 11:45 a.m.)

Women’s College Basketball–
CCIW Tournament Championship–Illinois Wesleyan at Wheaton, 7 p.m.

Men’s College Basketball–
Penn State at Illinois, 11 a.m. (LIVE WJEZ-FM 98.9 & WJEZ.com)

College Softball–
Bubly Invitational, Gainesville, Fla.–Illinois State vs. #3 Florida, 10 a.m.; Illinois State vs. Florida A & M, 3 p.m.

College Baseball–
Illinois State at Central Arkansas, 6 p.m.

United States Hockey League–
Central Illinois Flying Aces at Green Bay Gamblers, 7:05 p.m.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

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.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

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…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

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…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

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…