By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 6.3 days suitable for field work during the week ending July 23, 2023. Statewide, the average temperature was 72.9 degrees, 3.7 degrees below normal. Precipitation averaged 0.71 inches, 0.27 inches below normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 14 percent very short, 35 percent short, 46 percent adequate, and 5…… MORE
By Blake Haas NORMAL – Authorities in Normal need the public’s help identifying a man they are dubbing the ‘Lego Bandit.’ In early July, authorities say the Lego Bandit allegedly stole over $700 worth of legos from Meijer. The man is described as a tall white male with glasses. He was last seen wearing a…… MORE
By Blake Haas BLOOMINGTON – A home and vehicle in Bloomington sustained damage from gunfire, and police need help identifying a suspect. On Saturday around 12:45 p.m., Bloomington Police responded to the 7-hundred block of Fairmont Drive for a shooting. Authorities say there were no injuries from the shooting. The case remains under investigation. Anyone…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Gas prices in Illinois came down a little over the week, averaging $3.80 a gallon, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of over 43-hundred stations in Illinois. Illinois gas is down 17.0 cents compared to a month ago. According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Illinois is priced at…… MORE
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – First responders in the Bloomington-Normal area will be hosting a Battle of the Badges Blood Drive throughout August. The American Red Cross announced via press release Thursday that there will be a chance to give blood at five locations in the area throughout the month. The goal of the drives is…… MORE
By WMBD-TV NORMAL – The McLean County Unit 5 school board approved contracts which results in higher pay for staff in the district. The four-year agreement with the Unit Five Education Association (UFEA) states that beginning this upcoming school year, the starting salary for full-time staff will be at least $40,000 and will increase to…… MORE
By WMBD-TV EL PASO – A Bloomington man faces charges one day after allegedly trying to solicit sex from what he thought was a 15-year-old girl. Instead, Angel Espinoza, 38, got more than he bargained for Wednesday night when he arrived at a gas station in El Paso and instead of a girl, found several…… MORE
By Blake Haas LEROY- A LeRoy man is behind bars in McLean County on multiple weapon charges. On July 13, LeRoy police learned 52-year-old Kenneth Downey possibly possessed firearms and allegedly had homicidal ideations. Two days later, a McLean County Judge issued a search warrant for Downey’s residence, where LeRoy and Illinois State Police searched…… MORE
The Mackinaw community continues to mourn the sudden death of a 9-year-old boy.… MORE
A farebox issue that prevented Connect Transit from collecting money has been fixed.… 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…