Lawmakers in Illinois are asking voters to weigh in on three hot-button issues on their ballots this year: election interference, income taxes and reproductive health care.
Local Sports
Normal Community defense unravels Bloomington’s perfect season in Week 6 victory
LeRoy Panthers blow by Tuscola in windy Week 5 victory
Purple Raiders stay undefeated after dismantling Normal West in Week 4
Politics
Testimony continues in 2nd Amendment challenge to Illinois’ assault weapons ban
An engineer who spent decades designing weapons for one of the world’s leading gun manufacturers testified Tuesday that the assault-style weapons now banned in Illinois are intended only for civilian use and cannot be easily converted into military-grade firearms.
Illinois State Redbirds
Relive the Moments during ISU’s 2024 Homecoming
By WMBD-TV NORMAL -The Illinois State University Redbirds are “reliving treasured times” during their Homecoming Week. “When we thought about this year we thought about how Homecoming is all about making memories and revisiting those memories. So, we wanted to celebrate that,” Senior Director for ISU Alumni Engagement Stephanie Duquenne said. ISU encourages anyone sharing…
Headlines
Voices
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…