Illinois State University has been awarded a $12.5 million dollar grant to improve school leadership.… MORE
Yearly Archives: 2017
Obituaries: Barnard, Bertrand, Roberts
Obituaries for Ronald Barnard, Thomas Bertrand and Frank Roberts… MORE
Rauner mum on gun control
Gun control is again a topic up for debate in Washington after the Las Vegas mass shooting, but that conversation will be one that does not include the voice of Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.… MORE
Unit 5 mulls declaration to calm students’ immigration fears
A resolution is being drafted intended to make all school kids feel welcome in Unit 5, including so-called Dreamers, according to the district’s superintendent.… MORE
State Police make $1 million heroin bust in I-70 traffic stop
Illinois State Police said they seized almost $1 million worth of heroin during a weekend traffic stop in southern Illinois.… MORE
Rep. Brady holds off on Rauner endorsement
Republican State Representative Dan Brady of Bloomington is not ready to endorse GOP Governor Bruce Rauner for reelection after Rauner signed into law an expansion of taxpayer-funded abortions.… MORE
Blue Shield Blue Cross drops OSF
Bloomington’s OSF St. Joseph Medical Center is one of many OSF hospitals in Illinois that will not be part of the Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO network next year, with UnityPoint Health Methodist to replace it as part of the Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO network.… MORE
Spack takes 1st loss in stride at SIU awaits
Coach Brock Spack knows the Illinois State football program has reached a certain lofty status when he sees how fans react after a loss.… MORE
U-High hosts ‘run, hide, fight’ training session
Mass shootings throughout the country leave emergency mentors constantly updating their tactics to protect students and staff from harms way.… MORE
Normal releases hydrant flushing schedule
Normal is planning its annual hydrant flushing next week.… MORE
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…