By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – A former piano teacher is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday for sexually assaulting a student at his home in Normal. Authorities confirmed Michael Schnieder, 35, was also a choir director at Bloomington’s St. John’s Lutheran Church. Schneider has been in jail on $2 million bond since his arrest in July…… MORE
By 25 News NORMAL – Illinois State University expects it will cost about $3 million to get its Lexington farm up and running again after a fire there last November. ISU’s Board of Trustees will be asked to approve the project at its meeting this afternoon. ISU expects its insurer will pay for the entire…… MORE
Gov. Pritzker is road-testing his State of the State and budget message.… MORE
By 25 News NORMAL – Attorneys for more than 400 graduate student workers at Illinois State University have filed papers with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board initiating an unfair labor practice against the university and its board of trustees. The complaint by the SEIU Local 73/ISU Graduate Workers Union alleges that the university and…… MORE
By Jake Fogal NORMAL – The president of Illinois State University, Dr. Terri Goss Kinzy, has resigned from her position. The university says the resignation was effective February 14. The Board of Trustees will meet on Friday to vote to accept Kinzy’s resignation. The meeting is scheduled for 2:00. Kinzy was selected as the 20th…… MORE
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – The Miller Park Zoo on Tuesday announced the death of its oldest female snow leopard “Hima.” In a Facebook post, the zoo said animal care and veterinary staff had been monitoring and treating Hima for advanced renal decline. It is not unexpected for a senior feline to experience renal issues,…… MORE
By 25 News 25 NEWS – Hyundai and Kia are rolling out software updates to stem a raft of auto thefts related to a TikTok challenge that authorities believe has led to at least 14 reported crashes and eight fatalities. The updates are free for millions of vehicles that are missing a key anti-theft device, an…… MORE
By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington City Council reversed course Monday night, choosing to hire a Washington lobbying firm to help secure more federal funding for the city. The council voted 6-3 for a three-year contract with Thorn Run Partners that will cost taxpayers $270,000 over the life of the contract. At the Jan. 23 council meeting,…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – The Chicago Bears Fan of the Year is wrapping up his week out in Glendale,Arizona following the Chiefs win over the Eagles in Super Bowl 57. Normal native and State Farm executive Corey Schieler received the news he’d be in attendance for the big game months ago, as he was…… MORE
By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – Candidates for this April’s election for the school board had the opportunity to give their viewpoints to parents Saturday morning. One of the hot-button issues is the referendum for a tax hike. If passed it will increase the tax rate cap. The referendum on the April ballot calls for an…… 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…