By WMBD-TV NORMAL – On Thursday, the Town of Normal hosted an open house with Hanson Professional Services about the Vernon Avenue Complete Streets Project. The project will be between Beaufort Street and Towanda Avenue. In June, Hanson, an engineering consulting firm, gave a presentation before the council showcasing potential ideas such as adding bike…… MORE
By WMBD-TV WOODFORD COUNTY – U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth announced Wednesday that Illinois schools and libraries will receive $6,279,820 through the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Emergency Connectivity Fund. Morton Community Unit School District 709 will receive $295,900 and County of Woodford Schools will receive $15,900 to help close the digital divide in schools…… MORE
By WMBD-TV NORMAL – A new back-to-school campaign to eliminate childhood food insecurity is underway. A Midwest Food Bank news release confirms the campaign funds a separate MFB’s Hope Packs program which will distribute supplemental weekend food for at-risk children. “The Hope Packs program is an important part of MFB’s efforts to alleviate hunger and…… MORE
By WMBD-TV TAZEWELL COUNTY – Two Central Illinois counties may enter an intergovernmental contract to help with animal control. Tazewell and Woodford counties are looking at possibly uniting with a plan that will help both counties. According to Libby Aeschleman, the Tazewell County Animal Control Director, there have been preliminary conversations about a potential collaboration.…… MORE
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON -Labor Day weekend, which is known as a busy travel weekend, is right around the corner. Central Illinois Regional Airport representative Fran Strebing said Labor Day weekend is the time people are usually wrapping up their summer travels. As it is usually a busy weekend, Strebing said the airport expects to see…… MORE
By WMBD-TV TAZEWELL COUNTY – The chairman of the Tazewell County Board announced his plans for retirement Tuesday. David Zimmerman said he will retire when his current term expires and his last day will be Nov. 30, 2024. Zimmerman was appointed to the board in 1997 and elected as the chair in 2008. He said once he retires…… MORE
By WMBD-TV HEYWORTH – Heyworth‘s school board approved a reduction of class sizes to around 15 students for its elementary-aged learners. The change, which has gone into effect this year, impacts Kindergarten, first-grade, and second-grade students. The move, recommended by building leadership, aims to help the students reach the recommended reading level by third grade.…… MORE
The Chenoa Police Department announced Tuesday that one of its officers was involved in a crash on I-55 near Towanda on Monday evening.… MORE
A 17-year-old boy was arrested Monday night in connection with a fatal shooting at a Peoria County liquor store.… MORE
The former three-term mayor of Bloomington Jesse Smart has died at 84 as confirmed by a Calvert and Metzler Memorial Home notice.… 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…